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    CNC turning

    Safe and efficient with flawless virtual simulation

    Utilize the fully digital Tebis manufacturing environment to create CNC turning programs, ensuring fast and reliable manufacturing of both simple and complex parts.

    Tebis accommodates a diverse range of parts and machine types. For example, leverage interpolation turning to manufacture symmetrical part areas seamlessly on milling machines without rotary axes, eliminating the need for reclamping.

    With models of the blankworkpiece and tool assembly serving as the foundation for every calculation, from cutter to tool holder, you’ll have access to collision-checked CNC programs for enhanced safety. Plus, by creating and verifying CNC programs outside the NC control, your machines can maintain continuous operation, capitalizing on the exceptionally high material removal rate during turning.

    Time savings
    Shorter programming and manufacturing time
    Process safety
    Maximum safety thanks to collision avoidance, even in programming
    Efficiency
    Effective strategies for roughing, finishing and plunge milling with controllable chip formation and minimal positioning
    Automation
    High level of automation with flexible templates – also for machine units and control properties

    The Tebis Turn-Mill Package – our comprehensive worry-free solution for companies with combined machines

    Strong, safe and cost-effective – fast, easy learning curve – ideal for single-part production

    Tebis Turn-Mill Package
    Fully automated turn-milling – up to 70% faster

    Our online training lets you get started right away – no other modules or software needed!
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    Interpolation turning: The new upcoming manufacturing method

    Manufacture symmetrical part areas up to 80% faster

    While interpolation turning may not be as widely recognized, it stands out as a highly efficient method for machining symmetrical part areas. In this process, the part holder remains rigid while the cutting movement follows a spiral path in the X, Y and Z directions around the part geometry’s axis of rotation.
    • For manufacturing on milling machines, even without a direct-drive rotary table. Users should have the capability to switch the machine's main spindle to position-controlled operation and control it like a rotary axis.
    • For manufacturing geometry elements like seals and connections on turn-milling machines. Machining is tilted from the turning center.
    • Including off-center turning: Particularly suitable for manufacturing eccentric turned parts.

    See for yourself:

    Interpolation turning on a milling machine
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    Off-center turning for eccentric turned parts
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    The advantages of interpolation turning at a glance:

    • Outstanding for combined manufacturing of symmetrical and non-symmetrical areas
    • Turning is faster than milling
    • No reclamping necessary
    • Turning tools are generally less expensive than milling tools
    • Tool life is longer
    • Constant cutting conditions, no vibration: Outstanding surface quality
    • Complete programming of all NC machining operations in a single CAD/CAM application: Learn it once, verify it once in the virtual environment, and generate a single NC output.

    Proven 80% faster in practice: ACTech GmbH

    ACTech GmbH frequently manufactures complex parts that lack full rotational symmetry but feature certain geometric elements that are rotationally symmetrical. Historically, these areas have been machined using 3- and 5-axis simultaneous milling techniques.

    ACTech is now benefitting from all advantages of interpolation turning on milling machines.
    • It reduced the machining time for these areas from an average of 50 to 10 minutes. That's a time savings of 80%.
    • Instead of ground tools costing an average of 800 to 900 euros, simple turning tools with a long tool life are now used
    • In the past, the surfaces often had to be manually reworkedn, but this is no longer necessary. In interpolation turning, the cutter is continuously in use and high surface quality is ensured.
    (source: Dipl.-Ing. Georg Sandig, Head of Machining, ACTech GmbH)
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    Proven in practice: Interpolation turning at ACTech GmbH

    Example application of combined machining

    Turning a spiral mandrel

    This video shows the turning of a complex spiral mandrel in tool steel. Many roughing, finishing and plunge milling operations are quickly and effortlessly programmed, complete with collision checking, enabling the machine to operate efficiently. Here we’re using a milling/turning machine, because extensive milling and drilling operations are also required to complete the part.

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    Functions

    Comprehensive strategies for CNC turning

    Tebis has all the necessary functions for longitudinal, planar and contour-parallel CNC turning of contours and grooves and for end-face drilling – including off-center. You can just as easily prepare CNC programs for turning cylindrical, tapered and planar threads. Tebis automatically detects whether areas need to be turned from the inside or outside.

    • Interpolation turning
    • Off-center drilling
    • Vertical/side/contour-parallel plunge milling
    • Inside turning
    • Axis-parallel/contour-parallel turning
    • Thread turning
    • Planar turning
    • Pulling cut
    • Manual programming

    Maximum safety with collision checking

    If an area can’t be fully turned with a single tilt direction, multiple tilt directions can be defined during CNC programming, allowing machines to operate continuously. Tebis automatically adjusts corresponding areas if a collision between a tool assembly and the part is detected during CNC turning, thereby generating collision-checked CNC programs for turning.

    Short manufacturing times thanks to efficient toolpaths

    In CNC turning, you have the option to program positioning movements with the shortest possible path, reducing the time needed for retracts and stepovers. Automatic collision checking ensures the safety of your processes. Additionally, if desired, you can integrate a finish cut during roughing to eliminate residual material steps between the roughing paths.

    Chip control and full-width cut detection

    In CNC turning, you have the ability to pause the operation after a custom-defined path length. This facilitates timely chip breaking, particularly when working with soft and ductile materials like copper and aluminum. This allows you to turn various materials at high speeds while maintaining the precise cutting parameters. Additionally, full-width cut detection during plunge milling extends the lifespan of the cutter. You have the flexibility to choose the action to take when the cutter is in full contact, such as chip clearance or retracting at the feed rate.

    Turning with convenient part cutoff

    Parts can be cut off from bar stock using a special function for automated machining on lathes and turn-milling centers. You can quickly and easily define the optimal cutting conditions for the feed rate and speed upon material exit. You can easily cut the part off straight and finish its contour at the same time without having to design any auxiliary geometry. You can deburr the part and turn the bar side flat during cutoff. This allows you to immediately manufacture the next part with the bar stock. The cut-off part can be transferred to the second spindle or taken up by the part gripper/catcher – automatically controlled and reliably simulated.

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    Manage machine parameters for NC output

    It’s best to define where in the CNC program machine components like clamping elementstailstocks with quills or steady rests open or close during CNC programming. This spares you from making time-consuming adjustments on the machine. This is controlled in the Tebis Job Manager in the same way as the entire CNC automation for turning with templates.

    Material tracking for manufacturing progress and simulation

    Tebis uses a blank model to determine the location of the material to be machined during CNC turning. With material tracking activated, the blank is updated in real time following each cut. This allows you to visually follow the manufacturing progress at all times and realistically simulate all turning operations.

    Customer response

    Here’s what our customers are saying about turn-milling:

    Success from switching technologies

    "Using Tebis, we’ve developed a very reliable and highly efficient machining process for our 5-axis technology." Roger Wadell (left), Gunnar Persson (right), responsible for work preparation and production engineering"

    MV USAB, Smedjebacken, Sweden

    Read full story

    Background

    Learn more about CAD/CAM technology for turning

    Turn-milling combination, digital twins and process implementation determine the race
    View webcast now
    We want to control the machine

    This is a principle that Tebis has followed for more than a decade, and Reiner Schmid, Tebis AG’s head of Product Management, still views it as a unique approach. In an interview with Christopher Detke from NCFertigung, he explains what makes a good CAM system, where the challenges lie and what machines he currently regards as the most complex.

    Read full interview

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