If you’re already using a mill, a natural extension of your shop would be to add turning capabilities with a lathe. CNC milling and CNC lathe work are quite similar, but there are some glaring differences that are easy to miss if you’re new to turning.

Using a mill requires a lot of dedication to proper measurement and calculation, and to do so means finding the proper tools. Making sure your machine knows where your work is sitting is a vital to quality parts. There are a number of edge-finding and measurement devices, Here are the three most common ones we hear about from Tormach users.

Last week, we talked about the importance of precision and the tools that are essential to help every machinist take measurements. Another vital set of measurements that every machinist needs to utilize are tool and work offsets – essentially, knowing where your work piece is and how your cutting tool will come into contact. 

The most important measuring tools from Tormach.