CNC milling and turning are two distinct machining processes with the same objective; to remove material from a workpiece to achieve the desired form or finished product.

Mill-turning combines milling and turning, utilizing a piece of hybrid machinery for faster and more flexible machining operation. GVM offers superior CNC mill turn services, delivering unparalleled results while meeting your expectations.

 

What is Mill-Turn Machining?

In retrospect, milling is the most used process in which a tool rotates quickly to remove raw material from the workpiece. At the same time, it’s stationary or moving along a controlled path.

Meanwhile, turning uses a lathe, where the workpiece rotates while a single cutting tool removes the material. It’s used to achieve parts with cylindrical shapes or with radial symmetry. It’s worth noting that many lathes can also drill, bore, thread, or groove.

Mill-turn machining is a process that combines the functionalities of CNC milling and turning. It uses a hybrid mill-turn center with milling tool rotation and turning workpiece rotation, allowing it to produce more pieces with complex geometries or tight tolerances. Switching between milling and turning centers is not necessary since both can be performed simultaneously.

 

Features of Mill-Turn Machining

CNC milling turning service is becoming more popular due to its benefits compared to milling and turning alone. It has features that one machining method can’t achieve. As a whole, it increases the performance of our production manufacturing services.

Below are some of its features:

  • Complex parts: Milling and turning have limits to their geometric complexity. Machinists must also transfer the workpiece from one machine to another to produce these intricate dimensions or tight tolerances. However, manufacturing these complex parts becomes more efficient with mill-turning since only one machine, and one “set-up”, is needed.
  • Quicker production: Mill-turn machines can carry out the entire production process faster because machinists only need to set up the workpiece one time. Once the process is completed, the desired result is achieved efficiently without additional input from machinists and operators.
  • High accuracy: Highly specific parts and components are produced with better accuracy and repeatability since workpieces are moved only once. Slight errors in realignment of  the workpiece can result in mistakes and quality issues.

 

Typical Applications of Mill-Turn Machining

Mill-turn centers make machinists’ jobs easier with fewer errors, so a wide range of applications can be carried out for more complicated operations. Numerous industries have begun relying on this machining capability because it can meet varying specifications and requirements.

Some of its applications include:

  • Aerospace components
  • High Production – Complex, Geometric Shapes

 

Trust Our CNC Mill-Turn Services for Quality Outcomes

Apart from our CNC turning and milling services, we offer mill-turn machining for small and large part capabilities, high-volume production, and close tolerance applications. With that said, our expertise continuously develops to provide better value for your needs.

Contact us today if you have questions or concerns about our services. Request a quote for larger projects, and we can find a cost-effective solution.

 

If it looks like it doesn’t fit, call to speak with one of our technical experts.

High Volume Production

GVM has multiple work centers and additional shifts to offer! Pair this available capacity with the efficiency of Mill Turn machining, and you get high output of machined components with consistent quality.

Whether its one-time large volume needs or long-term repeating requirements, GVM can help.

Small and Large Part Capabilities

GVM is known for large part machining and our Mill Turn size capabilities are no different.

GVM work envelopes:
1.00”- 42.00” Diameters
.500” – 160.00” Lengths
1 lb – 15,000 lb Weights

Close Tolerance Machining

Mill Turn machining allows all (or most ) features to be machined in the same, “One and Done” set up.

This unique capability lends itself to close tolerance work for aerospace, power generation, defense related needs, and more. GVM can hold tolerances, repeatably, to .001”