What is Lathe Machine | How it works ?

Here we will see what is lathe machine, how it works, the main parts of the lathe machine and its operation. They are used in almost every manufacturing industry. It is used to get the required shape and size of the job. If someone wants to start working in manufacturing industries, they must have to know how to operate a lathe machine.

First, understand what is a lathe machine?

The lathe is used to rotate a workpiece to perform different processes like turning, facing, knurling, grooving, etc., and these operations are done by various tools.

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How does a lathe machine work?

The lathe is used to remove metal from the workpiece to get the required shape and size. The workpiece is rotated in the opposite direction of the tool. The function of the tool is to remove material from the workpiece. The direction of the tool motion is called a feed.

What are the main parts of the Lathe Machine?

Above is the lathe machine diagram.

Here we give details of some of the lathe machine parts.

1. Headstock

The headstock is on the left side of the lathe. The gear train, main spindle,  chuck, gear speed control levers, and feed controllers are on the headstock. The tailstock and headstock are aligned. It is made of cast iron.

• Chuck

Chuck holds the workpiece. It is connected to the main spindle of the headstock. Chuck rotates with the spindle and also rotates the workpiece. There are three-jaw or four-jaw chuck is used. The jaws of the three-jaw chuck move together and the jaws of four jaw chuck move individually.

• Main Spindle

It is used to holds the cylindrical workpiece within it. Chuck is mounted on its hollow shaft.

• Feed Selector

Feed selector is on the headstock and used to select direction like from right to left and left to right.

2. Tailstock

The tailstock is on the right side of the lathe machine. It also provides support to the workpiece.

3. Bed

The bed is a very important part of the lathe as all other parts are bolted on the bed. It holds the headstock, tailstock, carriage guideways and other sections. A bed is made of cast iron.

Guideways

Guideways are on the bed. As per its name, it is used to guide the tailstock and carriage. Tailstock and carriage are moves over guideways. It is like an inverted V.

4. Carriage

The carriage is on the headstock and tailstock. It has an apron, saddle, compound rest, cross slide and tool post.

• Tool Post

The tool post is used to hold the tool. There is a T-slot for holding the tool and it is bolted on the carriage.

• Compound Rest

It used to set the angle of the tool for taper turning and other operations.

• Cross Slide

Cross slide is used to move the tool perpendicular to the axis of the lathe.

• Saddle

The top portion of the carriage is known as Saddle. The cross slide is on the saddle.

• Apron

The front section of the carriage is called apron. It has all the moving and control mechanism of the carriage.

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5. Lead Screw

It is used to move carriage automatically while threading.

6. Feed Rod

With this carriage is moved right to left and left to right.

7. Chip Pan

It is used to collect the chips produced during lathe operations and it is on the bottom of the lathe.

8. Hand Wheel

The handwheel is operated by hand to move the cross slide, carriage, tailstock, and other parts.

Types of Lathe Machine

The lathe machines are mostly divided into three types.

1. Engine lathe
2. Turret Lathe
3. Special purpose Lathe

Various Lathe Machine Operations

1. Facing

This is the first operation performed on the workpiece. This operation is used to make a flat surface at the end of the workpiece. This operation is completed with the feeding the tool perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the chuck.

2. Turning

This process is performed to remove excess material from the workpiece to make the cylindrical surface of the required shape and size. In this operation, the feed is moved with the axis of rotation of the chuck and the diameter of the cylindrical workpiece is reduced.

3. Boring

The removal of material from the hole of the workpiece is called Boring. The holes are bored with a single-point cutting tool.

4. Drilling

The hole is made in the workpiece by the drills. The drill is on the tailstock and the operation is performed by moving the drill in the workpiece by rotating the handle of the tailstock.

5. Reaming

Reaming is enlarging the size of the holes to the required size. It is performed after drilling operations. This process is the same as the drilling process. The reamer is on the tailstock for the reaming.

6. Counter Boring

Boring a hole in more than one diameter on the same axis is called counter boring. It is performed by a boring tool.

7. Knurling

Knurling operation is used to make indentations on the border of the workpiece. It is used to provide a grip on the job. knurling tool is used for knurling operation.

8. Chamfering

It is performed to beveling the ends of the workpiece. It is performed to remove burrs which is to protect the workpiece from damage and also look good.

9. Parting Off

Parting off is used to cut the workpiece after getting the desired shape and size.

10. Grooving

Creating of a narrow slot on the workpiece is called grooving. It is also called recessing or necking.

11. Forming

In this process, a convex, concave or any irregular surface is formed on the workpiece with forming tool. The forming tool has the required shape used to perform the forming operation.

12. Taper Turning

In this process, conical shape is made on the workpiece. In the taper turning the feed is set on an angle to the workpiece.

13. Threading

Making threads on a cylindrical job is called threading.

14. Undercutting

In this operation, the diameter is enlarged if it is done internally and decreases the diameter if it is externally. This operation is performed at the end of the hole near the stepped shoulder and at the end of a threaded portion in the blot.

15. Eccentric Turning

Eccentric turning is a turning operation where turning is done at a different axis with a single setting of a job. It is mainly used to produce crankshaft and camshafts.

Applications of Lathe Machine

• Lathe machine is used for metalworking, woodturning, metal spinning, parts reclamation, thermal spraying, and glass working.
• It is also used to shape pottery. The design of the potter’s wheel is made by the lathe.
• If there is a fully equipped lathe machine it is used to make solids of revolution, plane surfaces, and screw threads or helices.
• There are three-dimensional solids with maximum complexity produced by ornamental lathes.
• Some of the examples made with a lathe are candlestick holders, gun barrels, cue sticks, table legs, bowls, baseball bats, musical instruments, crankshafts, and camshafts.

This is the information about what is the lathe machine, how lathe machine works and its operations.

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