From medical implants to aerospace components, extremely precise parts are the key to keeping some of most critical aspects of our modern world running smoothly.
Manufacturing these small, complex parts efficiently, and within demanding tolerances, requires the right state-of-the-art equipment paired with the engineering skills to exploit it.
Increasingly such parts are manufactured in a single set-up using mill/turn machinery.
This blog is intending to explain how a mill/turn works, how a mill/turn is used in high precision parts manufacturing, and the many benefits of the mill/turn’s combined functionality.
What Is a Mill/Turn Machine?
A mill/turn machine is a hybrid CNC (computer numerical control) machine that combines both milling (tool rotating) and turning (workpiece rotating) functionalities into one fast, powerful, and flexible machine that can complete complex operations faster and with greater accuracy than traditional machining technologies.
While other machines perform a single function, mill/turn machines can accomplish up to four operations at the same time.
Brother M200Xd1 - example of Mill/Turn machinery
Benefits of Mill/Turn Machines
Mill/turn machines are a newer technology, and because of that, they are less common in machine shops compared to traditional milling and turning machines. However, combined mill/turn technology enables a wide variety of benefits compared to traditional machines, including:
Ability to machine more complex parts
Mill/turn machines are able to create more complex and intricate parts without needing to transfer the part from one machine to another. This opens a world of possibilities. Use of this equipment can enable UK manufacturers to take on more complex and higher precision jobs and produce the parts more competitively. Parts that many would perhaps have previously either turned away, or been unable to produce efficiently.
Faster operations
Because a mill/turn can complete 4 operations at the same time, the total time needed to create each part is significantly reduced. In addition to machining the parts faster, mill/turns can also be set up more quickly than other machines. Most of this time savings is because raw material only needs to be set up once to perform all the different operations, without requiring the part to be adjusted or moved to another machine after each operation.
Higher accuracy
Because a mill/turn can complete 4 operations at the same time, the total time needed to create each part is significantly reduced. In addition to machining the parts faster, mill/turns can also be set up more quickly than other machines. Most of this time savings is because raw material only needs to be set up once to perform all the different operations, without requiring the part to be adjusted or moved to another machine after each operation.
Automation of menial tasks
Since most mill/turn machines are newer, they offer more built-in automation than traditional machining equipment. Tasks like loading material, probing, and removing parts are done automatically, freeing up the machinist’s time to do other more interesting and value-added activities.
Using mill/turn machines to combine operations, means less machinery – or less floor-space. Fewer machines in turn means reduced operators. It also means less power and compressed air is consumed. All of these reductions combine to deliver cost savings and improve profitability.
As the advances in user-friendly CAD/CAM packages with Mill/turn platforms and post-processors, mean it is also much more accessible and no-longer just the preserve of large tier one specialists.
And with more machine tool manufacturers beginning to produce Mill/turn technology so it becomes more commonplace and more affordable than you might think.
The benefits of this technology is increasingly being harnessed by forward thinking sub-contractors, looking for a competitive edge.
