CNC Lathes Vs Manual Lathes

Lathes with no doubt have made their position strong in the machining industry for many hundred years. They are the most versatile equipment that has the magic to make anything literally from automotive parts to furniture. With time, the used manual lathes progressed and gave way to new technologies, in a better version named as Computer Numerical Control – CNC.

Let’s take a look at the differences between the CNC Lathes and Manual Lathes, presented in a simpler version by Hi-Tech Machinery Inc.

CNC Lathes

The CNC lathes come as an expensive and complicated machine when compared to manual lathes. The used CNC machines offer more benefits and have the capacity to do anything just like the manual lathes but in an advanced form.

The CNC lathes are better controlled by the computer which makes it to produce a perfect duplicated design. The precision and accuracy saves money and time and also reduces waste to a great extent. Accuracy is very important when it comes to machining the exact parts.

Though CNC lathes are expensive and involve the software and computer expense for the operation of the lathes, the decreased waste and increased productivity compromises well for itself.

Advantages of CNC Lathes

• The CNC lathes can work continuously without the need for a break. This improves greatly in efficiency and productivity
• With the aid of computer software, the design is needed to be programmed only once. The machine then does the exact design for any number of times. 
• The training and skill required for CNC lathes are very little, as the majority of the work is handled by the computer software.
• Also, very few technicians are needed for oversight and operation.
• It is flexible and can be reprogrammed.
• The technology goes beyond the limitations of human capabilities.

Manual Lathes

One of the best used manual lathes turn out to be a powerful machine when operated better by a skilled worker. Despite the manual lathes’ theoretical possibility, it takes good years of experience for the operator, for high versatility and proficiency.

It is known that the machinists with less experience do not have the right skill to produce certain manual lathes’ specific parts. A person can only achieve perfection and proficiency only when he has spent a number of hours behind the machine, along with many wasted materials.

The manual lathes are a great and very helpful tool but getting the exact replica of the parts is a little difficult. It is not concerned with the workers operating behind the machine, but to produce the exact items on a manual lathe is sure a difficult task.

Advantages of Manual Lathes

• It is perfect for small projects.
• It is cheap when compared to CNC lathes.
• The space occupied by the manual lathes is small than compared to CNC lathes.
• There are few specific jobs that can be done only by the skilled worker on the manual lathes, making it impossible to complete in the CNC lathes

Both the CNC lathes and manual lathes have their advantages and disadvantages. But when operated rightly by the skilled workers, it can produce great things.