Lathe Machining

If we talk about some of the most popular manufacturing technologies nowadays, the importance of mentioning lathe machining technology can never be ignored. It is a type of manufacturing technology, which produces products by rotating its parts around a fixed axis.

This manufacturing technology is helpful for the manufacturing of different parts of large machinery where cutting, formation of holes, and turning are required. Lathe machining works by moving. If we talk about the usage of this manufacturing technology, it is the oldest technology that has been used for manufacturing. This manufacturing technology initially emerged in Egypt in 1300 BC, when the people used the same techniques to manufacture their products but by manual method.

Romans are generally known to be the first creators of modern lathe machining technology. The people of different parts of the world have brought later on further development in lathe machines. After the use of steam engines in lathe machining, the manufacturing technology was moved towards a new level of development.

Figure 1: Lathe machining

1. What Are the Parts Used in Lathe Machines?

There are several parts of the lathe manufacturing machines. Primarily, this technology consists of several small and large parts that revolve around a larger fixed axis. The following are some of the significant parts of lathe machines.

Figure 2 Parts In Lathe Machining

· Bed

This is the part of lathe machines where the other parts of the machinery are fixed. This part of the machine can be called the base for the other parts of the machinery. The base of the lathe machining is made from the cast iron. The base is also a more significant factor in the accuracy of the manufacturing of the product. If the base is flat and upright, the accuracy of the product will be higher.

· Compound Rest

This part of the lathe machine is fixed at the top area of the machinery. This part of the lathe machinery is responsible for cutting the parts of the material at various angles, ensuring the accuracy of cutting. This part is helpful for the manufacturing of tools too.

· Apron

This part of the lathe machinery is present in the front of the bed. This part of the lathe machinery consists of several gears that help in the conversion of the material into the final product.

· Chuck

It is the part of lathe machinery, which holds the substances during their process of manufacturing. It is generally used for holding substances that are small having more diameter.  There are different types of chucks used in lathe machinery. They are categorized into their classes based on several jaws used in chucks.

· Prime Mover

It is the part of lathe machinery that is responsible for the provision of energy to the machine. Initially, the IC engine was the very first prime mover that was used in lathe machinery for the manufacturing of various products. This part of the lathe machinery provides energy to the machinery by moving in a rotational manner.

2. How Does Lathe Machining Work?

Lathe machining technology operates by removing the extra part of the material to convert it into a regular product. In this technology, the material is fixed in between the chucks. After the fixation of the material in the lathe machinery, the extra material is crushed by the internal parts of the lathe machinery. This is usually done by revolving the material inside the machine around a fixed axis that is sharp enough to cut the material into the desired shape and structure.

There are different types of lathe machining technologies that are used for the manufacturing of different products. Each of them has different structures and designs that are best suitable for the kind of material they will be used for manufacturing. For Example, you cannot manufacture a metallic product with lathe machinery designed for manufacturing plastic products.

Figure 3 Use Of Lathe Technology

3. For What Purposes Lathe Technology Is Useful?

The lathe manufacturing technology is helpful for different purposes ranging from cutting and bending to the formation of holes inside the materials. Some of the other essential uses of lathe machining are cutting and shaping of the materials for making products from them. Lathe machining is considered to be the best if you need a cutting service for the manufacturing of your products.

The following are some of the other primary purposes of using lathe machining technology,

· Turning Purposes

One of the main purposes of lathe manufacturing technology is to manufacture the turning parts of the pieces of machinery. The materials are cut into a cylindrical shape, making them ready to be used for turning purposes. This can be done with automatic methods and as well as using manual methods.

The automatic manufacturing method is the use of modern automatic machines for manufacturing the product, while on the other hand, in manual processes, the material is converted into cylindrical shapes using labor force.

Figure 4 drilling

· Drilling

Drilling is generally the formation of holes in different materials. In drilling, the material is fixed on the drilling part of the lathe machinery, which is specified on the base of the machine. After the fixation of material, the drill is used for the formation of holes in that material of different sizes.

The lathe manufacturing machines contains the arrangement to separate the wastes from the product that are produced during the formation of holes in the material.

· Milling

Figure 5 – Milling Process

Milling is another vital purpose of the lath machining technology. During this process, the parts of the lathe machines are used to cut the extra materials from the main product, resulting in the formation of the final product. The product and its internal parts are given their specific shapes using milling techniques.

The two main types of milling include face milling and peripheral milling. Generally, flat milling is useful for the manufacturing of the outer part of the product, i.e., the apparent shape of the product is produced using flat milling. On the other hand, for the formation of the internal parts of the product, the peripheral-milling technique is used. Gears and teeth are manufactured with greater accuracy using peripheral milling.

· Manufacturing of Shipbuilding machinery

One of the most critical purposes of lathe machining technology is the manufacturing of machinery for shipbuilding. The shipbuilding machines generally require cylindrical parts to be used inside them, and lathe machining technology is the best for manufacturing cylindrical parts of machinery.

Lath technology is also useful for the direct manufacturing of ship parts. Lathe machinery cut and shape the materials for the manufacturing of various parts of ships.

4.Why is Lathe Machining So Popular Today?

Figure 6 – Popularity Of Lathe Machining

Being one of the oldest manufacturing technology, still today, it is one of the most highly used manufacturing technology. There are many reasons behind its high usage by manufacturing companies. Some of the main reasons among them are mentioned as follows.

· Quality of Products

Production of high-quality products is significant to win over the competitors in the market. Lathe technology is well known for the manufacturing of high-quality products with the least amount of manufacturing cost.

Figure 7 Quality Production of lathe machining

· Faster Production

One of the other reasons for lathe machining to be so widespread is that it manufactures your product much faster than other kinds of traditional technologies like it. The automatic lathe machining technology is better in terms of faster production in comparison to that of the manual.

· Higher Accuracy

One of the best reasons for lathe machining to be so popular nowadays is accuracy. Lathe machining produces a product with much more accuracy as compared to other machining technologies. You can easily rely on lathe machining technology for manufacturing the complex parts of machinery.  In complex machinery such as medical devices, there is a need for higher accuracy.

Therefore, if you are manufacturing a product that should be highly accurate, you should prefer to use lathe machining technology.

5. What Are Safety Precautions for Lathe Machining?

Working in any kind of manufacturing factory requires you to follow safety precautions so that you may carry out everything sound and smooth. There are also certain precautions to take care of while manufacturing your products using Lathe Machining technology.

· Wear Glasses

You should never get nearer to any manufacturing machinery without wearing your protective glasses. The glasses protect you from getting eye damaged. Similarly, if you get closer to lathe machinery without wearing your glasses while the machine is running, there is a chance you will weaken your eyesight too.

If you have long hairs, tie them up with a band, and wear your protective glasses to ensure your eyes and eyesight remain safe.

Figure 9 Safety precautions

· Your Tools Should Be Sharp

The second precaution for using lathe machining technology for manufacturing your products is to use sharp and best tools in your lathe machinery. If you are using dull tools, you are more likely to endanger yourself or the machinery, so it is also better to use sharp tools in your lathe machines.

· Be Careful

While working with manufacturing machinery, you need to be careful during your work. You should always perform every action with great care, as any minor mistake can lead to a major accident.

· Do Not Touch The Working Parts Of Machine While It Is Running

Figure 10 – Running Lathe Machine

As a precaution, you should never touch the working parts of the machinery while the machines are running. There are certain parts in the lathe machines which can cause significant damage to us if touched when the device is running.

6. Why Should You Use Lathe Machining With Proper Speed?

You may have heard of lathe machines to be used with proper working speed. There is no philosophy behind the use of lathe machines with adequate speed. However, using the machines at a reasonable speed is considered important because you are more likely to damage the parts of the machines if you use them at a high speed.

On the other hand, if you manufacture your product at a low speed, you will take a lot of time to complete your manufacturing process. Therefore it is advisable to use the lathes machines at a suitable pace, depending upon your needs and type of machine.

7. What Is The Phenomenon Behind The Cutting Parts Of Lathe Machine?

The cutting parts of the lathe machine are made in such a way as to cut the desired material easily. For manufacturing metallic products, some hard metals are used in the cutting parts. On the other hand, if the machines are to be used for the manufacturing of plastic products, hard metals are not much preferred to be used in the parts of lathe machines.

The bases of the cutting parts of the lathe machines always consist of the carbide material. The cutting parts of lathe machines are manufactured in such a way so that they may be suitable for cutting different materials as well as the formation of shoulders in metal parts for various purposes.

8. What Are Different Types Of Lathe Machines?

There are several types of lathe machines that are used for the manufacturing of the best quality products. The types are due to the difference in the processing conditions between different types of machinery. The following are some of the main types of lathe machines.

· Engine Lathe Machining

Engine lathe machining is one of the most highly used machining technology for the manufacturing of different products. Some of the main purposes for using this machining technology are cutting, threading, and knurling. This machining technology is very useful for the manufacturing of metallic products.

· Toolroom Lathe Machining

This machining technology is generally similar to that of the engine lathe machining. The difference lies in the accuracy. Toolroom technology is considered to be more accurate than that of the engine lathe, machining. This technology is used for the manufacturing of complex parts of machinery due to the higher accuracy of this machinery.

Figure 11 tool room lathe machining

· CNC Lathe Machine

CNC lathe machining is one of the best lathe machining technology. In CNC, a lathe computer is used for reading the CAD designed by the designer. After successful testing of the CAD, the computer commands the machinery to operate and manufacture the final product using lathe CNC technology.

· Special Lathe Machining

This lathe technology is beneficial for the manufacturing of unique parts of machinery. Those parts of machinery which cannot be manufactured using the other lathe manufacturing technologies are manufactured using Special Lathe Machining.

Generally, the machines used in this technology are manufactured with the smallest dimensional accuracy. Their dimensional accuracy is as low as 0.002 mm.

· Bench Lathe Machining

This machining technology is useful for the manufacturing of small-sized products. In this kind of machining technology, the material is fixed into an axis. After its fixation, the parts of the material are cut in regular shapes for the manufacturing of the final product.

This machining technology is also helpful for the formation of different holes inside the materials.

· Automatic Lathe Machining

It is another most popular lathe machining technology that can help you manufacture the best quality products in simple ways. This machining can work automatically. It is useful for you if you are going to produce a great quantity of product. One of the best things about automatic lathe machining is that you don’t need to change the total manually, as it happens automatically.

9. What Are Some Disadvantages of Lathe Machining?

Everything has its drawbacks, and so does lathe machining. Despite being among the best machining technology, there are some drawbacks to this technology. The following are some of the main drawbacks of using lathe-manufacturing technology.

· Use of Minimum Tools

One of the most significant drawbacks to using lathe machining technology is the presence of a fewer number of tools in the technology. In lathe machinery, there is no versatility in its tools, and one cannot get his whole work done using lathe technology. Instead, he has to use the other technologies too with lathe technology for the manufacturing of final products.

· Dependent On Operator’s skills

Just like the other automatic manufacturing technologies, the accuracy of the manufacturing doesn’t depend on the machine parts but depends on the skill level of the operator. In CNC machining technology or other automatic manufacturing technologies, a person with a brief understanding of the machinery and the computer can easily manufacture his products by himself.

However, the case is different in lathe machining. The operator should also be skillful in the manufacturing of high-quality products. In China, modern lathe machines are used that had now overcome the higher use of the skills of operators.

· Adjustment Space Is Limited

In lathe manufacturing technology, space is lower in the machinery for the fixation of the material. The machines have limitations due to less space for adjustment. Therefore, if you have bought a small machine, you will be needing large machinery if in case you wanted to manufacture a larger product.

10. How To Operate Lathe Machine For Machining?

Figure 12 – Operation Of Lathe Machining

Lathe machines are generally simpler to be used. Nowadays, the machines manufactured by the manufacturers of China are more advanced and demand some technical skills to be operated. However, the use of traditional lathe machines is simple. The following are some of the basic steps that you need to follow for the manufacturing of your products.

· Fixed The Material in The Chuck

The first step towards manufacturing the product using lathe technology is to firmly fix the material in the chuck of the machinery.

· Choose the Suitable Rotating Speed

The next step is to choose a suitable rotating speed for the manufacturing of the products. You should set this speed higher if you need faster production of your products. However, you should take care of the speed to not make it so higher as to damage the parts of machinery.

· Choose A Right Tool for Manufacturing

To manufacture a product in the best way, you need to choose the perfect tool for manufacturing. You should never select the tool designed for plastic products manufacturing for manufacturing your metallic products. You might often confuse those tools because they are metallic. Only their types are different. Therefore, it is better to take some help from the other person to choose the right tool for your manufacturing.

· Set The Cutting Tool in Machine

The next step for using the lathe machining is to set the tools in the CNC machinery. Open the part of the machinery where you will be going to set your tool. After you had opened that, the next step is to insert your tool into that part and fix it. Usually, you will find the tool insertion point on the top of the sides of lathe machinery.

· Start Your Manufacturing

After you have gone through all of the above-mentioned stages, it is now time to get into the driving seat and manufacture your product. Just switch on the lathe machinery and run it. In the meanwhile, keep operating the machinery until you had manufactured the final product.

11. What Is The Difference Between Milling And Lathe Machining?

Figure 13 Milling and lathe machine

Lathe machining and milling machining are the manufacturing processes used by manufacturers for a long time. Both the machine technologies work by the removal of excess material from the primary material to provide shape and structure to the final product. While both the machining works similarly, but there is a lot of difference between both of them.

· Lathe Machining

It is a type of cutting technology in which the material is moved against the cutting parts in the machines to manufacture the product. Suppliers and manufacturers use this technology for manufacturing different plastic and metallic products in China. The cutting accuracy depends upon the sharpness of the edges of the cutting parts of machinery.

· Milling Machine

Another most widely used manufacturing technology in the world is milling machining technology. In milling machining, the sharp blades are moved faster around the material, cutting and separating chips from the material.

If we talk about the main difference between both the manufacturing technologies, so that is the method of use. In lathes manufacturing technology, the material moves against the sharp or pointed cutting parts of the machinery. On the other hand, in milling machining, the blades move against the material, giving a desired shape and structure to the product.

The other main difference between both technologies is the difference in the number of blades. There are several blades present in milling machining. In comparison to it, the machines in lathe machining consist of one blade.

12. What Is the Manufacturing Cost Of Lathe Machining?

Several factors determine your cost for any kind of machining, including lathe machining. One of the main things among them is the type of material that you select for the manufacturing of your product. If you have chosen a cheaper material, you will be charged less for the product manufacturing.

On the other hand, you will be charged more if you have selected valuable material. Similarly, your cost is also dependent upon the manufacturing company that you choose for the manufacturing of your product. The number of products that you are going to manufacture also determines the budget that you need for this whole process.

Generally, it will cost something around 35 to 40 $ per hour to manufacture a product using lathe machining technology. The manufacturing cost may be variable, depending upon the above-mentioned factors. If you manufacture your product in China, you would be charged something like 200 to 220 Yuan per hour.

13. Can We Use Lathe Machining For Plastic Manufacturing?

Lathe machining technology can be used for the manufacturing of different types of products, including those of plastics. In lathe machining, the manufacturers use the turning technique for manufacturing plastic products. The process of manufacturing is simple. Plastic is fixed around a cutting part of the machinery, and the machine is switched on until all the extra chips are removed from the plastic, shaping it into a regular product.

There are several types of plastics that we can use for the manufacturing of plastic products using lathes machining technology. Some main types include nylon, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyester, etc.

The manufacturing process of plastic products is usually done at the speed of 300 rpm. This speed is generally for soft plastic materials. For hard plastics, the speed is further increased above it.

14. How Many Axes Are There In Lathe Machining?

There are two axes in lathes machining technology.  The new technology of lathes machining prepared by the manufacturers and suppliers of China also consists of three or five-axis machining. However, in most countries, the lathes technology used for manufacturing is that of two axes. The new five axes lathe machining technology is more advanced and today one of the most popular technologies used by the manufacturers and suppliers of China.

The five axes of technology are considered the best of all because they have the highest work accuracy and efficiency. This results in the manufacturing of highly complex parts easily. Similarly, the new five axes lathes technology is also advanced in terms of work automation. The machines used in the five axes technology are automatic, thus creating great ease for its user.