Process · CNC lathe service
CNC lathe and automatic lathe work
Small round parts — pins, spacers, inserts, knurled knobs — are the volume side of turning. We run 16 automatic lathes alongside the CNC lathes, so a part can start as a prototype on a lathe and move to an automatic machine when the quantity justifies it.
What the job really is
The decision on these parts is not how to machine them but which machine to use. One piece on an automatic lathe is slow and expensive; five thousand pieces on a CNC lathe wastes cycle time. Because both are in the same shop, the changeover happens without a new supplier, a new drawing review or a new first article.
Tolerance we quote
| Feature | Normal | Achievable on review |
|---|---|---|
| Turned diameter | ±0.02 mm | ±0.01 mm after review |
| Length | ±0.05 mm | ±0.02 mm |
| Concentricity | 0.02 mm | 0.01 mm |
| Surface roughness | Ra 1.6 | Ra 0.8 |
Part families in this process
Each family has its own page with the machining notes and the checks we run before shipping.
What to send for a quote
- Diameter, length and the smallest feature on the part
- Annual or monthly quantity, so the machine can be chosen properly
- Material, including whether it is free-machining grade
- Any secondary operation, since that often decides the machine
Questions we get
What is the smallest part you can turn?
Around Ø3 mm on the automatics, and smaller on a CNC lathe if the length-to-diameter ratio allows it. Below that the handling and inspection, not the cutting, become the cost.
Can the same part move from prototype to volume?
Yes, and that is the point of having both machine types. The prototype is turned on a CNC lathe to prove the drawing; when the volume arrives, the part moves to an automatic lathe with the same inspection criteria, so the first article carries over instead of being repeated.
Send a drawing, get a price within 24 hours
STEP, IGES, DWG, PDF or a dimensioned sketch — plus material, quantity and finishing. We reply with a price and any questions in one message.