Advantages and Disadvantages of a Lathe Machine

A lathe machine is a commonly used machine that works through removing the undesired material from a rotating workpiece with a cutting tool that is fed against the work either crosswise or longitudinally to give its desired shape and size. This is also known as the “mother of all machines” and due to its versatility, it can be used in a large variety of operations such as turning, tapered turning, shoulder turning, facing, thread cutting, parting, chamfering, knurling, drilling, boring, counter boring, countersinking, and reaming operation.

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Probably the oldest machine tool known to mankind, the first lathe invented worked with one person turning the wood workpiece using rope and the other person shaping the workpiece through a sharp tool, now called as a two-person lathe. The ancient Romans improved this design by adding the turning bow, and the development went on to the industrial revolution when steam engines and water wheels were attached to the lathe to make the turning easier and faster. This paved way for metalworking and heavier machines with thicker and more rigid parts. Then in the s, the servo mechanism was added to be able to control the lathe machine and it became the easiest lathe machine to operate until a British engineer named Henry Maudslay invented the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) lathe which is the most advanced form of lathe machine.

The basic parts of a lathe machine are the bed, headstock, tail stock, carriage, saddle, cross slide, compound rest, tool post, apron, chuck, feed rod, lead screw, spindle, and leg. Its main purpose is shaping a product through removing the unwanted material in a rotating workpiece and a fixed cutting tool. With this, various products such as nuts, bolts, piston, pump part, ram, gun barrels, candlesticks, train parts, cue sticks, wooden bowls, baseball bat, crankshaft, etc. can be made.

Some of the advantages in using a lathe machine are:

• High Productivity – The industries that are using lathe machines can be sure that these produce high quality products with top-notch accuracy, especially the CNC lathe machines. As a result, the productivity will increase.
• High Speed – The machining in the lathe can produce many products in a lesser time, especially with the use of CNC lathe and automatic lathe, because of its high-speed production.
• Saves Time and Money – Due to the advantages mentioned above, using a lathe machine saves a lot of time. Aside from this, it also saves money because there is no need to have many operators or turners which will result to lesser machining and labor cost.

Some of the disadvantages in using a lathe machine are:

• Highly-skilled Operators/Turners – Although it only requires a few turners to operate the lathe machine, there is a need for them to be highly-skilled because they have to control the machine precisely and make sure it is given constant supervision. The preciseness of the job depends highly on the skills of the turners/operators.
• Cost and Weight of the Machine – The initial cost of a lathe machine is high. It actually depends on the purpose and how big the production is but most lathe machines used in big companies cost up to $50,000. It also takes up a lot of space because it is a huge machine and sometimes, it requires extra fittings and attachments which makes it bigger and more expensive. The use of CNC lathe machine is also not advisable for small production.
• Constant Maintenance – A lathe machine needs a proper and constant maintenance, in each of its important parts. Otherwise, this may damage some parts or the whole machine.
• Limited Structures and Shapes – Lathe machines work best with cylindrical shapes, however, there are limited shapes and structures that can be done with it. Also, only one tool can be used generally at a time.

In using a lathe machine, one should make sure that it is suitable for their production needs to maximize its capabilities. If you’re interested in purchasing a lathe machine, browse our extensive inventory of used vertical lathe machines and used horizontal lathes. Contact us at Tramar Industries and we’ll help you find the right machine for the job.

Last updated June

The lathe is nothing short of a staple in the industry. With over 18,000 machine shops in the US, the lathe plays an essential role in manufacturing today.

Well, you could be benefitting from the same technology—whether by operating your own or partnering with All Metals Fabricating for precision machining. Let's talk about what a lathe is used for, why they are so widely used in shops and homes, and how our full range of lathe services can meet all your project’s needs.

What Is a Lathe?

A lathe is a machine used to create cylindrical, spherical, or otherwise round objects out of a number of different materials, most often wood and metal. At All Metals Fabricating, we specialize in metal parts.

These tools make it very easy to create symmetrical objects out of various pieces by rotating a block at fast speeds to remove uniform amounts of material from it.

Early models of the mechanical lathe date back to BCE in Ancient Egypt, and the first fully documented use dates back to .

Of course, electric models are now the standard in most machine shops today, with both CNC lathes and manual models being common choices. Those are the models we'll focus on.

What Does a Lathe Do?

Lathes quickly rotate a block or piece of material and allow you to remove a consistent amount of material around the perimeter of the piece—a process known as "turning.”

As the lathe rotates the workpiece at a uniform axis, workers can cut, sand, drill, or turn the piece to their liking.

Mechanical lathes rely on human effort and control. These use gears to help spin the material at the desired speed but require hands-on operation.

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However, electric lathes can be set at different speeds for different projects, and they often come with many different attachments to assist with popular crafts. In CNC machining, speed and cutting parameters are often optimized during the design phase, making design for manufacturing a critical factor in a project’s ultimate efficiency.

In general, wood lathes and metal lathes are meant to turn workpieces into rounded objects, whatever they may be. Common uses include:

• Bedposts
• Table legs
• Bowls
• Wheels
• Lamps
• Dowels
• Pens
• Platters
• Furniture parts
• Candlesticks
• Baseball bats

The list goes on. Lathes are excellent for creating a diverse array of rounded materials and it's fascinating to see how they work.

How Do You Use a Lathe?

Lathes vary significantly depending on which type or model you choose—for instance, CNC lathes can incorporate significant automation. But there are some commonalities to most lathes.

The two ends that hold the material are called the headstock (which contains the chuck and the spindle) and the tailstock. The chuck grips onto your material, driving the rotation from the motor.

From there, the lathe is turned on and various chisels or cutting tools remove material in a cylindrical fashion. The lathe will rotate the material at a fast pace and the user carefully applies the cutting edge of the tool to remove material and create the intended shape.

The Benefits of Using a Lathe

Now that you know what a lathe does, you might consider adding one to your shop or partnering with our precision machine shop for CNC turning services. If that's the case, here are some of the key benefits of lathes and turned parts:

Versatility

Whether you're making table legs, bowls, or lamp posts, lathes will allow you to make them beautifully out of any material you want. And when you need to use a lathe, there is no other tool that creates such precisely round objects.

Precision and Consistency

Humans struggle when it comes to creating round objects by hand—but we're excellent at spotting when something isn't round. A lathe—especially a CNC lathe—is the best way to ensure uniformity, consistency, and roundness with your project.

High-Quality Surface Finishes

Turning operations—especially with CNC equipment—deliver smooth, consistent surfaces with minimal secondary finishing required. 

Partner With All Metals for Lathe Services

At All Metals, we offer CNC lathe services to produce high-precision metal parts from a range of materials. Our lathes can turn from a quarter inch up to 10 inches in diameter, and up to 30 inches long.

Our equipment lineup features several lathes, including a DMG MORI NLX dual-spindle lathe with integrated machining capabilities. This machine allows us to perform complex operations on multiple surfaces in a single setup. With high-speed capabilities and advanced automation that enable critical accuracy, our lathe minimizes manual intervention to streamline production.

When you partner with All Metals, our efficient equipment will help you to minimize lead time to deliver cost-efficient, high-quality parts.

Start Turning!

Now you can start creating well-rounded masterpieces of your own. Lathes are highly satisfying and highly productive machines that should have a place in any machine shop.

Stay up to date with our latest manufacturing news and feel free to reach out with any questions about our Texas machining services!

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