Zone: Turn/Mill Machines

Applying Turn-Milling

Combining a rotating tool with rotating work produces a machining operation that is distinct from standard turning or milling.

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Cylinder Head Porting On A Turn/Mill Machine

This complex milling operation is performed effectively on a machine that does turning.

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Article (40) | Case Study (10) | Videos (1) | Article with Video (5)

Most Recent Content in this Zone:

The Value Of Probing On Turn-Mills
3/12/2010 Modern Machine Shop: Part probing isn’t performed as often on turn-mills as it is on conventional machine tools. It does offer advantages for multitasking machines, though.
More Efficient Turbine Blade Milling
2/23/2010 Modern Machine Shop: Video shows a multitasking machine milling a turbine blade in a cycle that few machining centers could replicate.
Multitasking for Productivity, Efficiency, Accuracy and More
2/17/2010 Production Machining: Multitask machining (or using a mill-turn machine) means performing various manufacturing operations without manual intervention.
Machining Reimagined As A Lean Resource
12/21/2009 Modern Machine Shop: It was a bold move for this company to install four new machine tools, including two turn-mills, at one time, but it was the only way to take the lean journey to a higher level.
High-Volume Alternative To Machining Centers
12/9/2009 Modern Machine Shop: Transfer machines that are flexible rather than dedicated can run large quantities without dedicating labor or floorspace. (Includes video.)

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Overview Of:
Turn/Mill Machines

Turn/Mill Machines are machines that are capable of both rotating-workpiece operations (turning) and rotating-tool operations (namely milling and drilling). Generally these machines are based on lathes. The machine is typically recognizable as a horizontal or vertical lathe, with spindles for milling and drilling simply available at some or all of the tool positions. With a machine such as this, a part requiring a variety of operations can be machined in one setup, particularly if a subspindle allows the part to be passed from one spindle to another during machining. More recently introduced turn/mill machines depart from the lathe design into something much more like a hybrid machine—combining a lathe’s chucks and spindles with the travels and milling power of a machining center. One of the most significant issues with these types of machines in general is figuring out just which parts to run on them. Many shops have discovered that, even though these machines developed from lathes, they are not necessarily limited to round parts. Various non-round parts can be machined on the same platform as efficiently, if not more efficiently, than on a machining center.