Lathe Machine
Lathe Machine is very basic machine tool which is capable of producing almost all kinds of output jobs with its wide range of operations. In this article, I will try to explain some of basic lathe operations which have brought importance to lathe machine.
A machine which performs the material removal operation which tools to produce desired shape and size of the work piece is known as a machine tool, the purpose of machine tools is to save time. Cost of production and to get better output which can not be obtained with heads tools.
Lathe Machine
The lathe is one of the important machines in any workshop. Its main objective is to remove materials from outside by rotating the work against cutting tools.
Working Principle of Lathe Machine
In a lathe the work piece is held in a chuck or between and centers and rotate about its axis of a uniform speed the cutting tools. Since there exists a relative motion between the work piece and the cutting tools, therefore, the materials is removed in the form of drips and the desired shape is obtained.
Types of Lathe Machine
The following are important types of Lathe Machine
1) Speed Lathe Machine It is one of the simplest types of all Lathes. It is driven by power and consists of a bed, a headstock, a tail stock and an adjustable slide for supporting the tools, sine the tools is fed in the work by hand wood cuts are very small therefore this types of Lathe is driven at high speeds usually from 1200 to 3600 r.p.m.
2) Engine or center Lathe Machine It is general purpose Lathe Machine and is widely used in workshop. It differs from a speed Lathe that is has additional mechanism for controlling the spindle speed one for supporting and controlling the feed of the fixed cutting tool.
3) Bench Lathe Machine The bench lathe Machine is so made that it can be mounted on a bench, all the types of operation can be performed on this lathe that may be done on an ordinary speed or engine lathe.
4) Tool Room Lathe Machine The tool room lathe is similar to or engine lathe Machine and is requirement with the accessories needed for accurate tool work. It has an un dividely driven geared headstock with wide range of spindles speeds.
Special Purpose Lathe Machine The work which cannot be conveniently accommodated or machine on a standard lathe the special purpose lathe Machine are used.
PRINCIPAL PART OF LATHE MACHINE
1) The bed is the base or foundation of the lathe. It is a heavy rigid cutting made in one piece. It holds and supports all other parts of lathe.
2) Headstock: The headstock is permanently fastened on the inner way at the left hand end of the end. It surveys to support the spindle and diving arrangements. All lathes receive their power through the arrangement.
3) Tail Stock: The tailstock is counterpart of the headstock and is situated at the right hands end of bed. It is used for supporting the work. When turning on centers or when a long component is to be held in a chuck.
4) Feed Mechanism: The feed mechanism of lathe is employed for importing various feed to the cutting tools. The feed i.e. the movements of the tools relative to the work may be longitudinal cross and angular.
Lathe Machine Operation
1) Facing: In this operation the work piece of held in the chuck and the facing tools is fed from the centre of the work piece toward the other surface with the help of a cross slide.
2) Plat turning: It is an operation of removing excess amount of materials from the surface of the cylindrical in the chuck or between centers and longitudinal feed is given to the tools either by hand or power.
3) Taper turning: It is an operation of producing of external conical surface on a work piece. A small taper may be produced with the help of a chamfering tool.
4) Step Turning: It is an operation of producing various steps of different diameter in the work piece. This operation is carried out in the similar ways as plain turning.
5) Drilling: It is an operation of making of hole in a work piece with the help of a drill. In this operation the work piece is held in a chuck and the drill is held in the tailstock.
6) Reaming: It is an operation of finishing the previously drilled hole. In this operation the work is held in a tail stock and it is fed into the hole in the similar ways as for drilling.
7) Threading: It is an operation of cutting helical grooves on the external cylindrical surface of work piece. In this operation the work is held in a chuck or between centers and the threading tools is fed longitudinally to the revolving work.
8) Knurling: It is an operation of providing knurled surface of the work piece. In this operation a knurled tool is moved longitudinally to a revolving work piece surface.