Can You Tell the Difference Between Transverse and Longitudinal Turning?

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CNC lathe is one of the most widely used CNC machine tools. It is mainly used to process symmetrical rotating parts, such as shaft parts, inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of disc parts, inner and outer conical surfaces with arbitrary cone angles, complex revolving inner and outer curved surfaces, cylindrical, conical threads, etc.

Even the most common turning contours have different processes. In the CNC system, all these process options are covered in three categories: “transverse turning”, “longitudinal turning (also called “reciprocating turning”), and “groove cutting”. Among them, let us tell the difference between transverse turning and longitudinal turning.

Features of transverse turning:

In transverse turning, the moving direction of the turning tool is parallel to the axis of rotation of the workpiece.

If it is the main spindle, the moving direction of the tool is from right to left; if the machine is equipped with a counter spindle, the moving direction of the tool is from left to right.

transverse turning can be used to machine outer circles and inner holes. However, when machining the inner hole, a bottom hole must be pre-drilled first.

In addition to outer circle processing, end face processing is also possible.

Features of longitudinal turning side and end faces:

When longitudinal turning is performed on the side of the workpiece, the feed direction of the slitting turning tool is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the workpiece.

In the longitudinal turning of the end face of the workpiece, the feed direction of the slitting turning tool is parallel to the workpiece axis.

The longitudinal turning tool has three cutting edges so that the material removal process in the radial and axial directions is as uninterrupted as possible. (Because the fast moving stroke is minimized)

The insert shape and the body shape of the grooving inserts and the longitudinal inserts are different.

In summary, transverse turning and longitudinal turning have different features as below:

Turning Type

Tool Change Operations

Chip Discharge Effect

Advantages

Transverse turning

Perfect

Large crossfeed can be achieved;
Achieve higher feed rate during roughing

Longitudinal turning

Less

Not ideal

Avoid the empty cutting stroke;
High flexibility in the application

When are the above two processes used?

Due to tool holder limitations, not all contours can be machined. Longitudinal turning is generally used: for example, processing parts with deep grooves and 90° corner structures. The processing of these structures can only be carried out by this process.

Transverse turning is generally used for streamlined contour structures with arc transitions. Not all contours can be processed horizontally with limited CNC tool holders, and more tools may need to be replaced during processing.

Can You Tell the Difference Between Transverse and Longitudinal Turning?