A lathe machine is generally used in metalworking, metal spinning, woodturning,

and glassworking. The various operations that it can perform include the following:
sanding, cutting, knurling, drilling, and deforming of tools that are employed in creating
objects which have symmetry about the axis of rotation. Some of the most common
products of the lathe machine are crankshafts, camshafts, table legs, bowls,
and candlestick holders.
The first lathe machine that was ever developed was the two-person lathe machine
which was designed by the Egyptians in about 1300 BC. Primarily, there are two things
that are achieved in this lathe machine set-up. The first is the turning of the wood
working piece manually by a rope; and the second is the cutting of shapes in the wood by
the use of a sharp tool. As civilizations progressed, there have been constant
modifications and improvements over the original two-person lathe machine, most
importantly on the production of the rotary motion.
The production of the rotary motion therefore evolved according to the following
procedures: the Egyptians manualturning by hand; the Romans addition of a turning bow;
the introduction of the pedal in the Middle Ages; the use of the steam engines during the
Industrial Revolution; the employment of individual electric motors in the 19th and mid
20th centuries; and the latest of which is the adaption of numerically controlled
mechanisms in controlling the lathe

Bed: Usually made of cast iron. Provides a heavy rigid frame on which all the main
components are mounted.
Ways: Inner and outer guide rails that are precision machined parallel to assure
accuracy of movement.
Headstock: mounted in a fixed position on the inner ways, usually at the left end.
Using a chuck, it rotates the work.
Gearbox: inside the headstock, providing multiple speeds with a geometric ratio by
moving levers.
Spindle: Hole through the headstock to which bar stock can be fed, which allows shafts
that are up to 2 times the length between lathe centers to be worked on one end at a time.
Chuck: 3-jaw (self centering) or 4-jaw (independent) to clamp part being machined.
Chuck: allows the mounting of difficult workpieces that are not round, square or
triangular.
Tailstock: Fits on the inner ways of the bed and can slide towards any position the
headstock to fit the length of the work piece. An optional taper turning attachment would
be mounted to it.
Tailstock Quill: Has a Morse taper to hold a lathe center, drill bit or other tool.

 Carriage: Moves on the outer ways. Used for mounting and moving most the cutting
tools.
Cross Slide: Mounted on the traverse slide of the carriage, and uses a handwheel to
feed tools into the workpiece.
Tool Post: To mount tool holders in which the cutting bits are clamped.
Compound Rest: Mounted to the cross slide, it pivots around the tool post.
Apron: Attached to the front of the carriage, it has the mechanism and controls for
moving the carriage and cross slide.
Feed Rod: Has a keyway, with two reversing pinion gears, either of which can be
meshed with the mating bevel gear to forward or reverse the carriage using a clutch.
Lead Screw: For cutting threads.
Split Nut: When closed around the lead screw, the carriage is driven along by direct
drive without using a clutch.
Quick Change Gearbox: Controls the movement of the carriage using levers.
Steady Rest: Clamped to the lathe ways, it uses adjustable fingers to contact the
workpiece and align it. Can be used in place of tailstock or in the middle to support long
or unstable parts being machined.
Follow Rest: Bolted to the lathe carriage, it uses adjustable fingers to bear against the
workpiece opposite the cutting tool to prevent deflection.

Saddle: is the part of the carriage which slides along the bed way and support the
Cross-slide,compound rest and Tool post.

Protecting Eyes, Ears, and Nose

To protect eyes from the high quantity of sharp debris that flies off the lathe during
turning, users should always wear eye protection. Safety goggles or a face shield should
be worn at all times when the lathe is on, and after use until it has stopped turning. A
face shield is highly recommended because it provides greater protection. Users should
be careful that the protective eyewear does not interfere with their ability to see the
work area clearly.

Dust is also produced during woodworking, particularly during sanding, so a dust mask
is also recommended. Dust from exotic woods and spalted woods may be particularly
toxic, in which case a face shield that features an air filtration system is the best method
of protection.
Sound volume and frequency can be high during lathing; users should consider wearing
appropriate hearing protection for these frequencies. However, this may not be
appropriate when working with others in the vicinity, when verbal communication is
vital to everyones safety.

Safe Attire
While certain safety equipment is essential to protect oneself during lathing, there are
some things that should never be worn in the woodworking or metalworking shop
because they present a safety hazard. Loose items can get caught in rotating parts and
result in serious injury or death. Long sleeves should be rolled up to the elbows; short
sleeves are preferable. Loose hair should be tied back. Users should remove all jewelry,
scarves, and dangling accessories, and avoid loose-fitting clothing. Most experts warn
against using gloves.
Wearing an apron or smock designed for wood- or metal working adds a protective
layer.

Safe Operation Practices

To prevent risk of injury or even death, the following are some basic safety guidelines.
They apply to lathes for both wood and metal, unless otherwise specified.

When working on the lathe, always stand straight; never lean on the lathe or
reach over the chuck when it is in operation.

The area directly in front of and behind the workpiece is called the "red zone,"
because it is at greatest risk for projectile pieces. When turning the lathe on, try to avoid
standing in the red zone, while keeping contact with the power switch in case the
machine needs to be turned off.

If the workpiece vibrates, this is an indication that the speed is too fast. Reduce
the speed until the workpiece rotates steadily, without vibration.

Threaded spindle noses should be used with caution, since rotating in the
reverse direction can cause the chuck or driver plate to unscrew and detach.

If working with wood, beginners should avoid material that has splits, knots, or
heavy bark.

Before sanding or polishing, remove the tool rest.

Metal chips can be razor-sharp and should not be removed with hands. Instead,
use pliers for long chips and a brush or vacuum for short chips. Compressed air should
not be used to remove chips from the lathe, since it can blow the chips back into the
users face.

The lathe motor should always be turned off before adjusting the tool rest or any
other parts, or before cleaning, lubricating, or measuring. Likewise, turn off the power
and wait until the lathe comes to a full stop when mounting or removing accessories.

Never leave a running lathe unattended. Power it off and wait until it has come
to a full stop before leaving the work area.

Users should avoid operating the lathe when tired or under the influence of
alcohol or drugs. Alertness is vital for safe lathe operation.