Turn milling

Turn milling can be defined as an advanced machining method that enables the production of exceptionally complex and versatile components. With this method, the manufactured parts can vary in shape, size, and application—whether it's a small precision machine part or a component for a large industrial device. The appeal of turn milling lies in its ability to produce both smooth and intricate curved surfaces, making it a highly flexible manufacturing process.

Compared to traditional milling or turning, turn milling offers unique advantages. The high chip flow and excellent chip management of the method allow for an efficient and smooth production process, which is crucial, especially when working with large volumes and tight schedules. For this reason, turn milling has become a highly regarded and widely used method in modern machine shop industries.

When machining cylindrical surfaces using a turn mill, the cutter must move radially past the workpiece. This ensures the formation of a precise and uniform surface. By adding feed movement in two directions simultaneously, it is possible to machine eccentric shapes, such as camshafts, which are key components in many machines and devices.

Today's demanding machining tasks might require driving the cutter on more than two axes. Inclined feed is essential then to form even more complex shapes and patterns. Thus, modern machining centers and lathes are often equipped with multiple axes of movement, enabling extremely precise and versatile machining.

Particularly demanding components include turbine blades, whose machining requires high-level precision and complex movements. Manufacturing such parts is only possible by simultaneously using five axes: two or three for the workpiece and one or two for the cutter. Turn milling makes it possible to machine these demanding shapes and surfaces efficiently and accurately, making it a valuable method, especially in the aerospace and energy industries.

The rapid development and generalization of turn milling are partly the result of the prevalence of multi-tasking lathes equipped with B-axes. These versatile machines allow not only for traditional turning and milling but also for advanced turn milling processes in the same machine. This way, machine shops can reduce production costs, speed up production, and improve the quality and precision of the manufactured parts.