What Are the Parts of Lathe Machine and Their Functions?

10/17/2019

Lathes are one of the most versatile

machine tools in the industry, used to
perform a variety of machining operations.

The lathe is applied to the tool and rotated to perform various operations. It can be used for
turning, tapping, forming turning, spiral cutting, finishing, passivation, boring, spinning, grinding,
polishing, etc.

The main function of the lathe is to remove the material from the work piece and make the work
piece the desired shape and size. During the travel of the lathe, the work piece is rotated against
the tool to achieve material removal and the direction of tool movement becomes feed.

The main parts of the lathe are:

Headstock:
The headstock is usually located on the left side of the lathe and is equipped with gears,
spindles, chucks, gear speed control levers, and feed controllers.

Tailstock:
Usually located on the right side of the lathe, the work piece is supported at the end.

Bed:
The main parts of the lathe, all parts are bolted to the bed. It includes the headstock, tailstock,
carriage rails and other parts.

Carriage:
The carriage is located between the headstock and the tailstock and contains apron, saddle,
compound rest, cross slide and tool post.

LeadScrew:
Lead screw is used to move the carriage automatically during threading.

FeedRod:
It is used to move the carriage from left to right and vice versa.

ChipPan:
It is present at the bottom of the lathe. Chip pan is used to collect the chips that are produced
during the lathe operation.

HandWheel:
It is the wheel which is operated by hand to move cross slide, carriage, tailstock and other parts
which has hand wheel.

Lathe machine are generally divided into three types: Engine Lathe, Turret Lathe and Special
Purpose Lathe.

Part of Lathe

Add Question
 What is the function of a spindle in a tailstock?

 In machine tools, a spindle is a rotating axis of the machine, which

often has a shaft at its heart. The shaft itself is called a spindle, but also,
in shop-floor practice, the word often is used metonymically to refer to
the entire rotary unit, including not only the shaft itself, but its bearings
and anything attached to it (chuck, etc.).
 A tailstock is a device at the other end of of the lathe bed and rotates
freely, with some kind of bearing, to support longer stock.
 A tailstock has a Dead Center, while spindle has Live Center. Failing to
use a tailstock can cause "chatter," where the work piece bends
excessively while being cut
 What is the function of the tumble gear in the lathe head stock?

o In a lathe machine, v belt drive is used to adjust the speed of chuck with
respect to the motor. A spiral gear mounted on a shaft of the length of
lathe bed is used to shift the carriage forward and backward.
o The speed and feed will be coarse for a conventional machine since the
spindle is driven with an induction motor and speed are regulated with
different ratio gear meshing. A lever is fitted on the apron mechanism
engages or disengages the feed pinion gear causes the feed to engage or
disengage.
 o The tumbler gear mechanism is used to change the direction of the lead
screw and feed rod in lathe machines. By Engaging tumbler gear, the
carriage can be moved automatically from tailstock end to headstock.
o Lathe Backgear. As its name implies, "back gear" is a gear mounted at the
back of the headstock (although in practice it is often located in other
positions) that allows the chuck to rotate slowly with greatly-increased
turning power

What is Lathe Machine?

A lathe is a machine tool which is used to rotate a workpiece to perform various operations such
as turning, facing, knurling, grooving etc., with the help of tools that are applied to the workpiece.

Working Principle of Lathe Machine

The function of a lathe is to remove metal from a piece of work to give it a desired shape and
size. In a lathe machine, the workpiece rotates against the tool. The tool is used to remove
material from the workpiece. The direction of the motion of the tool is called a feed.

Main Parts of Lathe Machine

The various main parts of lathe machine are

 
1. Headstock
It is present on the left-hand side of the lathe. It holds the gear train, main spindle, chuck, gear
speed control levers, and feed controllers. It is aligned with the tailstock. The headstock is made
up of cast iron.

(i) Chuck
It is that part of the lathe machine which is used to hold the workpiece. It is attached to the main
spindle of the headstock. It rotates with the spindle and also rotates the workpiece. In the lathe
machine, we generally use three-jaw or four-jaw check. The three jaw of the three jaw chuck is
made to move simultaneously but the jaws of the four jaw chuck moves independently.

(ii) Main Spindle

This part of the lathe machine is used to hold cylindrical work piece within it. It is a hollow shaft
on which the chuck is mounted.

(iii) Feed Selector

It is used to select the direction of the feed i.e. whether we want to move the tool from left to right
or right to left. Feed selector is present on the headstock.

2. Tailstock
It is present at the right-hand side of the lathe. It is used to provide supports to the workpiece. It
supports the workpiece from one end i.e. right end.

3. Bed
It is the main part of the lathe. All the parts of the lathe are bolted on the bed. It comprises of
headstock, tailstock, carriage guideways and other parts. It is made of cast iron.

Guideways
Guideways are present on the bed. As its name indicates it is used to guide the tailstock and
carriage. The tailstock and carriage slide over the guideways. It is an inverted V.

4. Carriage
The carriage is present in between the headstock and tailstock. It carries apron, saddle, compound
rest, cross slide and tool post.

(i) Tool Post: It is used to hold the tool. It has T-slot for holding the tool. The tool post is bolted
on the carriage.
(ii) Compound Rest: It is used to set the tool at a desired angle for taper turning and other
operations.
(iii) Cross Slide: The cross slide is used to move the tool perpendicular to the axis of the lathe.
(iv) Saddle: The top portion of the carriage is called the saddle. Cross slide is mounted on the
saddle.
(v) Apron: The front portion of the carriage is called apron. It contains all the moving and
control mechanism of the carriage.

5. Lead Screw
The lead screw is used to move the carriage automatically during threading.

6. Feed Rod
It is used to move the carriage from left to right and vice versa.

7. Chip Pan
Chip pan is used to collect the chips that are produced during the lathe operation. It is present at
the bottom of the lathe.

8. Hand Wheel
It is the wheel that is operated by hand to move the cross slide, carriage, tailstock and other parts
that have handwheel.

  Types of Lathe Machine

The lathe machine is generally divided into three types.

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

Lathe Machine Operations

The various operations that we perform on the lathe are:

1. Facing
It is the first operation that is done on the workpiece. It is a machining operation that is done to
produce flat surfaces at the ends of the workpiece. This operation is performed by feeding the tool
perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the chuck.

2. Turning
In turning operation, the excess material is removed from the surface of the workpiece to produce
a cylindrical surface of desired shape and size. During the turning operation, the feed is moved
along the axis of rotation of the chuck. It reduces the diameter of the cylindrical workpiece.

3. Boring
The process of removing material from hole of the workpiece is called boring. Holes are bored
with the help of single point cutting tool.
 
4. Drilling
It is the process of making holes in the workpiece by the use of drills. The drill is held in the
tailstock and the drilling operation is done by advancing the drill in the workpiece by rotating the
handle of the tailstock.

5. Reaming
The process of enlarging the holes to accurate sizes is called reaming. Reaming is always
performed after drilling operation. It is similar to the drilling process. The reamer is held in the
tailstock to carry out reaming operation.

6. Counter Boring
The process of boring a hole to more than one diameter on the same axis is called counterboring.
This operation is performed by boring tool.

7. Knurling
It is the process of making indentations (recess or sharp depression) on the border of a workpiece.
The knurling operation is done to provide a better grip to the job. It is performed by the knurling
tool. The knurling tool is pressed against the job to perform the knurling operation.

8. Chamfering
Chamfering is the process of beveling the extreme ends of a workpiece. It is done in order to
remove the burrs, to protect the end of the workpiece from being damaged and to have a better
look.

 
9. Parting Off
It is the process of cutting a workpiece after it has been machined to the required shape and size.

10. Grooving
The process of creating a narrow slot on the workpiece is called grooving. It is also known as
recessing or necking

11. Forming
It is process in which a convex, concave or any irregular surface is formed on the workpiece with
the help of a forming tool. Forming tool having the required shape is used to perform forming
operation.
 

12. Taper Turning

It is the process in which a conical shape is produced on the workpiece. During taper turning the
feed is set at an angle to the workpiece.

13. Threading
The process of making threads on a cylindrical job is called threading

14. Undercutting
In the undercutting operation, we enlarge the diameter if done internally and decrease the
diameter if done externally. It is done at the end of the hole, near the stepped shoulder of a
cylindrical surface and at the end of a threaded portion in the blot.
14. Eccentric Turning
It is a turning operation in which turning is performed at a different axis on a single
setting of a job. This method of turning is generally used to produce crankshafts and
camshafts.

Working of Lathe Machine

For the working of the lathe machine must watch the video given below. It is lengthy but
very useful.

Application of Lathe Machine

 The lathe machine is used in metal working, wood turning, metal spinning, parts
reclamation, thermal spraying, and glass working.
 It can be used to shape pottery, the potter’s wheel is the latest well-known design
made by a lathe.
 If we have most suitably equipped metal lathe then it can be used to produce most
solids of revolution, plane surfaces, and screw threads or helices.
 Ornamental lathes can produce three-dimensional solids of incredible complexity.
 Examples of various objects that are produced by lathe are candlestick holders, gun
barrels, cue sticks, table legs, bowls, baseball bats, musical instruments, crankshafts,
and camshafts.
In this article we have learned about what is lathe machine – main parts,
operations and working.

Tapers and Taper Turning

2  Taper Uniform change in diameter of workpiece measured along its axis
Inch system expressed in taper per foot, taper per inch, or degreesMetric system expressed as
ratio of 1 mm per unit of lengthProvides rapid and accurate method of aligning machine parts and
easy method of holding tools

3  Machine Tapers Classified by American Standards Association

Self-holding tapersSteep or self-releasing tapers

4  Self-Holding TapersRemain in position because of the wedging action of the small taper
angleMost common formsMorse, the Brown & Sharpe, .750-in.-per-ft taperSmaller sizes provided
with tang to help drive the cutting toolLarger sizes employ tang drive with shank held in by key or
key drive with shank held draw bolt

5  Steep Tapers 3.500 in. taper per foot (tpf)

Formerly called standard milling machine taperUsed mainly for alignment of milling machine
arbors and accessoriesHas key drive and uses draw-in bolt to hold it securely in milling machine
spindle
6  Standard Tapers Morse taper Brown & Sharpe taper Jarno taper
Approximaely .625-in tpf, eight sizes #0 to #7Used for drills, reamers, and lathe center
shanksBrown & Sharpe taper.502-in. tpf, sizes from #4 to #12Used on Brown and Sharpe
machinesJarno taper.600-in. tpf, sizes from #2 to #20Standard taper pinsUsed for positioning
and holding parts together¼ tpf, standard sizes range from #6/0 to #10

7  Table 54.1: Basic dimensions of self-holding tapers

Taper Number per Diameter at Diameter at of Taper Foot Gage Line (A) Small End (D) Length
(P)⁄16⁄16⁄2 0* ⁄8⁄16⁄16Portion of table shownin textbook

8  Two Types of Lathe Spindle Nose Tapers

Type D-1Short tapered section and used on cam-lock spindlesType LTaper of in./ftLonger taper
than Type D-1Chuck held on by treaded lock ring fitted on spindleKey drive used

9  Taper Calculations: TPF

Example:

10  To Calculate the Tailstock Offset

Must know the tpf and the total length of work (L)Example:Copyright © The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

11  Simplified FormulaSimplified formula can be used to calculate tailstock offset if taper per inch
t/in. known:In cases where not necessary to find tpf:OL = overall lengthTL = length of tapered
sectionD = diameter of large endd = diameter at small end

12  Inch Taper Attachment Offset Calculations

Most tapers cut on lathe with taper attachment are expressed in tpfIf tpf not given, it may be
calculated:Calculate the tpf for a taper with the following dimensions: large diameter (D), 1.375;
small diameter (d), .9375; length of tapered section (TL), 7 in.

13  Metric Tapers Expressed as ratio of 1 mm per unit of length

Work would taper 1 mmin a distance of 20 mmratio of 1:20

14  Metric Taper Calculations

If know d, k, and l, D may be calculated. D equal to small dia + amount of taper.Amount of taper
is equal to 1k, so total taper equals lk.d = small diameterk = unit length of taperl = total length
of taperD = large diameterD = d + total taperD = d + l/k

15  Metric Tailstock Offset Calculations

If taper turned by offsetting tailstock, amount of offset O is calculated as follows:where D = large
diameterd = small diameterl = length of taperL = length of work

16  Example: Metric Tailstock Offset

Calculate tailstock offset required to turn a 1:30 taper X 60 mm long on a workpiece 300 mm
long. The small diameter of tapered section is 20 mm.Solution:

17  Metric Taper Attachment Offset Calculations

When taper attachment used to turn taper, amount guide bar set over is one-half angle given on
drawing.

18  If angle of taper not given on drawing, use following formula to find amount of guide
bar setover:
where D = large diameter of taper d = small diameter of taper l = length of taper GL = length of
taper attachment guide bar

19  Taper Turning Performed on work held between centers of in lathe chuck

Three methods of producing taperOffsetting tailstockTaper attachment set to proper tpfMetric by
calculating guide bar offsetAdjusting compound rest to angle of taperMethod used depends on
work length, taper length, taper angle and number of pieces

20  Tailstock Offset Method

Generally used to cut taper when no taper attachment availableInvolves moving tailstock center
out of line with headstock centerAmount tailstock may be offset limitedWill not permit steep
tapers to be turned or standard tapers turned on end of long piece of work

21  Tailstock Offset Method

22  Three Methods of Offsetting the Tailstock

By using graduations on end of the tailstock (visual method)By means of the graduated collar
and feeler gageBy means of a dial indicator

23  Procedure to Offset Tailstock by the Visual Method

Loosen the tailstock clamp nutOffset upper part of tailstock by loosening one setscrew and
tightening the other until required amount is indicated on graduated scale at end of tailstockNote:
Make sure both setscrews snuggedup to prevent any lateral movement of tailstock

24  Procedure to Offset the Tailstock Accurately

Adjust tailstock spindle to distance it will be used in machining setup and lock tailstock spindle
clampMount a dial indicator in toolpost with plunger in horizontal position and on centerUsing
crossfeed handle, move indicator so registers ~.020 in on work, and set indicator and crossfeed
graduated collars to zero

25  Loosen tailstock clamp nut

With tailstock adjusting setscrews, move tailstock until required offset shown on dial
indicatorTighten tailstock setscrew that was loosened, making sure indicator reading does not
changeTighten tailstock clamp nutNote: Tailstock may also be offset by using feeler gage
between toolpost and tailstock spindle in conjunction with crossfeed graduated collar

26  Advantages of Using Taper Attachment for Tapers

Lathe centers remain in alignment, preventing distortion of centers on workSetup is simple and
permits changing from taper to parallel turning with no time lost to align centersLength of
workpiece does not matter, since duplicate tapers may be turned on any length of work

27  Tapers may be produced on work held between centers, in chuck or in collet

Internal tapers can be produced by this methodMetric taper attachments are graduated in
millimeters and degrees, while inch attachments are graduated in both degrees and inches of
tpfEliminates need for lengthy calculations and setupWider range of tapers may be produced

28  Two Types of Taper Attachments

Plain taperRemove binding screw that holds cross-slide to crossfeed screw nutBinding screw
used to connect sliding block to slide of taper attachmentDepth of cut made by using compound
rest feed handleTelescopic taperCrossfeed screw not disengaged and depth of cut set by
crossfeed handle

29  Plain Taper Attachment

30  To Cut a Taper Using a Taper Attachment
Clean and oil guide barLoosen lock screws and offset end of guide bar the required amount or,
for inch attachments, set bar to required taper in degrees or tpfTighten lock screwsWith
compound rest set at 90º, set up cutting tool on center

31  Telescopic Taper Attachment

Set workpiece in lathe and mark length of taperTighten connecting screw on sliding blockMove
carriage until center of attachment opposite length to be taperedLock anchor bracket to lathe bed

32  Telescopic Taper Attachment

Take cut .060 in. long, stop lathe, check end of taper for sizeSet depth of roughing cut to .050 to .
060 in. oversize, and machine taperReadjust taper attachment, if necessary, take light cut, and
recheck taper fitFinish-turn and fit taper to gage

33  Mating external and internal tapers

Standard tapersTaper plug gage mounted between centers and taper attachment adjusted to
angle by using dial indicator mounted on centerInternal taperSame procedure, except guide bar
set to side of centerlineMating external and internal tapersMachine internal taper to plug gage
then external

34  Taper Turning Using the Compound Rest

Used to produce short or steep tapers stated in degreesTool fed by hand, using compound rest
feed handle

35  Taper Turning Using the Compound Rest

ProcedureRefer to drawing for amount of taper required in degrees (not given: calculate)

36  Loosen compound rest lock screws Swivel compound rest as follows:

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

37  Tighten compound rest lock screws

Set cutting tool to center with toolholder at right angles to taper to be cutTighten toolpost
securelyBack off top slide of compound rest so there will be enough travel to machine length of
taper

38  Move carriage to position cutting tool near start of taper and then lock carriage
Rough turn taper by feeding cutting tool using compound rest feed handleCheck taper for
accuracy and readjust compound rest setting if necessaryFinish-turn and check taper for size
and fit

39  Checking a TaperScribing two lines exactly 1 in. apart on inch taper and measuring taper at
these points with micrometer (difference is tpi)Using a sine barUsing taper ring gage for external
tapersUsing a taper plug gage for internal tapers

40  Taper MicrometerMeasures tapers quickly and accurately while work still in machineIncludes
adjustable anvil and 1-in. sine bar attached to frameAdjusted by micrometer thimbleReading
indicates tpi, which converts to tpfAvailable in various model for measuring internal tapers and
dovetails

41  Advantages of Taper Micrometers

Taper accuracy can be checked while workpiece still in machineProvide quick and accurate
means of checking tapersSimple to operateNeed for costly gaging equipment eliminatedCan be
used for measuring external tapers, internal tapers, and dovetails
42  To Fit an External Taper
Make three equally spaced lines with chalk or mechanics blue along taperInsert taper into ring
gage and turn counterclockwise for one-half turnRemove workpiece and examine chalk
marksCorrect if chalk spread along whole length of taperAdjust if chalk lines rubbed from only
one endMake slight adjustment to taper attachment and taking trial cuts, machine taper until fit is
correct

43  To Check a Metric Taper Check drawing for taper required

Clean tapered section of work; apply layout dyeLay out two lines on taper that are same distance
apart as second number in taper ratioMeasure diameters with metric micrometer at the two lines.
Difference between should be 1 mm for each unit of lengthIf necessary, adjust taper attachment
setting to correct taper