Machinists looking for a new addition to their machine shop or home workshop face a number of choices. Which lathe or mill is the best, how large should they be, and of course – which make and model?
For machinists working in small spaces, lathe/mill combination machines provide a tempting choice. These are typically small lathes with a built-in milling turret, offering machinists the flexibility of multiple cutting operations in a single machine.
If you think you’re interested in a lathe and mill combo, there are a few things you’ll need to consider first. These will help shape your thinking and decide what’s the best machine for you.
1. What are your size requirements?
The single biggest advantage of any lathe/mill combo is its reduced footprint. Smaller footprint means less space occupied in a small shop, providing much-needed savings.
However, that reduced footprint can also work against a machinist working with larger pieces. Be sure to consider what you’ll be doing with your new combination machine. If you’ll regularly be working with larger pieces, you could get a larger lathe/mill combo. But beyond a certain point, the flexibility of the combination machine starts to work against it – the largest pieces require the extra power that only dedicated tools can provide.
2. What’s the primary function?
In the same vein, you’ll need to know exactly what your new machine will be used for. Lathe and mill combos excel at one-off projects that require dedicated milling and turning functions. If you’re cutting a variety of smaller, detailed parts that require turning and milling operations a combo machine might suit your needs well, allowing you to adjust from project to project.
Know and understand what you need your new machine to do, and plan accordingly.
3. Would a dedicated machine be better?
If you focus on larger production runs, or if you will primarily be using one function (turning or milling), then a dedicated lathe or mill might be the better choice. Combination machines necessarily sacrifice power for versatility; larger, tougher workpieces might be best cut with a single-purpose machine.
And in skilled hands, advanced lathes or mills – particularly CNC-equipped machines – can perform nearly as many functions as older combination machines. Summit’s Flatbed Lathes provide full CNC automation for everything from one-off parts to small production runs for turning operations. And for milling operations, smaller vertical benchtop mills like Summit’s VS series can handle anything that most shops can throw at them.
4. Who makes the mill?
Lathe and mill combination machines can work, but like other machine tools, much depends on the manufacturer. If the brand isn’t high-quality, then any advantages the machine offers won’t be enough to overcome shoddy workmanship and poor construction.
For any modern machine tool, high-quality construction is vital for high-quality production. That applies to both manual and CNC machines.
If you’re still unsure of which way to go, consider a brief checklist:
The primary purpose of your new machine – turning vs milling operations, one-off vs production runs, etc.
Any size requirements – how big of a space do you have, and what size of workpiece will you generally encounter?
Common use – will you use the machine primarily for one set of operations (i.e., milling or turning), or do you need the flexibility of a combination lathe and mill?
Specialization – should you purchase a dedicated, high-end machine?
Answer these questions, and you’ll be able to determine if you should get a combination lathe and mill – or if your money would be better spent elsewhere.