Boring and turning are two standard CNC machining processes in the manufacturing industry. Typically, CNC turning machining involves rotating motion. Generally, it is used to machine circular turning parts. Boring, on the other hand, is used to enlarge the hole of parts.
The two processes are ideal to cut material from a workpiece and create a desired new shape. However, they do this in different ways. Our blog today will be covering CNC turning vs CNC boring. So, without any more circling, let’s get started.
What is CNC Machining Turning?
CNC turning is a kind of CNC machining technique where material pieces are held in chunks and rotated. This is done while the tool is fed to the piece in order to remove the material to come up with the desired shape.
Also, during CNC machining turning, the piece is rotated while the cutting tool remains immobile/stationary. This ensures that the cutting tool moves along the various paths required to create the final product. The fact that CNC machining is this versatile makes it suitable for producing items of various shapes and features.
Normally, the turning process is done by a machine known as a lathe which is where the workpiece is placed. Then as it rotates, it presses against a cutting tool which is made up of small blades for shaping and cutting purposes.
CNC machining turning is typically a basic and common cutting process. There are several subtypes tied to it such as tapered, hard, and spherical which all involve removing material from a workpiece using a cutting tool.
What is CNC Machining Boring?
CNC machining boring is pretty straightforward as it involves taking a hole and ensuring that it is of the perfect size and dimension.
CNC machining boring normally takes place in three ways, which are:
- Rotating the material against a stationary bit
- Feeding the spinning bit into a stationary piece of material
- Moving it around, also a stationery blade is used against a spinning piece of metal.
During the CNC boring process, the workpiece stays still while the cutting tool rotates. This ensures that there is minimal movement of the cutting tool to a straight line. This process is perfect for creating precise and accurate holes. Also, during the boring process, a cutting tool removes material from the internal surface of the workpiece.
CNC Turning and Boring Machining – Six Fundamental Differentiating Factors
Conceptual Differences
CNC turning and boring machining have different working concepts.
Boring involves an inner diameter cutting process. It utilizes tools to create and expand holes and other workpieces that are in circular form. Turning, on the other hand, uses the lathe processing concept. This is where turning tools are involved to turn rotating workpieces.
Processing Size
In CNC turning, items of different sizes can be processed, as the machine can have multiple work-holding fixtures & tools. Also, the turning-cutting process involves moving the turning tool in one of the two fashions, either in a straight line or a curve in a place to get the needed size.
CNC boring on the other hand is utilized by smaller workpieces since it’s pretty difficult to get precise results with larger workpieces. The CNC boring machines have smaller work tables unlike CNC turning machines. It is also worth noting that boring uses a rotating single-edged boring tool in order to enlarge the initially made hole of the workpiece into the desired size.
Workpiece Orientation
During CNC turning, the workpiece rotates about its axis while the cutting tool moves parallel to this axis. It is through this process that cylindrical or conical shapes are created. In case of the boring process, the workpiece remains stationary and the cutting tool is inserted into the workpiece and moved along its axis.
Material Removal
The differences between CNC turning vs CNC boring are pretty apparent when it comes to material removal. For CNC turning, the method is used when removing material from the outside of a workpiece. This is achieved by moving the cutting tool along the surface of a workpiece depending on the predetermined depth. This CNC machining method is useful when reducing the diameter of items, creating grooves, and creating other external features in a workpiece.
On the other hand, CNC boring is used when removing material from inside a workpiece. To achieve this, the cutting tool is rotated inside a hole. This is why CNC boring is commonly used to create new holes, enlarge existing ones, and create internal features such as grooves.
Machine Type
CNC turning is normally performed by lathes which is where the workpiece rotates from.
On the other hand, CNC boring is done on vertical or horizontal machining centers. As the process takes place, the workpiece remains immobile while a rotating cutting tool is inserted into the machine’s internal features.
Industry Application
CNC turning is typically used in production environments where manufacturers create tools with cylindrical or conical features. You will therefore find it being applied mostly in the automotive, aerospace, and general manufacturing industries.
On the contrary, CNC boring is mostly applied in industries where precision internal machining is important. This is why you will find it being used in the automotive to make engine cylinder bores, oil and gas industries, and in aerospace for constructing items that need internal cavities. With boring, you can achieve tight tolerances and smooth internal surfaces.
Conclusion
As you have seen, CNC turning and boring each offer distinct machining solutions that are utilized in various industries. Therefore, it is vital to determine your needs first before deciding on the type of CNC machining to go for.
Also, for those looking for precision and quality in your metal manufacturing process,Sunrise Metal is the answer.
Talk to us today for expert CNC machining services that meet your desired needs.