LATHE

1.1 INTRODUCTION
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.

Fig 1.1 Lathe Machine

Lathe machine is the single most versatile machine in the engineering

workshop. A lathe is a machine tool which spins a block of material to perform
various operations such as cutting, turning, facing, threading, sanding, knurling,
drilling, or deformation such as metal spinning with tools that are applied to the
work piece to create an object which has symmetry about an axis of rotation.

This machine has the main rotary movement and function as a modifier
form and size of objects to the way things are cut up with a notching. Position
of object in accordance with the rotary axis machine and hack silent, moving to
the right, left to the direction of the axis engine of job slashing. Lathe get charged
on the fixed belt V through many of the motor is placed under the control of the

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heads is still one of the 27-speed, which is set in a geometric progress logically,
can be obtained.

1.2 COMPONENTS OF LATHE

The main parts of lathe machine are:-

Fig 1.2 Components of Lathe

A. Bed
Bed is the main body of a lathe which provides supports to all parts of the
machine. The bed is heavy, rugged casting which is mounted on the working
parts of the lathe. All main components are bolted on it. It is usually made by
cast iron due to its high compressive strength and high lubrication quality.
B. Head Stock
They having spindle shaft and support bearings, speed shift levers and
gear trains. The head stock spindle is a hollow cylindrical shaft that provides a

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drive from the motor to work holding devices. Head stock is hidden in a box and
spindle is hidden in a gear cover.

C. Tail Stock
The main function of tail stock to support the job. Tail stock is situated on
bed. It can be offset for taper turning operations. The main function of tail stock
to support the job when required. It is also used to perform drilling operation.
D. Lead Screw
It is used to transmit power to carriage through gear and clutch
arrangement in the carriage apron. Lead screw is situated at the bottom side of
bed which is used to move the carriage automatically during thread cutting.
E. Carriage and Saddle
Carriage supports cross – slide, compound rest and tool post and it moves
along the ways under manual or power feed. It comprises the saddle a casting,
which rides across the top of the ways and the apron. Compound slide permits
angular tool movement for taper turning.
F. Cross Slide and Compound slide
Cross slide is a dove tail slide which is assembled on the top of the saddle
and moves at right angle to the ways. Compound slide supports the tool post and
cutting tool in its various positions and it is above the cross slide and it can be
rotated to set the tool to advance cutting of work piece.
G. Feed Mechanism
Feed mechanism is used to transmit power to carriage. Gear train system
is provide.
H. Tool Post
Tool Post is used to hold the tool at correct position. It’s bolt on the
carriage. It may set at any desire angle. It is bolted on the carriage. It is used to
hold the tool at correct position. Tool holder mounted on it.
I. Apron
It is situated on the carriage. It consist all controlling and moving
mechanism of carriage. It's called an apron because it hangs over the front side

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of the lathe. First see this definition: Apron is attached to the carriage and hangs
over the front side of the lathe bed. The apron hangs down perpendicular to the
bed of the lathe, hanging in an apron-like way.
J. Spindle
It is the main part of lathe which holds and rotates the chuck. 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.
K. Live Center
A Live Center is mount on bearings and rotates with the work. Live
centers are using to hold or support a work-piece.
L. Dead Center
A dead center may be used to support the work piece at either the fixed or
rotating end of the 7machine. Dead centers are typically fully harden to prevent
damage to the important mating surfaces of the taper and to preserve the 60°
angle of the nose.
M. Chuck
Chuck is used to hold the workspace. It is bolted on the spindle which
rotates the chuck and work piece. It is four jaw and three jaw according to the
requirement of machine.
1.2.1 Functions of lathe machine
 To producing cylindrical jobs.
 Flats surface and holes.
 Turning, is the most fundamental traditional machining process.
 Moreover, lathe is also used for, drilling, taper turning, thread cutting,
knurling, parting and facing operations. Lathe machine, is operated by
multi speed geared electric drives.
1.2.2 Working Principle of lathe machine
The lathe is a machine tool which use to removes unwanted materials
from a work piece in the form of chips with the help of a tool which travels
across the work piece and can be fed deep in work. When tool is moved parallel

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to the work piece then cylindrical surface is formed. If the tool is moved inclined
to the axis then it produce a taper surface and so call as taper turning.
1.3 OPERATION OF LATHE MACHINE
1.3.1 Lathe machine operation
Lathe machine is used to cut the metal from cylindrical work piece, and
convert it into desire shape. It turns the cylindrical work piece, and during
turning a sharp edge cutting tool introduce, which cuts the metal. Its working
can be described as follow:
1. A cylindrical work piece fixed to the chuck. A chuck may have three jaw or
for jaw according to the requirement. The work piece is at the centre or some
eccentric according to the process perform.
2. The spindle starts to rotate and set it at desire speed. The spindle speed plays
a huge role during cutting. The spindle rotates the chuck and work piece.
3. Now check the work piece is turning properly. If it not set the work piece
using dial gauge.
4. Now set the tool at desire feed by moving the tool post and carriage. The
feed also play main role during cutting. Large feed may cause unwanted
temperature increase.
5. After it tool is introduce between moving work piece at desire feed rate. It
cut the metal from work piece. The feed rate is set at the cutting condition.
6. Now all unwanted metal is removed by moving the carriage form
horizontally and vertically as desire according to the job requirement. After
complete all process we got a well finished job.
7. Lathe can perform turning, boring, chamfering, shaping, facing, drilling
knurling, grooving.
8. Work piece held between centres and tool driven by carriers and catch plates.
9. Work piece held on a mandrel which is supported between centres and
driven by carriers and catch plates.
10. Held and driven by chuck with the other end supported on the tailstock
centre.
11. Held and driven by a chuck or a faceplate or an angle plate.
1.3.2 Types of lathe machine operation
In lathe machine the work part is rotates and the tool remains stationary.
Lathe machine operations involve the turning, drilling, facing, boring threading
and many more. Various tools and different orientation of the tool is used to get
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 the desired shape. All these methods are mainly basic turning operations. Let as
discuss these methods.
To understand the different operations the machinist must know how to
give different feeds on the machine. And also must have a clear idea about the
cutting tools. Different types of lathes are available in the industry. So let as
discuss the processes and follow the diagrams for a better understanding.

1. Facing
2. Turning
3. Chamfering
4. Grooving
5. Forming
6. Knurling
7. Undercutting
8. Eccentric turning
9. Taper turning
10. Thread cutting
11. Drilling
12. Reaming
13. Boring
14. Tapping

1. Facing
Facing is a lathe operation in which the cutting tool removes metal from
the end of the work piece or a shoulder. Facing is a machine operation where
the work is rotated against a single point tool. A work piece may be held in a
3, 4, or 6 jaw chuck, collets or a faceplate.

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 Fig 1.3 Facing

2. Turning
Turning is the removal of metal from the outer diameter of a rotating
cylindrical work piece. Turning is used to reduce the diameter of the work
piece, usually to a specified dimension, and to produce a smooth finish on
the metal.

Fig 1.4 Turning

3. Chamfering
Chamfering is the operation of bevelling the extreme end of the
workpiece. The form tool used for taper turning may be used for this

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 purpose. Chamfering is an essential operation after thread cutting so that
the nut may pass freely on the threaded workpiece.

Fig 1.5 Chamfering

4. Grooving
Grooving is the process of cutting a narrow groove on the cylindrical
surface of the work piece. It is often done at end of a thread or adjacent to a
shoulder to leave a small margin. The groove may be square, radial or bevelled
in shape.

5. Forming
Forming is a process of turning a convex, concave or any irregular shape.
For turning a small length formed surface, a forming tool having cutting edges
conforming to the shape required is fed straight into the work.

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6. Knurling
Knurling is the process of embossing a diamond shaped pattern on the
surface of the work piece. The knurling tool holder has one or two hardened steel
rollers with edges of required pattern. The tool holder is pressed against the
rotating work.

Fig 1.7 Knurling

The purpose of knurling is,
 To provide an effective gripping surface.
 To provide better appearance to the work.
 To slightly increase the diameter of the work.

7. Undercutting
It is a process of enlarging the diameter if done internally and reducing
the diameter if done externally over a short length. It is useful mainly to make
fits perfect. Boring tools and parting tools are used for this operation.

Fig 1.8 Undercutting

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 Undercutting is done,
 At the end of a hole
 Near the shoulder of stepped cylindrical surfaces
 At the end of the threaded portion in bolt.

8. Eccentric turning
If a cylindrical work piece has two separate axes of rotating, one being
out of centre to the other, the work piece is termed as eccentric and turning of
different surfaces of the work piece is known as eccentric turning. The distance
between the axes is known as offset. Eccentric turning may also be done on some
special machines. If the offset distance is more, the work is held by means of
special centres. If the offset between the centres is small, two sets of centres are
marked on the faces of the work. The work is held and rotated between each set
of centres to machine the eccentric surfaces.

Fig 1.9 Eccentric turning

9. Taper turning
Taper
A taper may be defined as a uniform increase or decrease in diameter of
a piece of work measured along its length.
Taper turning methods
I. Form tool method
II. Compound rest method
III. Tailstock set over method
IV. Taper turning attachment method

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 I. Form tool method
A broad nose tool is ground to the required length and angle. It is set on
the work by providing feed to the cross-slide. When the tool is fed into the
work at right angles to the lathe axis, a tapered surface is generated.

Fig 1.10 Form tool method

This method is limited to turn short lengths of taper only. The length of
the taper is shorter than the length of the cutting edge. Less feed is given as
the entire cutting edge will be in contact with the work.

II. Compound rest method

The compound rest of the lathe is attached to a circular base graduated in
degrees, which may be swivelled and clamped at any desired angle. The angle
of taper is calculated using the formulae.
The compound rest is swivelled to the angle calculated as above and
clamped. Feed is given to the compound slide to generate the required taper.

III. Tailstock set over method

Turning taper by the set over method is done by shifting the axis of
rotation of the work piece at an angle to the lathe axis and feeding the tool
parallel to the

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 lathe axis. The construction of tailstock is designed to have two parts namely
the base and the body. The base is fitted on the bed guide ways and the body
having the dead centre can be moved at cross to shift the lathe axis.

Fig 1.11 Tailstock set over method

IV. Taper attachment method

The taper attachment consists of a bracket which is attached to the rear
end of the lathe bed. It supports a guide bar pivoted at the centre. The bar having
graduation in degrees may be swivelled on either side of the zero graduation
and set at the desired angle to the lathe axis. A guide block is mounted on the
guide bar and slides on it. The cross slide is made free from its screw by
removing the binder screw. The rear end of the cross slide is tightened with the
guide block by means of a bolt. When the longitudinal feed is engaged, the tool
mounted on the cross slide will follow the angular path as the guide block will
slide on the guide bar set at an angle of the lathe axis. The depth of cut is
provided by the compound slide which is set parallel to the cross-slide.
The advantage of this method is that long tapers can be machined. As
power feed can be employed, the work is completed at a shorter time. The
disadvantage of this method is that internal tapers cannot be machined.

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 Fig 1.12 Taper attachments method

10. Thread cutting

Thread cutting is one of the most important operations performed in a
lathe. The process of thread cutting is to produce a helical groove on a cylindrical
surface by feeding the tool longitudinally.

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 Fig 1.13 Thread cutting
11. Drilling
Drilling is the operation of producing a cylindrical hole in a work piece.
It is done by a rotating tool, the rotating side of the cutter, known as drilling drill.
In this operation, The work piece is revolving in a chuck or a faceplate and the
drill is held in the tailstock drill holder or drill chuck.

Fig 1.14 Drilling

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12. Reaming
Reamers are used to finish drilled holes or bores quickly and accurately
to a specified diameter. When a hole is to be reamed, it must first be drilled or
bored to within 0.004 to 0.012 inch of the finished size since the reamer is not
designed to remove much material. The work piece is mounted in a chuck at the
headstock spindle and the reamer is supported by the tailstock in one of the
methods described for holding a twist drill in the tailstock. The lathe speed for
machine reaming should be approximately one-half that used for reaming.

Fig 1.15 Reaming

13. Boring
In machining, boring is the process of enlarging a hole that has already
been drilled by means of a single-point cutting tool, such as in boring a gun
barrel or an engine cylinder. Boring is used to achieve greater accuracy of the
diameter of a hole, and can be used to cut a tapered hole.

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 Fig 1.16 Boring

14. Tapping
Tapping is the process of cutting a thread inside a hole so that a cap screw
or bolt can be threaded into the hole. Also, it is used to make thread on nuts.
Tapping can be done on the lathe by power feed or by hand. Regardless of the
method, the hole must be drilled with the proper size tap drill and chamfered at
the end.

1.4 TYPES OF LATHE MACHINES

Lathe machines are classify according to their construction and design.
Some of them are:
1. Bench lathe
2. Speed lathe
3. Engine lathe or center lathe
4. Tool room lathe
5. Capstan and turret lathe
6. Special purpose lathe
7. Automatic lathe

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1. Bench lathe
 Bench lathe is a small lathe usually mount on a bench.
 This is using for small and precision work.

2. Speed lathe
 Speed lathe is the simplest of all types of lathe in construction and
operation.
 It consists of a bed, a head stock, a tail stock and a tool – post mounted on
an adjustable slide.
 The spindle speed is about 4000 rpm.
 They are named because of very High Speed of head stock spindle.

3. Engine lathe or centre lathe

 An engine lathe is a type of machinery, shaped horizontally, and it is often
used to cut metal.
 The metal is turned, and the machine uses special cutting tools to create
the desired shape.
 Because of the lathe, it can create various specific forms and is commonly
used to spin sheet metal.
Advantages
 It is using for mass production of products.
 It is using for manufacturing cylindrical shapes like steels and plastics.
Disadvantages
 It is very difficult to program in machine language
 Corruption, poor service, and racial issues.

4. Tool room lathe

 A tool room lathe is generally a high precision lathe having a gearbox in
the headstock offering a extended range of thread pitches and feeds.
 It has a low spindle run out and precision guide way and lead screws
offering high stability, low clearances and backlash.
 It is used for making precision components in the tool room.

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5. Capstan and turret Lathe
 Turret lathe is heavier compared to the capstan lathe.
 Turret lathe is used for heavy and medium work.
 Where as capstan lathe is suitable for small to heavy works.
 Turret lathe is accommodated with power chucks.
 Where as capstan have hand operated collet chucks.
Advantages
 The production rate is high.
 There is no need of changing the tool.
Disadvantages
 The heavier work piece cannot machine by capstan lathe.
 They have manual indexes.

6. Special purpose lathe

 These are used for special purposes.
 Wheel lathe is used for finishing the journal and turning the thread on
locomotive wheels.
 The gap bed lathe can accommodate the jobs having extra diameter.

7. Automatic lathe
 In the automatic lathe, the various operations are automating like change of
the work piece.
 The working cycle is fully automatic that is repeated to produce duplicate
parts without participation of operator.
 In metalworking and woodworking, an automatic lathe is a lathe with an
automatically controlled cutting process.
Advantages
 During machine operation operator is free to operate another machine.
 More economy in floor space.
Disadvantages
 Lots of consideration are taking on fixing the setup.

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1.5 SAFETY MEASURES
As always we should be aware of safety requirements and attempt to
observe safety rules in order to eliminate serious injury to ourselves or others.
Wear glasses, short sleeves, no tie, no rings, no trying to stop the work by hand.
Stop the machine before trying to check the work. Don’t know how it works? –
“Don’t run it.” Don’t use rags when the machine is running.
1. Remove the chuck key from the chuck immediately after use. Do not turn
the lathe on if the chuck is still in the chuck key.
2. Turn the chuck or faceplate through by hand unless there are binding or
clearance issues.
3. It is important that the chuck or faceplate is securely tightened onto the
lathe’s spindle.
4. Move the tool bit to a safe distance from the chuck, collet, or face plate
when inserting or removing your part.
5. Place the tool post holder to the left of the compound slide. This will
ensure that the compound slide will not run into the spindle or chuck
attachments.
6. When installing and removing chucks, face plates, and centers, always be
sure all mating surfaces are clean and free from burrs.
7. Make sure the tool bit is sharp and has correct clearance angles.
8. Clamp the tool bit as short as possible in the tool holder to prevent it from
vibrating or breaking.
9. Evenly apply and maintain cutting fluids. This will prevent morphing.
10. Do not run a threaded spindle in reverse.
11. Never run the machine faster than the recommended speed for the specific
material.
12. If a chuck or faceplate is jammed on the spindle nose, contact an instructor
to remove it.
13. If any filing is done on work revolving in the lathe, file left handed to
prevent slipping into the chuck.
14. Always stop the machine before taking measurements.
15. Stop the machine when removing long stringy chips. Remove them with
a pair of pliers.
16. Make sure that the tailstock is locked in place and that the proper
adjustments are made if the work is being turned between centers.

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 17. When turning between centers, avoid cutting completely through the
piece.
18. Do not use rags while the machine is running.
19. Remove tools from the tool post and tailstock before cleaning.
20. Do not use compressed air to clean the lathe.
21. Use care when cleaning the lathe. The cutting tools are sharp, the chips
are sharp, and the work piece may be sharp.
22. Make sure the machine is turned off and clean before leaving the
workspace. Always remove the chuck wrench after use, avoid horseplay,
keep floor area clean.

1.6 CONSTRUCTION OF LATHE MACHINE

• Move the tool post to the left-hand side of the compound rest.
• Mount a tool holder in the tool post so that the set screw in the tool holder
is about 1 inch beyond the tool post.
• Insert the proper cutting tool into the tool holder, having the tool extend
.500 inch beyond the tool holder.
• Set the cutting tool point to centre height. Check it with straight rule or
tailstock.
• Tighten the tool post securely to prevent it from moving during a cut.

1.6.1 Installing a Cutting Tool

• Tool holders are used to hold lathe cutting tools.
• To install, clean the holder and tighten the bolts.
• The lathe’s tool holder is attached to the tool post using a quick release
lever.
• The tool post is attached to the machine with a T-bolt.

1.6.2 Positioning the tool

To reposition the cutting tool, move the cross slide and lathe saddle by
hand. Power feeds are also available. Exact procedures are dependent on the
machine. The compound provides a third axis of motion, and its angle can be
altered to cut tapers at any angle.

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 1. Loosen the bolts that keep the compound attached to the saddle.
2. Swivel the compound to the correct angle, using the dial indicator located
at the compound’s base.
3. Tighten the bolts again.
4. The cutter can be hand fed along the chosen angle. The compound does
not have a power feed.
5. If needed, use two hands for a smoother feed rate. This will make a fine
finish.
6. Both the compound and cross slide have micrometre dials, but the saddle
lacks one.
7. If more accuracy is needed when positioning the saddle, use a dial
indicator that is attached to the saddle. Dial indicators press against stops.

1.6.3 Centering the workpiece

Steel Rule
1. Place the steel rule between the stock and the tool.
2. The tool is centered when the rule is vertical.
3. The tool is high when the rule is lean forward.
4. The tool is low when the rule is lean backward.
Tailstock Center
1. Reference the center of the tailstock when setting the tool.
2. Position the tip of the tool with the tailstock center.

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