Turning (Lathe): the route, the tolerances it holds, materials and design tips, with an indicative cost. One of 56 processes in the free finder.
MachiningFamily
+/-0.025mmTypical tol.
5Route steps
122Parts in finder
Turning spins the workpiece on a lathe while a single-point tool removes material, producing round features to tight tolerance.
At a glance
When to use it, and when not
Best for
Shafts, pins, bushings, fittings and any round part, prototype to high volume on CNC.
Watch for
Mainly axially symmetric features; off-axis work needs live tooling or a second op.
Step by step
The typical route
Raw material to finished part. Steps vary with material, volume and tolerance; this is the free route from the finder.
Load bar
Feed bar stock into the lathe.
Tooling Lathe Tolerance - Lead -
Turn
Turn, face, groove and drill in one setup.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Part off
Part off the finished piece.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Deburr
Deburr and clean.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Inspect
Check diameters and finish.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Precision
Tolerances it can hold
TYPICAL TOLERANCE IT CAN HOLD
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials
Materials it suits
Grade
Why it suits this
Free-machining steel 12L14
Fast, cheap
Aluminium 6061
Fast, light
Stainless 303/304
Corrosion
Design
Design tips
A few general pointers for Turning (Lathe). The full, part-specific DFM list is in the dossier.
Tiny corner radii in grooves.Match standard tool radii.
Over-tight tolerance on non-fit features.Open them up.
Cost
What it costs
Round parts (shafts, pins, fittings); priced by spindle time. Low setup, usable from qty 1.
PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for your part at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$32 to 55per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
GET THE FULL DOSSIER
Everything you need to quote and source it
The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on this process and buy it well:
Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
SistematikWork is a whole IE platform. Past the free finder, there are 41 ready Excel calculators, templates and CAD guides, each built from real coursework and checked against known values.
Manufacturing & OperationsQuality & ReliabilitySupply ChainProject & StatisticsEngineering Career
Turning spins the workpiece on a lathe while a single-point tool removes material, producing round features to tight tolerance. The typical route is: Load bar; Turn; Part off; Deburr; Inspect. Shafts, pins, bushings, fittings and any round part, prototype to high volume on CNC.
What does Turning (Lathe) cost per part?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $32 to 55 per part at low volume and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. Model estimates, not quotes.
What tolerance can Turning (Lathe) hold?
Typically about +/-0.025 mm, tighter with extra finishing operations at higher cost.
What materials suit Turning (Lathe)?
Common choices are Free-machining steel 12L14 (Fast, cheap); Aluminium 6061 (Fast, light); Stainless 303/304 (Corrosion).
See the exact route and should-cost for your part
The free finder maps your part to its process and full route. Pro adds should-cost at your volume, sourcing and an RFQ draft.
