CNC Turning: 5 Considerations When Selecting a Shop

When you need CNC turned parts, there are countless precision machine shops you can turn to. So, how do you choose the best manufacturing team for your project? 

Let’s unpack the five essential factors you should prioritize in a CNC turning partner and review how these factors ensure a superior part.

1. Advanced Lathes for CNC Turning

The first thing to look for is, of course, a shop with a CNC lathe—preferably an advanced one. You’ll also want to know that your chosen shop is capable of meeting your quantity requirements, whether you need one part or several thousand. 

Here at Area Tool & Manufacturing, Inc., we leverage our impressive Okuma LB 3000 EX II lathe for customers in the medical and oil and gas industries. Though our machine can handle parts up to 14” in diameter, we primarily turn parts that fit in your hand; many are so small that you could hold hundreds in your palm!

Our lathe’s production capacity enables both low and mid-volume productions, ensuring every customer’s unique needs are met. 

2. Live Tooling Capabilities 

Find a shop whose lathe is equipped with live tooling capabilities. When attached to the turret of a CNC lathe, live tools effectively convert the lathe into a mill. Offering both horizontal and vertical milling within a single setup, live tooling eliminates the need to transfer your part between multiple machines and reduces the potential for error. You’ll benefit from faster machining, lower costs, and enhanced accuracy and precision.

Area Tool’s live tooling allows us to seamlessly machine both square and round parts as well as add any radial and axial features your design requires.

3. Expert Operators 

You want a shop with seasoned lathe operators who embrace a troubleshooting mindset and embody a wealth of knowledge that spans decades. Their grasp of tooling intricacies, finishing standards, and quality control protocols translates to unparalleled efficiency and precision. Such expertise is particularly vital when working with diverse materials, as each presents unique challenges in terms of tooling and finishing.

Area Tool’s operators aren’t merely experienced—they are wizards of their craft. For instance, when we were presented with a rubber-like, low-durometer plastic for a run of CNC turned parts, our lathe operator knew to use a ceramic insert. A novice operator may have balked at such a difficult material, but our team believes in pushing boundaries and leveraging our wealth of experience to solve challenges for our customers. 

4. Smooth Surface Finishes 

Beyond being aesthetically appealing, a high-quality surface finish is often critical for a part’s functionality and longevity. Consider the seals in many oil and gas assemblies. A subpar finish can compromise the seal’s efficacy, leading to potential malfunctions.

When a shop delivers exceptional surface finishes straight off the lathe, your part can be completed in fewer operations, saving you time and money.  

Area Tool regularly holds 16 Ra during CNC turning—a smoother finish than many customer callouts. Such a refined finish means any subsequent processes, like polishing, are faster to complete or in some instances eliminated and, therefore, less expensive.

5. Swiss Turn Machining 

Volume is often as vital as quality. If your CNC turning job requires high production volumes, a shop with a Swiss screw machine may be the answer. These automatic, Swiss-style lathes produce large volumes of precision-turned parts with efficiency and accuracy.

For the reasons we’ve just described, the latest addition to Area Tool’s shop floor is—you guessed it—a Swiss turn machine! As we integrate this capability into our shop, our promise to customers will remain steady: expanded production capabilities with an unwavering commitment to quality.

Left is a part from Area Tool. Right is a part from a competitor.

The Right Precision Machine Shop for CNC Turning

As you navigate your options for CNC turned parts, the signs of a great precision machining partner are clear:

• Proven expertise

• Modern, versatile machinery

• Innovative live tooling capabilities

• Smooth surface finishes

• High-volume production solutions

When you choose to work with Area Tool & Manufacturing, Inc., you’ll enjoy these advantages and more. 

Request a quote to leverage Area Tool’s superior service and quality!