In-depth analysis of flat-bed CNC horizontal lathes

"Center lathes" usually refer to the more basic traditional horizontal lathes. The core working method is to use the top of the spindle box and the tailstock to clamp and support the center holes at both ends of the workpiece, so that the workpiece rotates around its own axis. And the cutting process is performed by manually or semi-automatically controlling the movement of the tool holder. However, with the continuous improvement of the processing efficiency, as a CNC upgraded version of the traditional center lathe, the flat-bed horizontal CNC lathe has become the mainstream.

When to use a traditional center lathe?

Traditional center lathes are irreplaceable in the following scenarios: When small batch production or single-piece processing, traditional lathes are more economical. When performing part trimming or secondary modification, the master can directly operate the traditional lathe to complete it quickly without reprogramming. For rough processing tasks, especially when the material hardness is high or the cutting volume is large, traditional lathes are more durable and have low maintenance costs. Teaching and training scenarios allow students to master the operation of traditional lathes first, so that they can better understand the principles of mechanical processing.

Differences between flat bed CNC horizontal lathe and center lathe

The flat bed CNC horizontal lathe controls the servo motor to drive the ball screw through the CNC system, and is equipped with an automatic turret (8-12 stations) to achieve high-precision automated processing, which is suitable for batch turning of complex contour parts (such as special-shaped sleeves); while the center lathe (ordinary lathe) relies on manual operation of the gearbox speed change and handwheel feeding, and is only equipped with a basic square tool holder. The processing accuracy is limited by the operator's experience, and it is suitable for simple turning of long axes in single-piece maintenance or education scenarios. The former is known for its efficient composite processing, while the latter wins with low cost and flexibility.

What are the advantages of a flat bed CNC horizontal lathe compared to a traditional center lathe?

The core advantage of a flat bed CNC horizontal lathe (Flat Bed CNC Lathe) compared to a traditional center lathe lies in the comprehensive improvement of automation, precision and efficiency, achieving a leap in efficiency and quality in batch processing of large workpieces.

Rigidity enhancement and stability: The flat bed adopts a horizontal guide rail layout, which significantly improves the rigidity of the machine tool compared to traditional lathes. This results in less vibration when machining heavy workpieces, and is particularly suitable for continuous cutting of large-diameter workpieces (such as large shafts and flanges).

Accuracy and consistency advantages: The CNC system achieves a repeatable positioning accuracy of ±0.005mm through closed-loop servo control, avoiding the dimensional fluctuations caused by the reliance on manual skills of traditional lathes, which require repeated measurement and adjustment.

Automation integration capability: The flat CNC lathe can integrate automatic feeders, manipulators and online detectors to achieve 24-hour unmanned production.

With its high-rigidity structure, CNC precision guarantee and automated scalability, it has become the core equipment for medium-to-large-volume, high-complexity parts processing, especially suitable for large-scale production scenarios in the fields of automobiles and energy equipment.

Product recommendation

Enterprise selection requires comprehensive consideration of workpiece size, batch size and precision requirements.

The C5055 horizontal CNC heavy-duty cutting lathe is a star product of Eastern CNC Group, designed for heavy-duty long-shaft and plate-type workpiece processing. It adopts a flat bed, gear speed change, standard hydraulic through-axis chuck, electric four-station tool holder, rectangular guide rail, and has strong heavy cutting capabilities. The C5055B model is also equipped with a servo spindle motor with a wide range of spindle speeds to meet different processing needs. The big processing diameter can reach 400 mm, the big processing length is 450 mm, the X-axis travel is 310 mm, the Z-axis travel is 500 mm, and the rectangular guide rail ensures processing accuracy and stability.