INTRODUCTION

LATHE

THEORY

Introduction: Function:-The primary function of a lathe is to remove

metal from a piece of work to give it a required shape and
size.

Classification:Wood
working

Centering
Speed lathe
Polishing
Spinning
Belt-drive
Engine lathe

Individual
motor drive

Bench lathe

Gear bed
lathe

LATHE

Tool-room lathe
Capstan and
Turret lathe

Wheel lathe

Special purpose
lathe

T-lathe

Automatic lathe

Gap bed lathe

INTRODUCTION

LATHE

THEORY

o Speed lathe: It consists of a bed, headstock, tailstock, tool post

mounted on an adjustable slide.
There is no feed-box, lead-screw or conventional type
of carriage.
The tool is mounted on adjustable slide and is fed into
work purely by hand-control.
Spindle speed:- 1200-3600rpm.
As tool is controlled by hand, depth of cut and
thickness of chip is very small.
E.g.:- wood-working, centering, polishing, etc

o Engine lathe: Unlike sped lathe it has a mechanism for driving lathe
spindle at multiple speeds.
Earlier canter lathes were operated on steam engine,
so it is called as engine lathe.
Following are some types in which an engine lathe can
be driven:-

INTRODUCTION

LATHE

THEORY

Belt-drive:- It receives power from overhead line

shaft and is equipped with speed cone and one or
more back gears to get a wide range of spindle
speeds.
Motor-drive:- Lathe gets power from individual
motor.
Gear-drive:-It gets power from a constant speed
motor and all speed changes are obtained by shifting
various gears in head stock.

INTRODUCTION

LATHE

THEORY

o Bench lathe: It is a small lathe usually mounted on a bench.

It is used for small and precision work.

o Tool-room lathe: It is mainly used for precision work of tools, dies,

gauges and in machining work where accuracy is
needed.
It has taper turning attachment, steady and follower
rests, pump for coolant, etc.
It is costlier than engine lathe.

o Capstan and turret lathe: It is a development of center lathe having hexagonal

turret replacing tail stock.

INTRODUCTION

LATHE

THEORY

On the faces of the hexagonal turret, number of tools

are placed so that simultaneous operation is
performed at a minimum time.

o Special purpose lathe: It is used for special purposes and for jobs which
cannot be accommodated or machined on a standard
lathe.
Following are some of the special purpose lathes: Wheel lathe:- Used for turning rails of locomotive.
T-lathe:- Axis of the lathe bed is at right angles to
head stock spindle in the form of a T.
Gap-bed lathe:- Section of bed adjacent to
headstock is removable and is used to swing extralarge diameter pieces.

INTRODUCTION

LATHE

THEORY

o Automatic lathe: These are high speed, heavy duty, mass production
lathes with complete automatic controls.
Once the tools are set and machine starts, it performs
automatically all the operations to finish the job.
Size of a lathe:It is expressed by following items:o Height of centers measured from the lathe bed.
o Swing diameter over bed:- It is largest diameter of work
that will revolve without touching the bed.
o Length between centers.
o Swing diameter over carriage:- Largest diameter of work
that will revolve over lathe saddle.
o Maximum bar diameter:- Maximum diameter of barstock that wheels will pass through hole of head stock
spindle.
o Length of bed:- It indicates approximate floor-space
occupied by the lathe.