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​When you start using a lathe machine, you will notice several lathe chuck types. The most common are 3-jaw, 4-jaw, and 6-jaw chucks. Each type fits different needs in cnc lathe work. A lathe chuck holds your workpiece steady on the lathe machine. This makes sure your cnc projects stay accurate and safe. You need to know which chuck matches your part and job.

You can see a big difference between a cnc lathe and a cnc milling machine. In a cnc lathe, the workpiece spins but the cutting tool does not move. This makes it great for making shafts, screws, and round parts. A cnc milling machine holds the workpiece still and turns the tool. This lets you shape flat, slanted, or tricky surfaces.

Positioning accuracy in a cnc lathe shows the gap between where the tool should be and where it really is. Repeatability tells us if the machine can go back to the same spot every time. These two things are very important in cnc machining. They matter a lot in car and airplane making, where high quality and exact sizes are needed. The cnc lathe is popular in factories today because it gives steady results many times. Operators use these numbers to see if their cnc turning center can give the right quality and accuracy.

If you want to understand the difference between turning vs milling, focus on what moves during the process. In turning, the workpiece spins while the cutting tool remains stationary. In contrast, milling involves the cutting tool spinning and moving across the material. Turning is ideal for creating round parts such as shafts or bushings, whereas milling excels at producing flat surfaces, grooves, or complex shapes. Both turning vs milling are essential techniques in subtractive manufacturing, supporting industries like automotive and aerospace to grow rapidly.

Electric built-in spindles are the main part in cnc lathe systems. These spindles have the motor inside the spindle body. This means there is no need for belts or gears. They give high speed, low shaking, and great energy savings in cnc lathe work.