Origin and Development of Cam Lathes

In metalworking and woodworking, an automatic lathe is a lathe with automatic control of the cutting process. The earliest automatic lathes were developed in the 1870s, using mechanical control. Since the 1950s, with the advent of NC and CNC technology, the term "automatic lathe" is typically used to refer to mechanically controlled lathes, although some manufacturers (such as DMG Mori and Tsugami) refer to sliding head CNC lathes as "automatic" . CNC has not completely replaced mechanical automation lathes; many mechanical automatic lathes are no longer produced but are still in use.

Cam automatic lathes still maintain a certain sales volume today due to their rapid turning capabilities, allowing users to mass-produce parts quickly. The low cost of automatic lathes is another reason users cannot abandon them. Without controllers, they rely solely on mechanical components, making maintenance and repair costs significantly lower than those of CNC lathes. Management costs are also lower, especially since most cam-operated machines have already recovered their costs, whereas new CNC machines require substantial monthly payments. Even in today’s CNC-dominated environment, companies that rely on cam automatic machines remain competitive by staying vigilant and managing these machines wisely.

Cam lathes mainly use cam control; these cams have different shapes and angles and control the feed of tools and cutters. During part processing, the entire length of the bar rotates with the spindle. Once a part is completed, it is "separated" from the bar, the collet releases, the bar advances, the collet closes again, and the next cycle begins. Bar feed can be accomplished in various ways, including pulling tools that grab the bar and pushing feeders from behind. Cam lathes use five tools simultaneously on the bar to produce parts, whereas traditional CNC lathes can typically use only one tool at a time. Achieving simultaneous use of five tools on a CNC machine would be very costly (machines capable of this can range from $600,000 to $1,000,000), which is why cam lathes remain competitive.

Currently, countries like China, India, and Vietnam, which have more labor-intensive industries and lower wages, are the main users of cam lathes. In Taiwan, many machining workshops still retain cam lathes due to their ease of maintenance and high-speed turning capabilities, making many business owners reluctant to replace them with newer machines.