A Universal Lathe produces rotational parts by turning the workpiece against a stationary tool, and modern versions add driven tools so milling and cross drilling are completed in the same cycle. This page covers the Universal Lathe configured with a Fanuc control and 12-station turret and supplied to tool and die shops: CNC turning with live tooling, steady rests and in-process gauging. The headline figure is turning length to 1000 mm, and the rest of the page explains what it means in daily use.
In practice the difficulty is rarely the nominal size. ±0.01 mm is held on the features that locate the part in the assembly, and the process is set up so that the first piece and the five hundredth measure the same way.
Specification
| Process | Cnc turning with live tooling, steady rests and in-process gauging |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | a Fanuc control and 12-station turret |
| Size / capacity | turning length to 1000 mm |
| Tolerance | ±0.01 mm |
| Surface finish | turned finish, Ra 0.4–1.6 µm |
| Application | universal lathe for tool and die shops |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
Production begins with a drawing and material review. Stock is certified, the operation sequence is fixed, and CNC turning with live tooling, steady rests and in-process gauging is carried out on equipment maintained to hold ±0.01 mm over a full shift, not just on a first piece.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Shafts and spindles.
- Flanges and couplings.
- Pulleys and rollers.
- Bushings and sleeves.
- Hydraulic cylinder components.
Quality control and documentation
Inspection is not a final formality. Dimensions are checked during the cycle and again at the end, so drift is corrected while there is still stock to remove.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Orders start from a single piece. Samples are quoted from the 3D model, and production pricing follows once quantity, finishing and inspection are agreed.
Frequently asked questions
Can milled features be added without a second operation?
Yes, if the lathe has live tooling and a C-axis. Cross holes, flats, keyways and off-centre threads are then produced in the same clamping, which improves their relationship to the turned datums.
How is roundness held on long shafts?
With a steady rest or a tailstock, correct centre height and a final finishing pass. Between centres, concentricity within 0.02 mm over a metre is a normal expectation.
Do you keep tooling and programmes for repeat orders?
Fixtures, tool lists and verified CAM programmes are retained for the life of the part number, so a repeat release runs on the same setup as the first batch without a new proving run.
Send the drawing or the 3D model for a quotation. Include material, quantity, tolerance and finish, and a detailed quote with lead time is returned within one working day.
