CNC Turning of Metal – precise CNC turned parts to drawing

Are you looking for a reliable partner for CNC turning?

We manufacture CNC turned parts from metal to drawing and CAD data – for example shafts, axles, pins, bushes, sleeves, rings and complex rotationally symmetrical precision parts. Modern CNC turning centres and Swiss-type lathes enable the machining of steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass and other machinable materials – from prototypes and single parts through to series production.Would you like metal turned? Send us your drawing, material, quantity and tolerances. We will assess the suitable manufacturing process and provide you with a customised quotation.

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CNC turning metal

Precise CNC turning at competitive prices

Advantages

Materials

Machines

CNC turning to drawing

In CNC turning, the workpiece is clamped in a spindle and rotates around its own axis. A controlled cutting tool removes material in a targeted manner.

The process is particularly suitable for components with a rotationally symmetrical basic shape.

Typical CNC turned parts are:

Shafts
Axles
Pins
Sleeves
Bushings
Pins
Rings
Spacers
Threaded parts
fasteners
Valve components
Hydraulic components
Mechanical engineering components

For components with predominantly prismatic shapes, large flat surfaces, pockets or complex three-dimensional contours, on the other hand, CNC milling is often better suited.

→ CNC Milling Metal

Which operations are possible in CNC turning?

Modern CNC turning centres can do much more than machine only cylindrical external surfaces.

Depending on the component and machine, the following are possible, among others:

External turning
Internal turning
Facing
Longitudinal turning
Grooving
Parting-off
Drilling
Countersinking
Thread cutting
Internal threads
External threads
Milling operations
Cross holes
slots

With driven tools and additional CNC axes, turning, drilling and milling operations can be combined on suitable workpieces.

This can reduce the number of separate operations and setups.

CNC turning and turn-milling

Many modern components are not fully rotationally symmetrical.

A typical part may, for example, have:

turned external diameters
shoulders
Internal bores
threads
Cross holes
Wrench flats
slots
Milled contours

For suitable components, a combination of turning and milling can be sensible.

The Nakamura-Tome SC-100X² CNC turning centre, for example, comes as standard with a Y-axis and milling function. This allows additional machining operations to be carried out on the same machine.

Swiss turning for small and slender precision parts

A special form of CNC turning is Swiss turning.

In Swiss turning, bar stock is guided very close to the machining point. This makes the process particularly suitable for long, slender workpieces and smaller precision parts.

Typical Swiss-turned parts include:

small shafts
Pins
Axles
Sleeves
pins
screw parts
valve parts
fasteners
precision parts made from bar stock

Swiss-type automatic lathes can also combine several machining operations such as turning, drilling, milling and thread cutting in one automated process.

Which materials can be CNC turned?

Steel

Steel is one of the most important materials for CNC turned parts in mechanical and plant engineering.

Depending on the application, for example structural steels, free-cutting steels or alloy steels are used.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is used in particular where corrosion resistance, strength or defined surfaces are required.

Machining requires tools and cutting parameters matched to the material and alloy.

Aluminium

Aluminium has good machinability and a low weight.

Typical applications are:

Machine components
Housing elements
Connecting parts
Spacers
technical precision parts

Brass and bronze

Brass and bronze are often used for:

Bushings
Valve parts
fasteners
Bearing parts
Electrical components

used.

Copper and other materials

Copper and other machinable materials can also be processed depending on the alloy and component requirements.

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CNC turned parts to technical drawing

Your technical requirements form the basis for production.

For quoting, we ideally need:

technical drawing
3D CAD file, if available
Material
Material number
Bar stock or raw material specifications, if required
Quantity
Tolerances
fits
threads
form and positional tolerances
surface requirements
Post-treatment
delivery date

Especially for precision turned parts, function-relevant requirements should be clearly specified.

These may include, for example:

Run-out
Face run-out
Coaxiality
Position
Diameter tolerances
fits
Surface roughness

Design guidelines for cost-effective turned parts

Take the length-to-diameter ratio into account

Very long, thin workpieces can deflect or vibrate during machining.

The slimmer the component, the more important the clamping and guiding strategy becomes.

Use tight tolerances selectively

Tolerances should only be kept tight where they are actually required for function and assembly.

Unnecessarily tight tolerances often increase inspection and machining effort.

Use standard threads

Standardised threads are generally easier and more economical to manufacture than customer-specific special profiles.

Take tool accessibility into account

Very deep internal contours or small holes with a large depth may require special tools and longer machining times.

Design transition radii sensibly

Sharp internal transitions can affect tool selection and process stability.

Tolerances for CNC turned parts

The achievable accuracy depends, among other things, on:

Diameter
Component length
Material
Wall thickness
Length-to-diameter ratio
Clamping technology
Tool overhang
Temperature
Surface requirement
Machining sequence

Therefore, critical dimensions and geometric requirements should be defined directly in the technical drawing.

General dimensional tolerances can, for example, be specified by ISO 2768 if this is stated accordingly in the drawing. For geometric specifications, ISO 1101 provides basic rules for form, orientation, location and run-out tolerances.

Machine park for CNC turning metal

Nakamura-Tome SC-100X2 - Efficient high-performance turning centre

For more complex CNC turned parts, there is, among other things, a Nakamura-Tome SC-100X² is also available.

The turning centre has a main spindle and sub-spindle, Y-axis and milling function.

Key manufacturer data:

maximum turning diameter: 195 mm
maximum turning length: 400 mm
bar capacity main spindle: 51 mm
bar capacity sub-spindle: 42 mm
spindle speed left/right: up to 6,000 min⁻¹
Y travel: 80 mm or ±40 mm
Milling and Y-axis as standard equipment

This combination makes it possible to machine more complex turned parts with additional drilling and milling operations.

Manufacturer technical data: Nakamura-Tome SC-100X²

Tornos Swiss DT-26 - Precise and versatile sliding headstock automatic lathe

For smaller and slender precision parts, there is also a Tornos Swiss DT 26 is also available.

Manufacturer data includes, among other things:

Bar capacity up to 25.4 mm
5 linear axes
2 C-axes
2 independent tool systems
22 tool positions
Main spindle speed up to 10,000 min⁻¹

The machine is designed for the flexible machining of long and short turned parts and also enables various milling operations.

Manufacturer technical data: Tornos Swiss DT 26

Single parts, prototypes and series production

Prototypes

For new designs, individual functional turned parts can be manufactured to drawing.

Single parts

CNC turning is also suitable for spare parts, special components and customer-specific one-off production.

Small series

For recurring parts, tools, CNC programmes and machine parameters can be optimised.

Series production

For series parts made from bar material, automatic feeding and repeatable machining sequences can be used particularly efficiently.

Long-turning is therefore particularly interesting for series production of suitable small and medium-sized precision parts.

CNC turned parts as part of complete assemblies

Turned parts are often combined with other components.

In addition to CNC turning, BlechProfis offers further manufacturing options:

CNC milling
5-axis milling
Laser cutting
Bending
Punching
Welding
Spot welding
Deburring
Powder coating
Metal construction

This also allows more complex components and assemblies to be produced in a coordinated way for suitable projects.

→ CNC Milling Metal
→ Sheet metal processing
→ Metalworking
→ Deburring

How much does CNC turning cost?

The cost of a CNC-turned part depends, among other things, on:

Material
Raw material diameter
Component length
Machining volume
Number of machining operations
Tool requirements
Milling and drilling operations
Tolerances
surface requirements
Inspection effort
Quantity
required post-processing

For series parts, set-up time, bar stock, automated feeding and cycle time also play an important role.

What information do we need for a quotation?

We can review an enquiry most quickly if you send us the following details:

Drawing + CAD file + material + quantity + tolerances + surface finish + required post-processing + delivery date.

We then check whether conventional CNC turning, turn-milling or long-turning is best suited to your component.

Frequently asked questions about CNC turning

What is CNC turning?

In CNC turning, the workpiece rotates while a cutting tool removes material in a controlled manner. The machining process is controlled by a CNC programme.

Which components are suitable for CNC turning?

Above all, rotationally symmetrical parts such as shafts, axles, pins, bushes, sleeves, rings and threaded parts.

What is the difference between milling and turning?

In turning, the workpiece rotates in the main. In milling, by contrast, the cutting tool rotates. Turning is therefore particularly suitable for rotationally symmetrical parts, and milling for prismatic and complex contoured components.

What is Swiss turning?

Long turning is a turning process in which bar stock is guided close to the cutting tool. This makes it possible to machine particularly small, long and slender precision parts reliably in the process.

Can turned parts also be milled additionally?

Yes. Modern turning centres with powered tools and additional axes enable, among other things, cross-drilling, grooves, flats and further milling operations.

Which materials can be turned?

Among others, steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, bronze and copper. Further materials are possible depending on the alloy and application.

Do you also manufacture series production?

Yes. Depending on the component, prototypes, individual parts, small batches and series production are possible.

Great experience with sheet metal working and metal construction