TURNING CENTER – Definition from CNC Dictionary

A machine tool which does primarily turning, but which has live tooling (a spindle on the turret) for doing milling operations. From a software point of view, a turning center is made possible by the NC’s ability to do transmit and cylindrical transformations. The modern spindle drive, which can function equally well as a rotary, contouring axis also makes turning centers economically attractive. Some turning centers have an Y-axis as well.