Live Tooling is an option offered on almost any CNC turning center, but what is it? How do you know if you need it and is it worth it? In a previous article titled Types of Turning Centers and How to Identify Which is Best for You, we discussed the various types of Turning Centers. In this article we will look at the value of Live tooling and the impact of what adding this option can have on your bottom line. 

What is Live Tooling?

So what is live tooling anyway? Tooling on a CNC turning Center is made to carve off material from the face and diameter of a spinning object held in the spindle via a collet chuck or other workholding device. The term “Live” refers to this tooling being able to rotate driven by its own mechanism along with unique capabilities that standard static, non-moving tools would not have. Some of these abilities are: 

  • Milling
  • Drilling Off-Center
  • Cross Milling
  • Tapping
  • Grooving/Slotting
  • Thread Milling

Live Tooling Lathes vs. Standard CNC Lathes

Live tooled lathes can perform so many more types of work then a standard turning center and do it without having to set up the workpiece over again. Also as they are CNC Turning centers, they can perform all the functions of a standard turning center as well. If you have multiple jobs for turning such as pins, shafts etc. your live tooled CNC Lathe can perform those perfectly while more complex workpieces requiring off center holes, slots, flats etc. can be milled in place without loss of the parts indexed position. 

One other option that can further enhance a Live Tool Lathe capability is the addition of a Y-Axis to the Turret.  The Y-Axis can take radial tooling off center and allow for even more complex machining operations and produce parts with virtually no turned surfaces at all. These machines offer great automation capabilities such as bar feeds, parts catchers etc. without the need for multiple machines to perform the same task. Check out Driven Tools; Milling on a CNC Lathe for an in depth review of this process.

Why You Should Invest in Live Tooling for Your CNC Turning Center

If you're currently turning workpieces and then setting them up in a milling machine for completion you should seriously consider a live tooled lathe as the reduction in process time, the increased accuracy and reduced scrap arat ecan more then offset the initial investment costs. Further the capability this technology add-on provides can nurture new forms of work from new or current customers. 

Finding Your Best Live Tooling Options

When you have decided that live tooling is right for you, you will need to determine the right options in workholders. A typical new CNC Turning Center oath Live Tooling is provided with a small assortment of live tool holders however your needs may be much greater.  Often there are universal type holders available from your tooling suppliers that allow unique setups or machining configurations. Variable Angle live tool holders are another great addition as well as offline setup and gaging stations that allow you to perform the measuring operation of your tooling off the machine while it is doing what it does best, make money. 

Check with your tooling supplier and machine manufacturer for a complete list and description of live tooling holders available for your machine. 

Maximizing Your Live Tool Lathes Investment

One of the most important aspects of a live tool lathe’s success, is maximizing its use. While it certainly can be used for simple turning operations, it is best suited for those complex parts where multiple setups might otherwise be required. Finding and routing these more complex, and better paying workpieces to the live tooled machines can provide better parts, reduced scrap and a better return overall for the business. 

In the end adding a live tool lathe to just about any machine shop makes sense now and in the future and these machines are designed to handle complex parts, reduce scrap and perform more parts in a single setup reducing manpower and increasing profitability. If you think you're in the market for a quality used turning machine that provides the live tool capabilities contact us at Southern Fabricating Machinery Sales as we know turning and live tool turning too!

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