A Quick Overview of Manual Turning and Its Key Benefits
23 January 2023Fabrication companies take advantage of various machining processes to ensure that they can generate their needed parts and products. These processes include drilling and milling.
Another process that they often carry out is turning. Turning is a form of machining that can generate rotational parts. It is often done by cutting away unwanted material through a turning machine or lathe and cutting tool. Most workpieces processed by turning are already pre-shaped materials, which are secured to the fixture so they can be rotated at high speeds. As the workpiece rotates, the cutting tool is fed into it to cut away unwanted materials.
Turning can now be carried out with the help of computer numerical control. However, some fabricators still prefer manual turning in producing specific types of parts and items.
Manual Turning Working Principles
Manual turning involves the initial setup time and the cycle time.
The setup time involves setting up the turning machine, planning the movement of the tools, and installing the fixture device in the said machine. The cycle time, alternatively, involves the load/unload time, the cut time, the idle time, and the tool replacement time.
The load/unload time is the time allotted to load the workpiece into the turning machine. It also involves the proper attachment of the workpiece into the fixture and the unloading of the finished part. The cut time, alternatively, is the time needed to generate all the cuts in the workpiece for each operation. Idle time is another part of the cycle time that involves tasks not relevant to the workpiece. Some activities included during this phase are adjusting machine settings, movement of tools between features, and changing tools.
Tool replacement time, ultimately, is the time needed to replace a faulty or old tool. It is not often carried out every cycle.
General Benefits of Manual Turning
Many benefits are associated with manual turning.
First, manual turning is cost-effective for companies that want to save some money. The production cost of CNC turning can be too high, especially with the equipment involved in the process. Manual turning, alternatively, does not require the same equipment to produce quality parts and products. It can also remain budget-friendly, especially if the project only requires a small number of parts and products.
And speaking of small projects, manual turning is highly beneficial for companies that want to produce parts and products in small batches. Even with a low number of parts and products, CNC turning can already cost a lot right at the beginning. But with manual turning, fabricators can already produce intricate parts without costing too much. They can likewise complete the finish in a short time as they do not have to deal with a lot of preparation processes.
Manual turning is likewise versatile. Turning can readily produce rotational parts with numerous features like tapers, threads, holes, and grooves. It can even be carried out for prototyping purposes, which can be extremely beneficial for many industries. It likewise allows industries to add or refine features of their parts. Lastly, manual turning allows fabricators to work with various materials like aluminium, brass, titanium, and steel.
To generate products out of manual turning, you can contact us at Aero Spec Engineering.
Optimized by: Netwizard SEO
