| The spindle rotates by means of an electric | | | | allow for minute adjustments. |
| motor and a system of belts and pulleys and gear | | | | The cutting speed of the machine is the rotation |
| trains. Altering the setup of the drive train varies | | | | of the part against the tool measured in feet per |
| the speed. The part is secured in the rotating | | | | minute. Another measurement is the feed rate, |
| spindle by various means including three-jawed | | | | which is the distance of tool travel during one |
| chucks, collets and centres. A tailstock fixes the | | | | revolution of the part. The variables, applied to |
| end of the part with a centre. It can also be used | | | | the cutting speed and feed, dictate the |
| to hold tools, which can be used for drilling, | | | | smoothness of the finished product. Therefore, |
| threading, reaming or cutting tapers. Different | | | | the type of material to be cut is a deciding factor |
| length parts can be accommodated easily by | | | | when determining the correct speed and feed |
| moving the tailstock to different sections of the | | | | rate. Other factors to be considered are the |
| bed to which it is attached. | | | | depth of the cut and condition of the tools and |
| A carriage holds and controls the tool used for | | | | the lathe. Trial and error is sometimes the best |
| cutting. It consists of a saddle, which can slide | | | | way to determine the correct settings to achieve |
| along the bed, an apron from which the tool is fed | | | | the best result as all of these factors vary |
| against the rotating part, a cross slide which | | | | greatly among different machines. |
| regulates the traversing motion of the tool, a tool | | | | During operation the lathe reduces the diameter |
| compound which enables the tool to be set at | | | | of a part to the required dimension with a |
| various angles and a tool post slot that houses | | | | roughing or finishing tool. A flat face can be |
| the tool post. | | | | achieved, which is perfectly perpendicular to the |
| The shape of the tool used varies depending upon | | | | axis of the cylindrical section using a facing tool. A |
| the type of work required. Facing tools are | | | | parting tool is used for manufacturing narrow |
| ground to have sufficient clearance, finishing tools | | | | grooves and for cutting parts. A parting tool must |
| have a rounded nose to provide a fine finish, | | | | be positioned so that it will clear the part |
| roughing tools leave more surface area behind for | | | | throughout the horizontal movement and so that |
| support to enable deeper cuts. There are also left | | | | the tip of the tool is aligned with the exact centre |
| hand cutting tools and tools for cutting aluminum | | | | of the part. Drilling is another operation, which can |
| which are angled differently again with the cutting | | | | be conducted on a lathe with the holes accurately |
| edge above centre to reduce vibration. The tool is | | | | aligned with the centre axis of the part. Boring is |
| secured on the top of the tool post by bolts or | | | | similar to drilling in that a hole is made through the |
| alternatively by a quick release lever. | | | | centre of the part but with boring, the hole is |
| Moving the tool is accomplished by hand rotation | | | | enlarged with the tip of the tool being extended |
| of a slide mechanism or sometimes by an | | | | into the hole and wound outwards. A part can |
| automatic or power feed, depending on the model | | | | have an external thread cut with a die and internal |
| of lathe. Another movement axis is the | | | | threads can be created using a tap. Another |
| compound, which enables cuts of varying angles | | | | method for creating a thread is to cut the thread |
| to be made. All these movements can be | | | | on the lathe using a special cutting tool with an |
| measured against a micrometer dial indicator to | | | | angled nose. |