Conventional Lathe

Lesson Outcomes
By the end of this lessons, students should be able to:
The concept of lathe and different lathe operations
Calculating machining parameters in lathe
operations
Lathe machine components and lathe cutting tool
Design and operating guideline for lathe
operations as well as troubleshooting
Current developments in lathe machining

Lathe concept
Lathe: A machining process whereby a cutting
tool is fed into a rotating workpiece
Lathe / turning

Turning
-Cutting primarity
along axial direction

Lathe
-Cutting primarily
along radial direction

workpiece

workpiece

Cutting
tool

Cutting
tool

Types of lathe operations

Pls read & understand descriptions of each operation in 674-676

Types of lathe operations

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Turning: to produce straight, conical, curved, or

grooved workpieces such as shafts, spindles, and pins.
Facing: to produce a flat surface at the end of the part
and perpendicular to its axis useful for parts that are
assembled with other components.
Cutting with form tools: to produce various
axisymmetric shapes for functional or aesthetic
purposes.
Boring: to enlarge a hole or cylindrical cavity made by a
previous process or to produce circular internal grooves.
Drilling: to produce a hole which may be followed by
boring to improve its dimensional accuracy and surface
finish.

Types of lathe operations

6. Parting: also called cutting off, to cut a piece
from the end of a part, as is done in the
production of slugs or blanks for additional
processing into discrete products
7. Threading: to produce external or internal
threads
8. Knurling: to produce a regularly shaped
roughness on cylindrical surfaces, as in making
knobs

Roughing & Finishing

1. Perform rough cut: high f,d high MRR.
Why?
2. Perform finishing cut: low f,d low
MRR. Why?

Recommendations for
turning parameters

Lathe machine

Lathe machine components

Bed: supports all other major components. Heavy &
rigid. Ways allows carriage to slide.
Carriage: consists of cross-slide, tool post, and
apron. Cutting tool is mounted on tool post.
Cross slide: moves radially and in/out.
Headstock: Contains motors & gearing to supply
power to spindle.
Spindle: hollow so that a workholding device (chuck
or collet can be mounted)
Tailstock: Slides in the ways to support the other end
of the workpiece. Dead/live center or drill can be
mounted here.

Troubleshooting lathe operations

High speed machining

High speed: V=600-1800 m/min
Very high speed: V=1800-18000 m/min
Ultra high speed: V>18000 m/min
Heat is removed along with chips low
thermal distortion
High productivity Low unit cost

Ultra precision machining

For precision manufacturing of electronic,
nuclear energy and defense applications
Cutting tool is a single crystal diamond
Tool radius is at nanometer (10-9) level
Surface finish is at nanometer level
Very stiff machines with temperature
stability

Summary
Lathe is a process whereby a cutting tool is fed into a
rotating workpiece. A number of lathe processes allows the
machinist to machine a great variety of cylindrical shapes
Calculations for Material removal rate, cutting speed,
cutting time, torque and power are important before any
lathe operation
Components should be designed with machining limitations
in mind
Troubleshooting can be performed by identifying the
appropriate machining parameter to change and modifying
it in the correct amount
High speed machining and precision machining are
becoming increasingly important to lower production cost
and produce precision components