Lathe Machine Operations 

Lathe Machine operations:

A Centre lathe is a general-purpose lathe machine on which a variety of operations can be performed. Here some of the lathe machine operations are listed below;

• Turning
• Facing
• Knurling
• Parting off
• Thread cutting
• Boring
• Grooving
• Drilling
• Reaming

Turning:

In this operation, the material is removed from the outer diameter of the rotating workpiece. The main purpose of the turning operation is to reduce the diameter of the circular workpiece. There are two turning operations; rough and finish.

Rough turning:

In the rough turning operation, an excessive amount of material is removed from the workpiece in a relatively short time without considering the dimensional accuracy.

Finish turning:

Finish turning produces a very smooth surface of the workpiece and the final accurate dimensions of the workpiece are obtained.

Types of turning operations:

A turning operation can be held in four different types,

I. Step turning
II. Taper turning
III. Chamfer turning
IV. Contour turning

Step turning:

A series of steps are formed on the workpiece in the step-turning operation. The final shape of the workpiece is like steps.

Taper turning:

In taper turning operation the ramp transition is formed between the two surfaces of different diameters. This ramp transition can be done by tailstock offset, rotating compound slide, or taper turning attachment.

Chamfer turning:

Chamfer turning operation includes the bevelling of the end of the workpiece. This process is necessary after cutting the thread so that the nut can rotate freely.

Contour turning:

In the contour turning operation, the complex profiles are produced on the workpiece by following the trajectory of a curve.

Facing:

This lathe machine operation involves the removal of material from the face of the workpiece which is perpendicular to the rotating axis. In the operation, the cutting tool moves along the radius of the rotating workpiece.

This operation is used when the length of the workpiece is greater than the final shape of the workpiece.

Knurling:

In knurling, the operation produces different patterns on the rotating workpiece with the help of a special type of tool having a single or double wheel called a knurl. Knurling increases the gripping friction and makes the workpiece beautiful.

Parting off:

Parting off is an turning operation in which workpiece is cut off into two or more parts. Cutting tool is fed in the direction perpendicular to the direction of Lathe axis.

Thread cutting:

Thread cutting is producing the threads on the outer surface of a circular workpiece. Threading is also a turning operation where the tool move along the side of workpiece and cuts the threads on the outer surface of workpiece. The movement of the tool is controlled by the lead screw.

Drilling:

Drilling operation is used to remove material from the inner surface of workpiece to make a hole equal in size of the tool. The tool used for drilling is called drill bit. In common arrangement the workpiece is held in the chuck and rotate at high speed while the tool is stationery. The axis of tool and the workpiece are inline. The hole of different diameters can be drilled by using drill bits of required diameter.

Grooving:

Grooving is an operation in which the tool is feed in direction perpendicular to the axis of Lathe machine to create a narrow cut called groove. The size of the groove depends upon the size of cutting tool. Multiple cutting tools can be applied to form grove of large size.

Boring:

Boring is process in which the size of the already drilled hole is increase using a boring tool. Initially the hole is drilled and then it’s size is increased by boring tool.

Reaming:

Reaming is the process of smoothing the inner surface of a drilled hole. The tool used for this operation is called reamer. The hole is drilled slightly smaller than the required size. And than drilled bit Is replaced by the reamer. The speed of the reamer is half of the drill bit.