CY Axis Lathe

Oz_ · Sunday at 1:41 PM

Hey all,

I am confused about the specs of the lathes. While I was looking for C-Y axis lathes, most of the lathe manufacturers didn't mention the C axis separately in the specs section. Instead, they've put the Y-axis capabilities (max length range) only. Does it mean that a lathe with a Y axis also has a C axis automatically? Isn't it possible for a lathe to have a controllable C axis where you can control of spindle while it doesn't have a Y axis to be controlled? Another way might be the opposite one like a lathe having a controllable Y axis but not having a C axis. I am trying to get terminology here.

Vancbiker · Sunday at 3:17 PM

Absolutely possible to for a lathe to have Y and no C axis, just spindle indexing. Also it is possible for a lathe to have a C axis with no Y axis.

Panza · Monday at 5:52 AM

A lathe with Y and not a C axis is kind of useless as you wouldn't be able to index the C-axis to where you want to mill/drill.
A lathe with C and not a Y axis is very commomn. You can mill and drill whereever you want on the face of the part , along the axis radially, bt not off axis radially.

Oz_ · Monday at 7:54 AM

Panza said:
A lathe with Y and not a C axis is kind of useless as you wouldn't be able to index the C-axis to where you want to mill/drill.
A lathe with C and not a Y axis is very commomn. You can mill and drill whereever you want on the face of the part , along the axis radially, bt not off axis radially.

Thanks a lot. It clarified everything.

Vancbiker · Monday at 9:15 AM

Panza said:
A lathe with Y and not a C axis is kind of useless as you wouldn't be able to index the C-axis to where you want to mill/drill.

You can have spindle indexing and not be a C axis. Just an indexer. 5 degree increments is pretty typical.

Orange Vise · Monday at 9:46 AM

Ozgur_ said:
most of the lathe manufacturers didn't mention the C axis separately in the specs section

It'll usually be listed under the spindle specs, e.g. "0.001 degree" positioning ability.

For indexing-only spindles, it'll be 1 or 5 degrees.

13engines · Monday at 3:49 PM

Panza said:
A lathe with C and not a Y axis is very commomn. You can mill and drill whereever you want on the face of the part , along the axis radially, bt not off axis radially.

Expanding a little on what Panza said here... If the lathe has a full C and comes with Polar Coordinate Interpolation Mode (G12.1 on Fanuc) you can do flats and hexes and about any other thing you can think of on the end of the part. (With Live Tooling in the Turret) There might even be things you can do without live tooling??? That I'm not sure of.

Panza · Tuesday at 11:15 AM

You can do broaching without live tooling.
I think I've never seen an indexing spindle in the specs of a new lathe. I suppose it was more common years ago ?

Vancbiker · Tuesday at 11:45 AM

Panza said:
…….I think I've never seen an indexing spindle in the specs of a new lathe. I suppose it was more common years ago ?

I’m gonna say that’s true. As the cost of electronic motion control has come down and controls abilities has improved, C axis spec had become much more wide spread. In most cases now the spindle motor and drive act as the C servo. In older machines, there was a need for a separate servo and drive for C. This also required a mechanical device that engaged and disengaged the servo from the spindle. Usually by shifting a gear in or out of mesh. The cost and complexity of those things made a C axis a costly option.

sinha · Tuesday at 12:05 PM

I think, if the specification says that the number of independently-controlled axes is three, then also it should have C axis because Y axis is not as common as the C axis.

Haas specification clearly states "Live tooling with C axis"

Ox · Tuesday at 4:44 PM

I would like to think that any lathe built in the last 20 year with live tools would by default have a C axis.

"Indexing" was a 90's thing...

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