A
metal lathe or
metalworking lathe is a large class of
lathes designed for precisely
machining relatively hard materials. They were originally designed to machine
metals; however, with the advent of
plastics and other materials, and with their inherent versatility, they are used in a wide range of applications, and a broad range of materials. In machining
jargon, where the larger context is already understood, they are usually simply called
lathes, or else referred to by more-specific subtype names (
toolroom lathe,
turret lathe, etc.). These rigid
machine tools remove material from a
rotating workpiece via the (typically
linear) movements of various cutting tools, such as
tool bits and
drill bits.
CNC lathes are rapidly replacing the older production lathes (multispindle, etc) due to their ease of setting and operation. They are designed to use modern carbide tooling and fully utilize modern processes. The part may be designed and the toolpaths programmed by the CAD/CAM process, and the resulting file uploaded to the machine, and once set and trialled the machine will continue to turn out parts under the occasional supervision of an operator.
The machine is controlled electronically via a computer menu style interface, the program may be modified and displayed at the machine, along with a simulated view of the process. The setter/operator needs a high level of skill to perform the process, however the knowledge base is broader compared to the older production machines where intimate knowledge of each machine was considered essential. These machines are often set and operated by the same person, where the operator will supervise a small number of machines (cell).
The design of a CNC lathe has evolved yet again however the basic principles and parts are still recognizable, the turret holds the tools and indexes them as needed. The machines are often totally enclosed, due in large part to Occupational health and safety (OH&S) issues.
With the advent of cheap computers, free operating systems such as Linux, and open source CNC software, the entry price of CNC machines has plummeted. For example, Sherline makes a desktop CNC lathe that is affordable by hobbyists.
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