What Is a Lathe?
Lathes are essential machining tools that support cutting, knurling, facing, and turning operations. They have been around for thousands of years and are one of the oldest machine tools. They work in a similar way to milling machines but, instead of the tool rotating, the piece rotates. They come in a variety of forms but all lathes are essentially the same. They consist of a headstock with spindle and chuck to hold the part, a lathe bed to catch the shavings, a carriage and cross-slide to position the tool box, and a turret to mount different tools. Most modern lathes also have a tailstock that supports the end of the piece away from the chuck.
These basic two-axis machines are often used for a number of different operations, including threading, grooving, drilling, and machining complex profiles. They are the most common machining tool for cylindrical parts, like axle and sleeve components. They are a must for anyone doing heavy metal fabrication.
There are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a lathe, but the most important is the size and weight restrictions on the job at hand. A large or heavy lathe is not going to be suitable for light work, while a smaller and lighter lathe can be used for anything from small jewelry pieces to engine blocks.
While a machine is running, it’s best to avoid moving or adjusting any parts of the machine unless you know what you are doing and can follow safety protocols. This is especially true if you are working on a very expensive or complicated piece of machinery. Changing the tool at the wrong time can cause damage and ruin the entire project. It is a good idea to label any areas that you are modifying and removing from the machine and to always shut off the power source completely before working on it.
What Is a Vertical Lathe?
Vertical lathes (sometimes called VTLs) are designed to handle medium-sized to large jobs that need a solid base for holding the workpiece and eliminating any potential sagging that could happen with the same weight in the horizontal position. These machines are also known as ram-type lathes and can also perform milling tasks, allowing them to be a valuable member of any CNC machine shop.
A high-quality lathe is usually built with better materials than the cheaper machines, and it is designed to handle a wider variety of metals, making it more versatile in use.
These machines have a headstock at one end, with the tailstock at the opposite end. The chuck is mounted in the headstock, and the cutting tools are fixed on supports that can move to either side of the workpiece. The rotary motion of the tool spindle enables the cutting tools to be moved around, enabling you to shape the workpiece from various sides.
The advantage of the vertical design is that it allows for a larger overall diameter. It also eliminates the need for the tailstock to support the workpiece at its end, reducing the amount of stress on the workpiece that can be applied in the horizontal position. This is especially important for shaft work where the object is putting immense downward and lateral pressure on the part.
These lathes can be traditional engine or turret lathes, with an indexable tool turret at the headstock, or computer numerical control (CNC) versions that allow for automated machining. The machines are made of cast metal or steel blocks, and they can typically hold up to a maximum of 500 bar (7252 psi). A VTL can easily be modified for different applications, and it is very simple to load and unload workpieces.
What Is a Horizontal Lathe?
A horizontal lathe is a type of machine tool that can rotate cylindrical workpieces and remove material from the surface to create desired shapes or surfaces. It is used in the manufacturing industry to perform heavy-duty turning operations, but it can also be programmed for other machining functions such as milling and drilling. Lathes are designed to provide high precision and stability, which makes them ideal for use in critical applications such as aerospace and medical devices.
There are different types of horizontal lathes available in the market, and they come in a variety of sizes, specifications, and price points. Choosing the right device for a particular application requires consideration of several critical factors, such as the size and power of the machine, the cost of the machine, the accuracy required by the job, and the level of automation that can be achieved.
All lathes have similar basic components, including the bed, headstock, tailstock, carriage, cross slide, tool post, and chuck. The bed holds the workpiece and provides support, while the headstock encloses the spindle and chuck that turn the piece. The tailstock supports the opposite end of the workpiece and can be adjusted to control the length of the machined part. The carriage, cross slide, and tool post hold the cutting tools. The chuck grips the workpiece and keeps it secure while the machine is cutting it.
While a horizontal lathe is best at cutting round or cylindrical workpieces, it can also be used to cut other shapes such as ovals, squares, and rectangles. It is also a popular choice for creating decorative or functional profiles, such as those seen on table legs, lamp stands, pens, and chess pieces. Other common workpieces turned on lathes include engine components, spherical joints, and precision engineering parts.
If you’re interested in purchasing a lathe machine, browse our extensive inventory of used vertical lathe machines and used horizontal lathes. Contact us at Tramar Industries and we’ll help you find the right machine for the job.