The Lathe2

The Lathe

There are many machine tools out there that look incredibly complicated and harsh. The lathe is one of these machines. What many people do not realize is that lathes are often used to make beautiful objects out of wood, metal, or even glass. These machines are extremely versatile in what they are able to create and that is because of the many different varieties.

The first type of lathe and the oldest is the wood lathe. They are actually the base models for all other types of lathes. The lathe accommodates the correct positioning for all the necessary wood shaping tools through the use of a horizontal metal rail. These tools are usually hand held so the wood lathe allows you to shape the wood hands free. This hands free function also allows you to run sandpaper along the surface of your creation just as you would if you weren't using the machinery. Other types of lathes used for wood can be used for the making of plates and bowls and they do not have a metal rail and is instead held by a metal faceplate.

The metal lathe is another very well known type of lathes in the lathe group. Metal is removed from an object through a cutting tool that is fixed on a moveable mounting called a tool post. The hardened tool moves against the metal within the metal lathe using something called a hand wheel. The tool post is powered to produce the finishing cuts and roughing cuts. This is the process responsible for turning the metal in order to shape it correctly. If the metal machine becomes to hot you can add cutting fluid in order to cool it down. The functions of it are much more in depth than the wood lathe, and the mini lathe, which is the last this article will discuss.

The mini lathe is the least expensive of all lathes. It is the best choice for model makers, inventors, and experimenters. The lathe works great for fabricating small precision parts. They are basically just a miniature version of their larger counterparts. They can be used to shape metals, wood, and even plastic but they are quite different in design from wood types. They are more similar to metal lathes in their function and design. Each of these types of a lathe has their purpose and place in the creative world of wood and metal shaping.