What is Lathe Machine and how does it work?

 

Lathe machine is one of the earliest machinery available today and is also considered the mother of all machines. It is a mechanical device in which the workpiece is rotated against an appropriate cutting tool for producing cylindrical shapes in metal/wood or any machinable material. It performs various tasks like cutting/sanding/drilling with tools that are applied to the workpiece. It is a material removal machine that shapes the part by separating material and is usually used for two-dimensional round work.

Working Principle:

A lathe holds the workpiece between two rigid&strong supports called chucks which revolves. It holds the workpiece in place when it spins and is attached to the spindle. The cutting tool is rigidly held in a tool post which is fed against the revolving work.

The spindle is operated by an electric motor which can normally be tuned to varying speeds. Now that the workpiece is spinning, an operator can pull up the cutting tool and slowly cut away from the workpiece. The tool is secured in the toolholder, which will protect the tool from being tossed out if the workpiece hits the tool too hard. The tool can move up&down the rotation axis using a carriage that slides up&down the part’s length.

The tailstock is another vital part. It is similar to the spindle, however, it is not powered, and can only rotate freely when attached to a workpiece. Typically, a drill bit is attached to the tailstock, which is then slowly lowered into the workpiece's base. This static drill bit drills through the material leaving a hole in the middle of the piece.

In short, a lathe is an essential piece of metal & woodworking equipment and the most versatile tools out there. We are leading Lathe Machine Exporters in India. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this amazing tool.