Scale your production with CNC Lathe Machining that combines precision and workflow efficiencies for real-world manufacturing. Roberson Machine Company helps companies reduce downtime, scrap, and tooling bottlenecks by implementing processes built for repeatable results. Contact us online or call 573-646-3996 to learn more about CNC lathe machining and get your project started.
Learn more about:
- How CNC lathes support production-ready components
- How turning and multi-axis machining work together in a single workflow
- Our Doosan Puma TT1800SY multi-turret, multi-spindle turning capability
- Industries and applications that depend on turned features at scale
- Examples of real components produced at volume
- How to begin a CNC turning or multi-axis machining project with our team
Roberson Machine Company provides the machining technology, process expertise, and production capacity needed to support long-term programs with predictable quality and stable unit cost.
Table of Contents
- The Importance of Lathe Machining in the CNC Production Process
- CNC Lathe Operations & Multi-Axis Machining
- Industries & Applications Supported by CNC Lathe Machining
- Doosan Puma TT1800SY: Multi-Turret, Multi-Spindle Lathe for High-Throughput Production
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Choose Roberson Machine Company for CNC Lathe Machining?
Explore our reviews, recent case studies, blog, and FAQs for production insight and real machining results. For more than 20 years, we’ve helped companies turn drawings into reliable, production-ready components using CNC lathe machining and multi-axis machining approaches.
The Importance of Lathe Machining in the CNC Production Process
CNC machining drives modern manufacturing, and CNC lathes play a central role by producing rotationally driven components with consistent geometry and controlled surfaces. When tools, offsets, feeds, and inspection steps are dialed in, CNC turning holds the diameters, bores, threads, and sealing surfaces that downstream CNC milling and assembly depend on.
With bar feeding, live tooling, and multi-spindle layouts, modern CNC lathes can cut, drill, tap, and finish in a single setup—reducing handoffs, minimizing variation, and keeping production on schedule.
CNC Lathe Operations & Multi-Axis Machining
Turning and milling complement each other in multi-axis machining. The lathe establishes core geometry—accurate diameters, concentric relationships, and functional surfaces—while milling adds pockets, flats, slots, and 3D features that aren’t possible on a spindle-driven machine alone. This workflow keeps features aligned, reduces secondary setups, and helps decrease manufacturing downtime.
We run turning programs across metals, alloys, stainless steels, aluminum, titanium, and production-grade polymers. Horizontal turning centers, bar feeders, live tooling, and multi-axis capability allow us to complete many parts in a single setup and maintain accuracy from the first article through every release.
- Hard turning: Optimized tool paths for hardened steels and finishing operations.
- Long turning capacity: Horizontal turning up to 48″ depending on geometry.
- Live-tool capability: Drilling, tapping, and milling features completed in one setup.
- Short, predictable lead times: Stable cycles and automated workflows keep production moving.
CNC lathes remain one of the most versatile CNC machining methods when accuracy, concentricity, and efficient production are paramount.
Industries & Applications Supported by CNC Lathe Machining
CNC lathe machining plays a central role in production across medical, aerospace, automation, and high-throughput industrial environments. The industries below rely on accurate diameters, bores, threads, and stable concentric features—along with examples of the components we’ve produced at volume.
- Medical & Pharmaceutical Production: Precision valve bodies, microscope components, acrylic instrument parts, and other small-scale turned assemblies.
- Industrial Automation & Robotics: Cylindrical tooling, bushings, guides, and end-of-arm tooling designed for consistent repeatability.
- Aerospace: Housings, couplings, sleeves, and other concentric components that require stable finishes and verified geometry.
- Military & Defense: Threaded hardware, sleeves, connectors, and precision-machined rotary components.
- Automotive & EV: Shafts, pins, bushings, and drive shaft components produced at volume with reliable dimensional control.
- Food & Beverage: Stainless rollers, spindle components, and sanitary turned parts built for washdown environments.
- Packaging & Production Lines: Ink rollers, guide shafts, and other cylindrical tooling used in continuous, high-throughput equipment.
- Energy & Power Generation: Valve components, manifolds, and turned parts built to withstand pressure, wear, and demanding service cycles.
Across each of these industries, CNC lathe machining maintains dimensional relationships, surface quality, and predictable unit cost from run to run. If you’re planning new releases or scaling an existing program, our team can help map the process, review drawings, and outline a practical path to production. Learn more about our team, reach out online, or call 573-646-3996 to discuss your next project.
Doosan Puma TT1800SY: Multi-Turret, Multi-Spindle Lathe for High-Throughput Production
Roberson Machine Company has expanded its turning capacity with the Doosan Puma TT1800SY — a multi-turret, multi-spindle turning center built for fast, precise production. It consolidates roughing, finishing, drilling, tapping, and milling into one cycle to keep features aligned and limit extra handling.
Main–sub spindle transfer, parallel cutting, and bar-fed workflows make it a strong fit for two-sided or multi-op parts that need accurate relationships from one operation to the next. The layout supports high-throughput work while keeping cycle times stable and predictable.
Key Specifications & Capabilities
This spec set covers the TT1800SY features that impact real production workflows: spindle speed and torque, bar capacity, travel envelopes, and the live-tooling and handoff systems that reduce setup count and stabilize cycle times.
TT1800SY Technical Overview
| Category | Specification | Value | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Swing Over Bed | 9.1″ | Envelope for small to mid-sized turned components. |
| Recommended Turning Diameter | 8.3″ | Sweet spot for production work on this platform. | |
| Max. Turning Diameter (Upper / Lower) | 9.1″ / 9.1″ | Handles symmetrical turning on both turrets. | |
| Bar Working Diameter | 2.6″ | Supports steady bar-fed production for many shaft-style parts. | |
| Axis Travels | X-Axis Rapid Traverse | 787 IPM | Reduces non-cutting time between features. |
| Z-Axis Rapid Traverse | 1,575 IPM | Keeps cycle times down on longer parts. | |
| X1 / X2 Travel | 6.5″ / 7.5″ | Room for twin-turret work on complex parts. | |
| Y-Axis Travel | 3.9″ | Enables off-center milling and drilling operations. | |
| Z1 / Z2 / A Travel | 27.6″ / 28.4″ / 30.3″ | Supports front- and back-working on longer components. | |
| Spindles | Main Spindle Speed | 5,000 RPM | Good balance of metal removal and finish capability. |
| Main Spindle Power / Torque | 29 HP · 154 ft-lbs | Supports heavy cuts while maintaining surface quality. | |
| Sub Spindle | 5,000 RPM · 29 HP | Full-power back-working and accurate part handoff. | |
| Turret & Live Tooling | Tool Stations | 12 stations per turret | Plenty of room for turning, drilling, and milling tools. |
| Turret Index Time | 0.15 sec | Fast indexing keeps chips flowing. | |
| Max Rotary Tool Speed | 5,000 RPM (7.5 / 1.5 HP motor) | Handles most drilling, tapping, and light milling work at the spindle. | |
| Footprint | L × W × H | 154″ × 89″ × 82″ | Compact floor space for a full twin-spindle, twin-turret lathe. |
| Machine Weight | ≈ 19,400 lbs | Mass and rigidity for stable cutting and better finishes. |
This configuration supports one-and-done machining for small to mid-sized components—maintaining concentricity, clean shoulder transitions, sealing surfaces, and multi-op geometry across every production run.
What the Puma TT1800SY Unlocks for Production
In practice, the TT1800SY improves production by tightening geometric control and removing the setup transitions that typically add cost and variation. Key advantages include:
- Shorter part flow: Consolidates multiple setups into one uninterrupted cycle.
- Cleaner feature relationships: Keeps diameters, bores, and milled geometry tied to the same centerline.
- Better performance on two-sided parts: Accurate spindle handoff reduces variation on mirrored and back-worked features.
- Fewer fixtures and handling steps: Lowers stack-up error and minimizes opportunities for dimensional drift.
- More predictable scheduling: Stable cycle times make it easier to forecast releases and plan tooling life.
- Efficient volume scaling: Bar-fed throughput and balanced cutting help maintain consistency during long production runs.
Whether you’re producing shafts, bushings, housings, sleeves, couplings, or multi-op turned/milled components, the Puma TT1800SY supports fast transitions from prototype to production with consistent, repeatable output.
Have a part you’d like to validate on the new system? Reach out online or call 573-646-3996 to see how the Puma TT1800SY can strengthen your workflow and help reduce production delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re planning CNC lathe programs, the important questions are usually about part fit, lead time, and how turning integrates with the rest of your build. These FAQs cover the details that matter when moving from prototypes or one-off runs into production-grade CNC lathe machining.
What types of parts are a good fit for CNC lathe machining?
CNC lathes excel at rotationally symmetric parts and components where diameters and concentricity matter. Typical candidates include:
- Shafts, pins, and bushings
- Housings, sleeves, and couplings
- Valve bodies and manifolds with critical sealing surfaces
- Rollers and cylindrical tooling for automation and packaging
- Turned parts that also need milled flats, slots, or drilled features
When those parts repeat at volume and rely on consistent diameters, shoulders, and threads, CNC lathe machining usually becomes the backbone of the process.
How does a multi-turret, multi-spindle lathe change production compared to a standard lathe?
Multi-turret, multi-spindle equipment lets us complete more work in a single cycle instead of spreading operations across several machines and setups. That means:
- Front- and back-working (two-sided parts) completed in one continuous process
- Roughing and finishing handled in parallel rather than in separate runs
- Fewer fixtures and handling steps, which lowers stack-up error
- More stable cycle times as volumes increase
For the kinds of turned parts that normally require multiple handoffs, a machine like the Puma TT1800SY turns that into a one-and-done workflow.
What do you need to quote a CNC lathe machining project?
Clear engineering intent always leads to better quotes and smoother production. Helpful inputs include:
- Current drawings with tolerances and any critical feature callouts
- Material and finish requirements
- Target quantities (per release and annual volume)
- Expected delivery cadence or release schedule
- Any inspection, documentation, or packaging requirements
If some details are still in flux, we can often work from provisional prints and help refine the package before locking in production pricing.
What tends to drive cost on CNC lathe machined parts?
Piece price on turned parts usually reflects a mix of setup effort, cycle time, and material. Common cost drivers include:
- Complex workholding or multiple setups that could be consolidated
- Very tight tolerances or surface finish requirements on multiple features
- Challenging materials (hard alloys, difficult chip control, or long overhangs)
- Heavy interruption from milling, cross-holes, or deep drilling operations
- Small lot sizes that repeat tooling and setup time too often
Early conversations around tolerances, material, and functional requirements often uncover ways to keep cost and lead time in a reasonable range.
How do you maintain repeatability across large lots and repeat releases?
Repeatability comes from locking the process, not just the first run. Typical controls include:
- Standardized fixturing and workholding for the entire program
- Documented tool lists, offsets, and tool life management
- In-process checks on critical diameters, bores, and threads
- Final inspection routines tied to print requirements
- Lot records that tie parts, dates, and inspection data together
Once a lathe program proves out, those controls keep the part consistent from first article through every subsequent release.
When should CNC lathe work be combined with milling or other processes?
Many parts run best when turning carries the core geometry and other processes handle the remaining features. That often looks like:
- Lathe operations setting diameters, shoulders, and critical bores
- Live-tool work or downstream milling adding flats, keyways, pockets, or patterns
- Secondary processes (EDM, grinding, or honing) reserved for features that truly need them
Talking through the full print and functional requirements up front makes it easier to decide what should live on the lathe and what belongs in another process.
Why Choose Roberson Machine Company for CNC Lathe Machining?
Roberson Machine Company provides the process control, equipment, and production experience needed for reliable, repeatable CNC lathe machining. We support long-term programs with stable workflows and tooling strategies designed to keep releases on schedule.
- Turning processes built to hold the diameters, bores, threads, and sealing features your assemblies depend on
- Fast, one-setup machining with bar feeding, live tooling, and multi-spindle capability
- Dimensional consistency from the first article through repeat releases
- Material flexibility across stainless, aluminum, alloys, titanium, and production-grade polymers
- Programs engineered to reduce scrap, tooling delays, and downstream variation for predictable scheduling
Our services include:
- CNC Turning
- CNC Milling
- Precision CNC Machining
- Stainless Steel CNC Machining
- Aluminum CNC Machining
- Prototype CNC Machining
- 5-Axis CNC Machining
- Multi-Axis CNC Machining
- Wire EDM
- Machine Automation
Roberson Machine Company is here to support new releases, scaled production, and ongoing CNC lathe machining programs. Learn more about our team and capabilities, request a quote online, or call 573-646-3996 to discuss the benefits and opportunities available with CNC Lathe Machining.