Unlock higher output with CNC Lathe Machining in Charleston, SC, delivering precision and efficient workflow for production environments. Roberson Machine Company helps teams cut downtime, scrap, and tooling delays using proven, repeatable processes. Contact us online or call 573-646-3996 to learn more about Charleston, SC, CNC lathe machining and move your project forward.
Learn more about:
- How CNC lathes play a role in production-ready components
- How turning and multi-axis machining work together in a single workflow
- Our Doosan Puma TT1800SY multi-turret, multi-spindle turning system
- Industries and applications that depend on scaled turned features
- Examples of real components produced in 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 runs 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 in Charleston, SC
- Doosan Puma TT1800SY: Multi-Turret, Multi-Spindle Lathe for High-Throughput Production
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why Us for CNC Lathe Machining in Charleston, SC?
Browse our reviews, recent case studies, plus the blog and FAQs for production insight and proven machining results. For 20+ years, we’ve helped companies build reliable, production-ready components through Charleston, SC, CNC lathe machining and multi-axis machining.
The Importance of Lathe Machining in the CNC Production Process
CNC machining powers modern manufacturing, with CNC lathes producing rotational 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 rely on.
With bar feeding, live tooling, and multi-spindle layouts, modern CNC lathes cut, drill, tap, and finish in one setup—reducing handoffs, minimizing variation, and keeping production on schedule.
Charleston, SC, CNC Lathe Operations & Multi-Axis Machining
In multi-axis machining, turning and milling complement one another. The lathe defines core geometry such as accurate diameters, concentric relationships, and functional surfaces, while milling introduces pockets, flats, slots, and 3D features not possible on a spindle-driven machine alone. This workflow keeps features aligned, minimizes secondary setups, and helps reduce manufacturing downtime.
We handle metals, alloys, stainless steels, aluminum, titanium, and production-grade polymers. Equipped with horizontal turning centers, bar feeders, live tooling, and multi-axis capability, we finish many parts in one 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: Up to 48″ of horizontal turning capacity depending on design.
- Live-tool capability: One-setup drilling, tapping, and milling for faster flow.
- Short, predictable lead times: Predictable cycles with automation that keeps jobs flowing.
CNC lathe machining in Charleston, SC, continues to be one of the most flexible CNC machining methods where accuracy, concentricity, and efficient production are critical.
Industries & Applications Supported by Charleston, SC, CNC Lathe Machining
Across medical, aerospace, automation, and high-throughput industrial sectors, CNC lathe machining remains essential. Each industry relies on accurate diameters, bores, threads, and stable concentric features, supported by real components we’ve produced at volume.
- Medical & Pharmaceutical Production: Precision valve bodies, microscope components, acrylic instrument parts, and similar small-scale turned assemblies.
- Industrial Automation & Robotics: Cylindrical tooling, bushings, guides, and end-of-arm tooling developed for reliable repeatability.
- Aerospace: Housings, couplings, sleeves, and other concentric components that rely on stable finishes and confirmed geometry.
- Military & Defense: Threaded hardware, sleeves, connectors, and precision-machined rotary components built for demanding defense needs.
- Automotive & EV: Shafts, pins, bushings, and drive shaft components produced in volume with consistent dimensional control.
- Food & Beverage: Stainless rollers, spindle components, and sanitary turned parts designed for washdown environments.
- Packaging & Production Lines: Ink rollers, guide shafts, and other cylindrical tooling used in high-speed, high-throughput equipment.
- Energy & Power Generation: Valve components, manifolds, and turned parts produced to handle pressure, wear, and demanding service cycles.
Across industries in Charleston, SC, CNC lathe machining holds dimensional relationships, surface quality, and predictable unit cost from one run to the next. If you’re preparing new releases or expanding an existing product, our team can help review drawings, map the workflow, and define a clear path to production. See 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
To expand its turning capacity, Roberson Machine Company now runs the Doosan Puma TT1800SY — a multi-turret, multi-spindle turning center built for precise, high-throughput machining. The machine combines roughing, finishing, drilling, tapping, and milling into a single cycle to keep features aligned and minimize handling.
Main–sub spindle transfer, parallel cutting, and bar-fed workflows make it ideal for two-sided or multi-op parts that require accurate relationships from one operation to the next. The layout handles high-throughput work while keeping cycle times stable and predictable.
Key Specifications & Capabilities
This spec set highlights the TT1800SY features that affect real production workflows, including spindle speed and torque, bar capacity, travel envelopes, and the live-tooling and handoff systems that reduce setups and keep cycle times stable.
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 enables one-and-done machining for small to mid-sized components, holding concentricity, clean shoulder transitions, sealing surfaces, and multi-op geometry on every run.
What the Puma TT1800SY Unlocks for Charleston, SC, CNC Lathe Machining & Production
In practice, the TT1800SY boosts production by tightening geometric control and eliminating setup transitions that normally add cost and variation. Key advantages include:
- Shorter part flow: Merges multiple setups into one smooth, uninterrupted cycle.
- Cleaner feature relationships: Aligns diameters, bores, and milled geometry to a shared centerline.
- Better performance on two-sided parts: Accurate spindle handoff cuts variation on mirrored and back-worked features.
- Fewer fixtures and handling steps: Reduces stack-up error and helps prevent dimensional drift.
- More predictable scheduling: Stable cycle times simplify release forecasting and tooling-life planning.
- Efficient volume scaling: Bar-fed throughput and balanced cutting support consistent output during long runs.
Whether you’re producing shafts, bushings, housings, sleeves, couplings, or multi-op turned/milled components, the Puma TT1800SY delivers quick transitions from prototype to production with consistent, repeatable output, making it foundational to Charleston, SC, CNC lathe machining.
Looking to validate a part on the new system? Reach out online or call 573-646-3996 to learn how the Puma TT1800SY can strengthen your workflow and help reduce production delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you’re planning CNC lathe workflows, the focus usually falls on part fit, lead time, and how turning supports the rest of your build. These FAQs cover the considerations that matter when moving from prototypes or one-off parts into production-grade CNC lathe machining in Charleston, SC.
What types of parts are a good fit for CNC lathe machining in Charleston, SC?
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 high-volume runs rely on consistent diameters, shoulders, and threads, CNC lathe machining becomes the foundation of the workflow.
How does a multi-turret, multi-spindle lathe change production compared to a standard lathe?
With multi-turret, multi-spindle equipment, more operations happen in one cycle instead of being split across multiple 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 workpieces that usually pass through several handoffs, the Puma TT1800SY simplifies production into a one-and-done process.
What do you need to quote a CNC lathe machining project?
Clear engineering intent makes quoting easier and leads to 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 parts of the package are still evolving, we can begin with provisional prints and refine everything before confirming production pricing.
What tends to drive cost on CNC lathe machined parts in Charleston, SC?
Piece price for turned parts often ties back to 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
Talking early about tolerances, materials, and functional requirements often exposes opportunities to keep cost and lead time reasonable.
How do you maintain repeatability across large lots and repeat releases?
Repeatability is achieved by locking the entire process, not only the first cycle. Typical controls include:
- Standardized fixturing and workholding for the entire workflow
- 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
After a lathe process proves out, those controls hold consistency from the first article through each subsequent release.
When should Charleston, SC, CNC lathe work be combined with milling or other processes?
Many parts work best when turning handles the core geometry and other processes pick up 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
Walking through the full print and functional requirements beforehand makes it easier to judge what stays on the lathe and what belongs in other processes.
Why Choose Us for Charleston, SC, CNC Lathe Machining?
Roberson Machine Company supplies the process control, equipment, and production experience that support reliable, repeatable CNC lathe machining in Charleston, SC. We manage long-term production schedules with stable workflows and tooling strategies that keep releases on schedule.
- Turning processes built to maintain the diameters, bores, threads, and sealing features essential to your assemblies
- Fast, single-setup machining using bar feeding, live tooling, and multi-spindle capability
- Consistent dimensions from the first article through repeat releases
- Material flexibility across stainless, aluminum, alloys, titanium, and production-grade polymers
- Workflows engineered to reduce scrap, tooling delays, and downstream variation for predictable scheduling
Our main services include:
- Custom CNC Machining for Part Production
- CNC Machine Automation
- Oil and Gas Precision Machining
- Aerospace Manufacturing
- Automotive Part Manufacturing
- EDM Machining
- High Volume CNC Machining
- Industrial Automation
- Solar Panel Manufacturers
Roberson Machine Company supports new releases, scaled production, and ongoing CNC lathe machining workflows. Explore our team and capabilities, request a quote online, or call 573-646-3996 to talk about the benefits and opportunities available with Charleston, SC, CNC Lathe Machining.