A lathe is a machine that rotates a workpiece about an axis of rotation to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facing, and turning, with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object with symmetry about that axis.
Different forms of lathe machine are available today including CNC lathe, bench lathe, mini lathe and heavy duty lathe machine. Selecting a lathe machine according to your requirements is the most important thing to get the best of it.
Selecting a lathe suitable for your project.It’s important to select the right one for your project and be aware of the main specifications of the tool. Bench top lathes can be suitable for turning small projects like ink pens and yo-yos, larger machines may be used for making spindles used in furniture and handrail styles.Please check the following specifications before you select a lathe:
Swing over bed- The largest diameter of the piece of material which can be processed. This basically describes how thick a piece of workpiece can be in order to fit into the machine.
Distance between centers- This basically describes how long a piece of workpiece can be in order to fit into the machine.
Motor power-It’s the amount of torque the lathe motor develops, which in turn will determine how heavy an item can be turned without overloading this critical component.
Spindle taper-There is a huge range of Morse taper kit on the market, but if you buy a lathe with only screw-on fittings you are very restricted as to what you can use. Morse tapers are commonly No 1 or No 2 on the smaller lathes; the bigger the number the thicker the taper.
Spindle speed-A lathe with a very low speed range allows the user to start a piece of odd shaped, unbalanced stock without excessive vibration, and high speed machines can speed the work while making obtaining a fine, smooth finish easier to achieve.
Weight-As a general rule, the heavier and more substantial the machine, the better. As a general rule, the heavier and more substantial the machine, the better. If you want to make a the best workpiece, you can think carefully about the quality and buy the best lathe you can afford.
Price-There are lots of very cheap lathes on the market that all look the same and appear to give you a lot for your money.But there is a definite correlation here between the price you pay and the quality you get.
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