Below are the descriptions of each of these.
Center Lathe
This is maybe the most common type, as this is the basis for the metal lathe. It is mostly used by hobbyists and various machinists. If you ever come across a metal lathe, the center lathe could be easily the first type you will ever see.
Capstan Lathe
The capstan lathe is basically a production machine that is a combination of the actual lathe and a capstan head with a set of various depth stops that are mounted on a turret face each.
Turret Lathe
This is looking almost the same as the capstan lathe, however it works a bit differently. You can easily perform various machine operations such as reaming, drilling and boring.
Metal Lathe
Metal lathe is probably a generic term these days associated with all sorts of different types of metalwork lathes. That said modern lathes can work just as well with solid plastics if the right set up and accessories are utilized. The sort of machines available start from the more basic metal work enthusiast home through to the complex metal work lathes used in industry.
Centering - this is usually a double headed piece of equipment that drills the workpiece from either end as it turns at high speed. Following on from this its common for the piece to move on in the production process to another operation.
Bench - this sort of machine could be classed as more of a hobbyists lathe as it easily fits onto of a work bench. It does have full features however and is larger than either a micro or mini lathe.
Turret - used mainly for repeated parts production. It operates using a turret which basically holds the tools that form part of a multi cutting operation. Once set up there is little need for operator intervention. This sort of metal working lathe can have CNC auto lathe technology applied to it.
Gang Tool - this is a very similar lathe to the turret except that it operates in a more linear fashion than the turret which is basically rotary.
Multi-Spindle - this lathe is often called the screw machine! It can produce a high speed of production churning out parts very efficiently. Again CNC technology makes this a very efficient metal working lathe.
CNC - cnc stands for computer numerical control. Once setup via the computer aided design program or CAD this very modern lathe set up will get to work very efficiently producing work pieces at high speed and with very little in the way of operator intervention. Its not uncommon for an operator to control more than one of these metal working lathes.
Swiss Style Lathe - this type of lathe is highly accurate to several thousandths of one inch. Many people who are interested in more than simple woodworking, such as maybe creating a small steam engine or an internal combustion engine, will need to get a metal lathe in order to complete the job.
If youve never worked with - or even seen - a metal lathe, the experience of buying one can be quite an intimidating thought. This is because the machine is not a typical craft item and the literature on the web on it is not much geared towards crafts and hobbies, but more towards industrial and commercial purposes. So finding what you really need to buy as a hobbyist might be a daunting task without proper research.
Metalworking Lathes In The Wood Shop: Woodturners Can Have It Both Ways, Metal Lathe Buying Guide, metal lathe
Metal Lathes Introduction, lathes, Metalworking Lathes In The Wood Shop: Woodturners Can Have It Both WaysA metal lathe is one of the most important tools required in a metal working shop. There are several types of metal lathes, including a center, a capstan, a CNC lathe, as well as a Turret lathe. Each of them have a different application, even though they are using the same initial principles.
Center lathe
This type is also called an engine lathe, and this is the most commonly used model by hobbyists and various machinists and engineers.
Capstain lathe
This is a ram style turret lathe that is used in workholding industry. It is a manufacturing equipment with a set of combined features of the actual lathe and a captain tailstock.
CNC lathe
This is the most modern type available nowadays and it is found more and more to replace the old, basic lathe types. It has a different, much simpler way of setting and operating and it uses very modern types of processes that are favored by most people using it.
Turret lathe
This is also a manufacturing machine which looks very similar to the capstan type. The difference consists of the fact that it lies right on the bed instead of it being fixed.
Combination lathe
This is a machine that has several operations besides the basic cutting. Here you can also find drilling, milling and other types. The x and y axis of this machine are used by the carriage and the topslide.
While metal lathes are mostly used for industrial purposes, nowadays they have also started to be employed by craftsmen and hobbyists from all over the world. Many people who are interested in more than simple woodworking, such as maybe creating a small steam engine or an internal combustion engine, will need to get a metal lathe in order to complete the job.
Of course, you can also buy one with a manual change set of gears if you can handle the time to change the gears (about 5 minutes each time). If you like doing things fast and automatically, the quick change one is your best bet.
Finally when it comes to the manufacturer and country of origin, you might find US models and Asian models. It is a fact that nowadays Asian countries can produce good quality equipment and machinery, however I still trust better the US products, as they have really good quality testing and if anything happens with the piece you buy, its much easier to replace it locally rather than trying to have it shipped from China or Taiwan.
If youve been in business for a while, you might have heard of metal lathes, however if its the first time you get to hear this phrase, let me explain what they are. You never know when you might need to buy one or make use of one.
In a nutshell, a metal lathe is a machinery equipment that can remove parts of a work item by cutting that part away. Also it is used to turn manually the metal to form it into various exact shapes. Initially it was used for industrial purpose for cutting difficult to cut metal parts. Nowadays, however, as there are many hobbyists that realized the use of such tool, it is used in a wide variety of applications and can cut almost every type of material existent today.
Center lathe
This type is also called an engine lathe, and this is the most commonly used model by hobbyists and various machinists and engineers.
Capstain lathe
This is a ram style turret lathe that is used in workholding industry. It is a manufacturing equipment with a set of combined features of the actual lathe and a captain tailstock.
CNC lathe
This is the most modern type available nowadays and it is found more and more to replace the old, basic lathe types. It has a different, much simpler way of setting and operating and it uses very modern types of processes that are favored by most people using it.
Turret lathe
This is also a manufacturing machine which looks very similar to the capstan type. The difference consists of the fact that it lies right on the bed instead of it being fixed.
Combination lathe
This is a machine that has several operations besides the basic cutting. Here you can also find drilling, milling and other types. The x and y axis of this machine are used by the carriage and the topslide.
While metal lathes are mostly used for industrial purposes, nowadays they have also started to be employed by craftsmen and hobbyists from all over the world. Many people who are interested in more than simple woodworking, such as maybe creating a small steam engine or an internal combustion engine, will need to get a metal lathe in order to complete the job.
Of course, you can also buy one with a manual change set of gears if you can handle the time to change the gears (about 5 minutes each time). If you like doing things fast and automatically, the quick change one is your best bet.
Finally when it comes to the manufacturer and country of origin, you might find US models and Asian models. It is a fact that nowadays Asian countries can produce good quality equipment and machinery, however I still trust better the US products, as they have really good quality testing and if anything happens with the piece you buy, its much easier to replace it locally rather than trying to have it shipped from China or Taiwan.
If youve been in business for a while, you might have heard of metal lathes, however if its the first time you get to hear this phrase, let me explain what they are. You never know when you might need to buy one or make use of one.
In a nutshell, a metal lathe is a machinery equipment that can remove parts of a work item by cutting that part away. Also it is used to turn manually the metal to form it into various exact shapes. Initially it was used for industrial purpose for cutting difficult to cut metal parts. Nowadays, however, as there are many hobbyists that realized the use of such tool, it is used in a wide variety of applications and can cut almost every type of material existent today.
Actually, this is not needed for the tail centre as live tail centres are readily available for metal lathes and are generally more robust than those for wood lathes because of the heavier weights usually turned.
Metal turners use tools fixed on a tool holder that is mounted securely on a table that is directed with wheels that move it in the x and y axes to remove metal from the rotating piece. While there are rare wood turners that can manipulate the tool in this way, most turn freehand. For this a tool rest and banjo will need to be fashioned allowing the use of hand tools.
All that is now needed is to remember that wood and metal are two different materials with different needs and affect the workshop in different ways. Oil is used in turning metal. Oil, unless it is the oil used in finishing a particular turning, can stain and ruin a nice turning. Similarly some metals react with some woods to introduce a discolouration. Thus it is necessary to be scrupulous in cleaning up all the metal shavings and all the oil from metal turning before turning wood.
At the same time, many woodturners work with green or wet wood and water hurts metal. The shavings from turning wood must be cleared from the metal lathe before turning metal.
On the other hand, this really means that the shop and in particular the lathe must be kept clean. This is a good idea at all times for workshop safety and the use of a metal lathe for metalworking and woodturning merely encourages the discipline. In any case it allows for a new dimension and direction for the craftsman turner.
lathes, lathe, metal latheMetal Lathe
Metal lathe is probably a generic term these days associated with all sorts of different types of metalwork lathes. That said modern lathes can work just as well with solid plastics if the right set up and accessories are utilized. The sort of machines available start from the more basic metal work enthusiast home through to the complex metal work lathes used in industry.
Centering - this is usually a double headed piece of equipment that drills the workpiece from either end as it turns at high speed. Following on from this its common for the piece to move on in the production process to another operation.
Bench - this sort of machine could be classed as more of a hobbyists lathe as it easily fits onto of a work bench. It does have full features however and is larger than either a micro or mini lathe.
Turret - used mainly for repeated parts production. It operates using a turret which basically holds the tools that form part of a multi cutting operation. Once set up there is little need for operator intervention. This sort of metal working lathe can have CNC auto lathe technology applied to it.
Gang Tool - this is a very similar lathe to the turret except that it operates in a more linear fashion than the turret which is basically rotary.
If youve been in business for a while, you might have heard of metal lathes, however if its the first time you get to hear this phrase, let me explain what they are. You never know when you might need to buy one or make use of one.
Metal turners use tools fixed on a tool holder that is mounted securely on a table that is directed with wheels that move it in the x and y axes to remove metal from the rotating piece. While there are rare wood turners that can manipulate the tool in this way, most turn freehand. For this a tool rest and banjo will need to be fashioned allowing the use of hand tools.
All that is now needed is to remember that wood and metal are two different materials with different needs and affect the workshop in different ways. Oil is used in turning metal. Oil, unless it is the oil used in finishing a particular turning, can stain and ruin a nice turning. Similarly some metals react with some woods to introduce a discolouration. Thus it is necessary to be scrupulous in cleaning up all the metal shavings and all the oil from metal turning before turning wood.
At the same time, many woodturners work with green or wet wood and water hurts metal. The shavings from turning wood must be cleared from the metal lathe before turning metal.
On the other hand, this really means that the shop and in particular the lathe must be kept clean. This is a good idea at all times for workshop safety and the use of a metal lathe for metalworking and woodturning merely encourages the discipline. In any case it allows for a new dimension and direction for the craftsman turner.
lathes, lathe, metal latheMetal Lathe
Metal lathe is probably a generic term these days associated with all sorts of different types of metalwork lathes. That said modern lathes can work just as well with solid plastics if the right set up and accessories are utilized. The sort of machines available start from the more basic metal work enthusiast home through to the complex metal work lathes used in industry.
Centering - this is usually a double headed piece of equipment that drills the workpiece from either end as it turns at high speed. Following on from this its common for the piece to move on in the production process to another operation.
Bench - this sort of machine could be classed as more of a hobbyists lathe as it easily fits onto of a work bench. It does have full features however and is larger than either a micro or mini lathe.
Turret - used mainly for repeated parts production. It operates using a turret which basically holds the tools that form part of a multi cutting operation. Once set up there is little need for operator intervention. This sort of metal working lathe can have CNC auto lathe technology applied to it.
Gang Tool - this is a very similar lathe to the turret except that it operates in a more linear fashion than the turret which is basically rotary.
If youve been in business for a while, you might have heard of metal lathes, however if its the first time you get to hear this phrase, let me explain what they are. You never know when you might need to buy one or make use of one.