Both a CNC lathe and a CNC mill use a digital, pre-programmed plan to create an object from a piece of metal, plastic, or other materials. CNC milling and CNC turning, which is done on a CNC lathe, are similar processes, but they have some differences, and each machine is ideal for particular parts.
The main difference between a CNC lathe and a CNC mill is the way the machine and the part rotate. A CNC lathe rotates the workpiece or bar stock against the cutting tools to make a shape. By contrast, in a CNC mill, the cutting tools rotate around the bar stock. This difference is subtle, yet they allow each machine to create particular objects or make particular cuts with speed and efficiency.