What is Lathe Machines?
Lathe machines, a versatile machine tool, facilitate the process of material removal from a spinning workpiece in the form of chips. Leveraging a specialized tool that deeply penetrates the workpiece and travels seamlessly throughout can accomplish this objective. It is one of the industry’s most popular and widely used CNC machine tools. The ‘Mother of All Machines’ is another name for this. Because it can execute a wide range of operations, the lathe machine has evolved into a general-purpose machine tool used in manufacturing and repair tasks.
History
The invention of lathe machines began in the 13th century when the Egyptians created the first two-person lathe. After a few years, the Romans modified the Egyptian lathe machine by incorporating a turning bow. The precision metal lathe machine has been evolving since the 13th century. HENRY MAUDSLAY, a British Engineer, and inventor of the first-ever lathe.
Construction and Components
#1 Headstock
The lathe’s left side has it. The gear train, main spindle, chuck, gear speed control levers, and feed controllers are all housed in it. It is parallel to the tailstock.
- Chuck: It is the portion of the lathe machine that holds the workpiece. Headstock’s main spindle is attached to it. It rotates with the spindle and the workpiece. We usually use a three-jaw or four-jaw chuck on the lathe machine. The jaws of the three-jaw chuck move synchronously, but the jaws of the four-jaw chuck move independently.
- Primary Spindle: Mainly used to hold a cylindrical workpiece. A hollow shaft holds the chuck in place.
- Feed Selector: To select the feed direction, i.e. whether to move the tool from left to right or right to left. On the headstock is a feed selector.
#2 The Tailstock
It is present on the right side of the lathe. It provides support to the workpiece from the right end.
#3 Bed
It is the primary component of the lathe. The lathe’s components are all attached to the bed. It comprises a headstock, tailstock, carriage guideways, and other components. It is constructed of cast iron.
#4 Guideways
On the bed, there are guidelines. It suggests that one uses it to steer the tailstock and carriage. The carriage and tailstock slide over the guideways. It looks like an inverted V.
#5 Carriage
They install it between the headstock and the tailstock. They equip it with an apron, saddle, compound rest, cross slide, and tool post.
#6 Tool Post
The user holds the tool in this location. A T-slot on the carriage securely holds the tool. The tool post securely fastens the carriage.
- Compound Rest: Users place the tool at the proper angle for taper turning and other operations.
- Cross Slide: The lathe operator uses a cross slide to move a tool perpendicular to the lathe’s axis.
- Saddle: The saddle is the top part of the carriage. The saddle has a cross slide installed.
- Apron: The apron is the front section of the carriage. It houses the carriage’s entire moving and controlling system.
#7 The Lead Screw
Employing the lead screw automates the movement of the carriage during threading.
How does it Work?
A lathe operates by turning the workpiece and a stationary cutting tool. Two strong and stable supports, such as a center in a chuck or a rotating faceplate, hold the workpiece in place. The tool moves across the workpiece and can feed up into it to cut away unwanted material from a rotating workpiece in the form of chips, using a lathe. The lathe’s primary duty is to remove metal from a project to shape and dimension it.
Applications
- Metalworking (machining operations)
- Metal spinning
- Thermal spraying
- In the automotive sector, primarily in the crankshaft
- Woodturning
- Glass turning operation
- Component reclamation and many other applications
Types of Lathe Machines
- Center Lathe or Engine Lathe Machine
- Turret Lathe Machine
- Speed Lathe Machine
- Toolroom Lathe Machine
- Bench Lathe Machine
- Special Purpose Lathe Machine
- CNC Lathe Machine
Final Thoughts – Lathe Machines
To summarize a lathe is a machining tool with a spinning workpiece and a fixed cutting tool. The workpiece is clamped to the headstock or tailstock, which spins it while pressing it against a stationary cutting tool. A lathe machine is a heavy-duty, high-powered tool commonly used in engineering to cut and shape metals, wood, and plastics, as well as to drill holes with additional pieces. Manufacturing uses various types of lathes depending on the job.
