How to Operate CNC Lathe

CNC lathe is one of the most widely used CNC machine tools. It is mainly used for cutting internal and external cylindrical surfaces of shaft parts or disk parts, internal and external conical surfaces with any cone angle, complex rotating internal and external curved surfaces, and cylindrical and conical threads. It can also perform grooving, drilling, reaming, and reaming. Holes and borings, etc.

CNC lathe operation method

First, prepare relevant programs before processing materials; turn on the machine tool, and then turn on the system; for machine tools that require incremental control, you must first establish the coordinates of the machine tool; check and modify the written program; align the components of the machine tool neatly and Prepare the facilities.

1. Writing or programming: Before processing, the processing program of the workpiece should first be compiled. If the processing program of the workpiece is long and complex, it is best not to program on the machine tool, but to use programming machine programming or manual programming. This can avoid taking up machine time. For short programs, they should also be written on the program sheet.

2. Start up: Generally, the machine tool is turned on first, and then the system is turned on. In some designs, the two are interlocked, and the machine tool cannot display information on the CRT without power.

3. Return to the reference point: For machine tools with incremental control systems, this step must be performed first to establish the movement standards for each coordinate of the machine tool.

4. Program editing input: If the input program needs to be modified, editing operation is required. At this time, place the mode selection switch in the EDIT position and use the edit keys to add, delete, and change.

5. Lock the machine tool and run the program. This step is to check the program and re-edit it if there are any errors.

6. Load the workpiece, align it, and set the tool using manual incremental movement, continuous movement, or a manual dial to move the lathe. Align the tool alignment point to the starting point of the program and align the tool's datum.

7. Start coordinate feed and perform continuous processing. Generally, program processing in memory is used. This method has a lower failure rate than program processing on paper tape. The feed speed during processing can be adjusted using the feed rate switch. During processing, you can press the feed hold button FEEDHOLD to pause the feed movement and observe the processing situation or perform manual measurement.

Press the CYCLESTART button again to resume processing. To ensure that the program is correct, it should be reviewed again before processing. During turning processing, for flat curved workpieces, a pencil can be used to draw the outline of the workpiece on paper instead of a tool. This is more intuitive. If the system has a tool path simulation function, it can be used to check the correctness of the program.

8. Operation display: Use each screen of the CRT to display the position of the workbench or tool, the program and the status of the machine tool, so that the operator can monitor the processing situation.

9. Program output: After the program ends, if it is necessary to save the program, it can be left in the CNC's memory. If the program is too long, the program in the memory can be transferred to an external device for storage.

10. Parts inspection and disassembly: While the workpiece is still clamped by the chuck, the size of the workpiece is inspected. If the size of the workpiece does not meet the requirements, appropriate tool compensation will be carried out and the workpiece will be reprocessed. When the size of the workpiece is qualified, the workpiece will be removed.

11. Shut down: Generally, the machine tool should be shut down first, and then the system.