Lathes. Classification, technical characteristics of machines

Not expensive for beginners

There are many cheap lathes on the market, they all look the same and offer a lot of features for the money. This product is suitable to get an idea of ​​what carpentry is. Having worked more and advanced a little in skills, it becomes clear that the functionality is limited. Some options are equipped with a stand and mechanical speed control, but it is worth understanding that there is a relationship between price and quality of components.

Headstock

This is the heart of the machine. This unit must be solid, preferably cast. The headstock bearings must be spaced some distance apart to ensure spindle rigidity. Slight bearing spacing will cause rigidity problems when working with large diameters, so look for a machine with a large bearing spacing. The bearings themselves must be of high quality and designed to withstand heavy loads. The movement must be absolutely smooth and without vibration.

What to pay attention to

You should not buy a machine based on an advertisement if you cannot check the equipment in person. You should check with the seller for the following information:

• The period of use of the equipment and under what conditions it was operated.
• Was the machine repaired before sale? Is there a guarantee?
• How long can you test the machine in operation and return it in case of malfunctions?
• Completeness of equipment, availability of software for CNC.
• Possibility of purchasing spare parts.

Of course, it would be nice to invite a qualified specialist to conduct a thorough technical inspection of the machine, but such services cost a lot.

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Equipment advantages

Even an old machine, if it was in the hands of a master who looked after the equipment, lubricated the contacting parts in a timely manner, and was produced by a good manufacturer, will bring a lot of benefits.

This mechanical device allows:

• Create external and internal threads with different pitches.
• Turn products to required sizes.
• Produce conical and cylindrical objects.
• Boring blanks.
• Finish the edges along the side surfaces.
• Drill out the connectors.
• Trim unnecessary fragments.

The price of used mechanisms is significantly lower than that of new equipment, so there is no need to spend money on expensive tools if a used device will perform the tasks.

How to choose the right lathe?

This technique is intended for processing round parts made of wood, metal, plastic and other similar materials. Using the machine, you can turn a workpiece or a full-fledged part of a round, conical or cylindrical shape. In addition, the machine allows you to trim and drill holes, and the latter can be done using not only a drill, but also a cutter; threads can be cut on the workpiece with a die or tap.

Lathe for beginners Where to look and which one to choose

Structurally, the machine includes several elements: a bed (all the key parts are attached to it), a spindle (the workpiece is clamped here, rotation is performed, a gearbox and other adjustment mechanisms are located right there), a tailstock (the second end of the workpiece is fixed in it, if it is quite long, they install drills, taps, dies, etc.), a feed box (it transmits all movements from the caliper to the spindle) and a protective apron. Products can be horizontal or vertical. The former are used for processing small and medium-sized workpieces, for thread cutting and other work. Vertical models are used if there is a need to grind large parts that are also short in length.

When we selected products for inclusion in our rating of the best lathes, we took into account all the above points. We tried to include in the review far from the most expensive options so that there would be no significant damage to the budget of our readers. Before including the product in the top 10 best devices of this type, we carefully studied user reviews about it. You definitely won’t find low-quality products in our review.

Spindle

The threaded headstock spindle accepts screw-on accessories such as chucks, so the threads must be standard or you will be limited in your choice of accessories. On small machines, 1″x8TPI or M33x3.5 thread is standard, which makes upgrading the machine less expensive. This means that the existing threaded equipment of the machine can be transferred to the new unit if you decide to update the machine. An important point, since lathe chucks and consumables cost a significant amount of money.

Distance between centers and height from center to bed

The distance between centers determines the maximum length of the workpiece that can be machined. For standard work you will need 760 mm - 915 mm. There are machines with longer beds. They seem to be more efficient, but remember, the longer the workpiece, the more likely vibration will occur. It is better not to buy a machine with a large center distance if there is no need for it. The diameter of rotation is important. It is related to the location of the main spindle above the bed and determines the maximum diameter of the workpiece that can be processed if the machine is not equipped with the ability to rotate the headstock. It is recommended that the diameter be at least 230 mm, but in practice, the larger the value, the better.

What are the disadvantages that accompany the purchase?

A lathe is a technical tool that performs high-speed rotations, has a sharp cutting part, and is therefore dangerous for beginners.

The disadvantages of working on lathes, both old and new, are the following:

• The master must have production and operation skills, know the properties of metals, wood, and all materials so that there is no defect.
• Often, to perform operations, you need to read drawings, understand dimensions, tolerances - this is the only way to achieve high-quality processing.
• A turner must follow safety precautions to protect his health from injury.

Machine maintenance is a labor-intensive activity, where:

• Remove residual accumulations of chips.
• Lubricate the parts that act as guides.
• Replace engine oil.
• Check the electrical wiring to the engine.
• Wipe contaminated areas with a rag.

The disadvantage of old machines is that they must correspond to the times in terms of technical condition, which does not stand still, perfect devices appear, they do not need to be constantly repaired. Used equipment may have severely worn parts, and many replacement parts cannot be found on sale. You will have to make a drawing and contact a turner working on new equipment so that he can turn out a spare part.

Morse cone

It is important that the product is equipped with a Morse taper in the front and tailstock. This is a universal means of installing turning centers and other tools, and does not limit the use of only original manufacturer accessories. For example, you can install a drill chuck or lathe chuck. There are many Morse taper lathe chucks on the market, so you should not buy a machine exclusively for threaded equipment. Morse tapers come with numbers 1 or 2: the higher the number, the thicker the cone.

Tabletop or floor installation

For a professional turner, a floor-standing version is necessary, but for a home craftsman, a tabletop model is sufficient. The machine is bolted to any convenient working surface, which must be stationary and securely fixed. The advantage of installing at your own workplace is that you can choose the height of the center. It is desirable that the turning centers and tool holder are at elbow level in height.

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