A Guide to Different Types of Cutting Tools for CNC Lathe Machines

Turning machines are critical in the various machining processes mainly across manufacturing industries. CNC or Computer Numerical Control lathe machines are quite advanced and accurate and they’re useful for metal and other material working purposes, because of their high speed and accuracy. The tools used in these machines have the most important functions like shaping, cutting, and refining other materials. So, let’s discuss the different types of lathe-cutting tools, so we can increase the efficiency and accuracy of CNC lathe machines.

What is Lathe Cutting?

Lathe cutting is the process of cutting by the feed of the tool to a workpiece whereby the piece is firmly fixed on a spindle that rotates around it. Turning tools include turning, facing, threading, and drilling operations. They’re usually performed on lathe machines using the appropriate cutting tool. CNC lathe helps perform cutting operations using computers that are more precise and have better automation than conventional operations.

Comparison of Different Types of CNC Lathe Cutting Machines

The following tables do a comparison of different types of CNC lathe machines.

How Does the Lathe Cutting Process Work?

The lathe-cutting process occupies an important position in machining science, technology, and material finishing, i.e. metals, wood, and plastics. It enables the exact cutting of a material to give desired shapes and sizes by moving a workpiece while a cutting tool remains fixed. Here’s a concise breakdown of how the process works:

1. Workpiece Mounting: That workpiece is placed on a spindle that rotates around its axis.
2. Rotation: The spindle turns the workpiece at high speeds.
3. Cutting Tool Positioning: A cutting tool is positioned immovable while the workpiece on which it is to cut revolves in a center.
4. Material Removal: It is used by rubbing it against the workpiece shaving by shaving, in other words, it is a cutting tool that reduces material.
5. CNC Automation: The tool is operated through a computer numeric control system to enable cutting with accuracy and without human intervention.
6. Shape Creation: It creates different forms, round or plane according to tool and operation.

Different Types of Lathe Cutting Tools for CNC Lathe Machines

CNC lathe machines use different types of cutting tools in their operations. We can classify these tools in different forms. So, let’s discuss them in detail.

Classification 1: Basic Types of Lathe Tools

1. Turning Tools: These are used for external cuts along the length of the workpiece to thin the already finished piece. In clockwise rotation, they are used for bar products, i.e. tubes and pipes turning tools cut material, and level surfaces.
2. Facing Tools: These tools produce a flat surface at the end of the workpiece. These facing tools are appropriate to reduce apart. These tools are best fit to cut a perpendicular surface.
3. Boring Tools: These are used when there is a need to increase the size of the hole through the workpiece to the standard diameter or simply create a more accurate one. These tools are used inside the material to cut internal dimensions.
4. Chamfering Tools: They blend the width of a workpiece and create an inclined edge that takes off sharp corners. Chamfering can help enhance the part’s safety, aesthetics, and usability, so it’s important.
5. Thread Cutting Tools: Applied to produce internal or external threads on a workpiece. It helps to create screws, bolts, or tooled holes which are the basic requirements for fasteners and mechanical joints.
6. Knurling Tools: Knurling tools produce intermittent raised and recessed patterned texture on cylindrical parts. It increases the possibility of getting a firm grip on surfaces such as handles, knobs, or other trims and for appearance.

Classification 2: Specialized Lathe Cutting Tools

1. Forming Tools: These tools help shape the workpiece in an exact profile or form. They are employed to copy several complicated forms with approximations, including such forms, i.e. grooves, arcs, or other figures, not a line, but formed in a curve.
2. Taper Turning Tools: These tools are applied in turning where conical or tapered features are to be produced on a workpiece through a cutting operation performed at an angle relative to the axis of rotation. Taper turning is usually applicable in making machine spindles or pipes of different diameters.
3. Grooving Tools: They help create fine and marginal channels or grooves on the circumference or circumferential workpiece area. These grooves are generally meant for the clearance of seals, O-rings, or some other assembly parts.

Classification 3: Based on Materials

1. High-Speed Steel (HSS): HSS tools are less expensive and used for general cutting tasks across the industry. They are capable of very high temperatures and are applied in low to moderate-speed cutting operations.
2. Carbide: Carbide-tipped tools are harder than HSS tools and can cut faster than HSS tools. They are Ideal for performing tasks on hard materials, provide better accuracy, and are perfect for high-level CNC use.
3. Diamond: Ultra-precision cutting typically employs diamond-tipped tools, and is most commonly used in cutting ceramics, composites, or Non-Ferrous Metals (NFM). They afford enhanced surface finishes and accuracy.
4. Ceramic: Ceramic tools outperform other tools in high-speed cutting operations because ceramics possess high hardness and heat resistance properties. Nevertheless, they are unsuitable for heavy-duty operations as they are brittle. Besides this, they can be damaged by impact. So, they are best used for finishing operations, not roughing.
5. Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN): CBN tools are one of the most abrasive materials, only next to diamond. Most of these tools are suitable for the machining of ferrous metals since they are very hard and resistant to wear even when used in heavy operations.

Classification 4: According to Speed Application

1. Right-Hand Tools: Right-hand cut lathe tools cut when supplied from the right direction of the workload to the left. This is the preferred tool configuration for turning and facing operations.
2. Left-Hand Tools: These are the reverse of right-hand tools, cut when fed from left to right across the workpiece. These tools are applied in cases where the workpiece positioning implies cutting from the other side.
3. Round Nose Tools: Round nose tools are all-purpose with a round cutting end which can be used for roughing and finishing. They can make a smooth surface finish or minimize vibration when cutting.

Things to Keep in Mind When Selecting a Lathe Tool

So make sure to consider the following aspects while selecting the right lathe tool;

1. Material of the Workpiece: The conventional wisdom is that to work harder materials, tougher tool+9s, that is, tools with greater resistance to wear, are needed.
2. Cutting Speed and Feed Rate: The speed and feed at which the operation is to be conducted should be achievable with the selected tools without wearing out quickly.
3. Type of Operation: Turning, facing, threading, etc. are all executed using tools appropriate for each process.
4. Tool Durability and Cost: Consider the life of the tool and cost against the intensity with which it is used especially in high-production settings

Future Advancements in Cutting Tools of Lathe Machine

New generation lathe cutting tools benefit from coating. Here the tools with titanium nitride (TiN) enhance the tool’s durability and efficiency. New tool geometries and micro grain carbide materials make it highly precise and long-lasting. Smart sensors installed in CNC lathes can help evaluate the status of tools in operation and this greatly improves efficiency, by minimizing the time spent replacing them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, regarding the different types of lathe-cutting tools for lathe machines, you can familiarize yourself with them to optimize the working of the CNC lathe machines. All of the mentioned tools work differently and are intended for various materials and kinds of operations. Selecting the material, speed, and tool structure helps manufacturers gain maximum precision, optimal speed, and reliability at a relatively low cost. Advancements in technology improved to protect the performance of CNC lathe machines. Furthermore, CNC lathe machines cannot be replaced in the current technology-dominated world. Contact us to know more about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How are turning and facing two different operations in lathe cutting?

Turning reduces the diameter of a workpiece while turning builds up the surface at the right angle to the axis of the workpiece.

2. What are lathe-cutting tools made of?

Reciprocating tool materials include high-speed steel, carbide, diamond, ceramic, and cubic boron nitride.

3. What do right-hand and left-hand lathe tools mean?

A right-hand tool moves right to left and a left-hand tool moves left to right cutting at the time of movement.

4. Why are carbide tools used in high-cutting speed operations?

Carbide tools on the other hand are harder and have a greater resistance to cutting speeds and temperature; hence for high-speed applications.

5. What is the purpose of grooving tools?

Grooving tools are specially designed to make decisions or grooves that are narrow as well as continuous around the periphery of the workpiece. 

6. What criteria should I use in selecting the right CNC lathe machine?

They may include the size of the workpiece, the number of axes, the spindle speed, the level of automation, and the compatibility of the software.