Bolts are one of the most fundamental parts of several manufacturing businesses all around the world, which range from aerospace and defence to electronics and wooden products. But today, we will discuss which CNC machine you can use to manufacture bolts. In one line, the answer is CNC lathe, as they’re a right fit to make products that have cylindrical or circular shapes. Let’s discuss in detail why the CNC lathe is the right fit for machining bolts and how to do that.
Overview of the bolt manufacturing process:
Here are the main steps that need to be followed to manufacture bolts:
- One needs to select the steel wires or rods and then prepare them for processing.
- The steel is shaped into the basic bolt form using dies and high pressure; this process is called cold forging and is popular for its efficiency and the strength it imparts to the bolts.
- Then the bolts are heat treated to enhance their mechanical properties.
- Then threads are made in the bolts with the process of rolling or cutting.
- Processes like galvanizing or plating are applied for corrosion resistance.
- Lastly, final inspections are done to ensure the accuracy of the bolt and its mechanical performance.
Why are CNC lathes preferred for bolt manufacturing?
Here are the top reasons why CNC lathes are preferred for manufacturing bolts:
- Cylindrical component expertise: Bolts are cylindrical, and CNC lathes are the perfect machine for making products that have that kind of shape. CNC lathes can easily manufacture products with rotational symmetry, allowing them to shape the bolt’s shank to exact length and diameter. The rotating workpiece helps in making bolts with smoother surface finishes and achieving tighter tolerances, which are critical for meeting bolt manufacturing standards.
- Multi axis versatility: CNC lathes that have live tooling and multi axis machining features are an even better choice for making bolts, as they can bring more precision in manufacturing and can handle additional operations like head formation. Like, a hexagonal head can be milled using live tools without needing to transfer the workpiece to a different machine or change the setup.
- Thread cutting capability: Threading is an important part of manufacturing bolts, and CNC lathes can easily perform those actions directly on the shank using specialized tools, which ensures accurate thread pitch and depth. A CNC lathe with a threading cycle can help in producing metric or UNC threads with high repeatability.
- Production efficiency: CNC lathes are great workhorses that are highly automated and have advanced features like turret tools and bar feeders, enabling continuous and efficient production of tools. A CNC lathe with a bar feeder can process multiple bolts from a single bar stock, which minimizes material handling.
Considerations for CNC Lathe Selection:
Here are some considerations that you need to make when buying a CNC lathe:
- A high-power spindle and variable speed are necessary for cutting bolts of tough materials like stainless steel and titanium.
- Lathe with turret with 8-12 tool stations, which includes live tools, and supports operations like threading and milling in the same setup.
- Lathes with advanced control systems are used because they ensure precise programming for complex thread profiles and head shapes.
- If you are in high volume production, then a bar feeder automates the material loading, increasing the throughput.
Top CNC lathes you might consider for bolt production:
Here are some of the best CNC lathes that you might select if you are in the bolt production business:
- DMG Mori NLX 2500|700
- Okuma GENOS L3000e
- Haas ST-20Y
- Doosan Puma GT2100
- Mazak QUICK TURN 250 MSY
Conclusion:
Bolt manufacturing is a well known machining business, and the competition is high, so you need to get the best machine for manufacturing to get an edge on your competitors. In case you want good machines on a tight budget, then you should definitely check the used lathes in our collection.
