A lathe machine is the one which is used in wood turning, metal spinning, metalworking, glass-working, thermal-spraying etc. It is a machine tool that helps in operations like eccentric turning, borning, reaming, scroll cutting, knurling, drilling, facing, turning, sanding, or deformation to create an object with symmetry about an axis rotation. As the lathe machine provides the flexibility to perform variety of operations, it was the first machine tool to be used as the one for metal cutting.
Objects which can be made using the lathe machines are table legs, baseball bats, musical instruments, cue sticks, candle holders, bowls, camshafts, gun barrels etc.
How the Lathe Machine Works - the Principle:
Working principle: Two rigid & strong center supports hold a work piece in a rotating chuck or a face plate. The normal cutting operations are performed with the cutting tool fed either parallel or at right angles to the axis of the work. The face plate (or chuck) is mounted on the machine spindle. The tool moves either in parallel or in inclination with the axis to cut the desired piece of material. When the material is fed at an inclination, it produces a tapered surface and if fed in parallel, it produces cylindrical surface.
List of operations which can be performed on Lathe Machines (with the help of special attachments): shaping, grinding, flucting, milling, key-way cutting, cam & gear cutting etc.
Parts of a Lathe Machine:
Before purchasing the lathes, one must be known to all of its parts so that they are able to buy the best lathes from the huge number of machines available for sale.
- Head stock: It serves as shelter for the driving pulleys and back gears. Also, it provides the bearing for the spindle and keeps it safe with the bed. Headstock is basically a hollow spindle which feeds reverse lever etc. The work piece is placed between the two centers of the lathe bed to work upon.
- Carriage: During the procedure of the lathe machine, the tool is fed, guided, & supported with the help of the lathe carriage only. It is present in between the head & tail stock. The carriage further consists of the following parts: tool post, aprone, cross-slide, saddle, and compound rest.
- Tail Stock: Also known as the puppet head or the loose head stock, it is mounted on the bed of the lathe in such a way that it is able to maintain the alignment with the headstock. Tailstock's main purpose is to provide the support & bearing to the job.
- Legs: The main part of any machine. Just like a human body, legs hold the complete load of the machine. These must be fixed firmly to the floor so as to prevent any vibrations. One of these also serves as the housing for the electric motor, countershaft etc..
This was all the brief description of the lathe machines, its parts, & its operations. So, before buying the lathes for sale, consider the complete information about them.
