Machine Shop: Lesson 9 - Introduction to the Lathe

There are four lathes available for use in the student shop. Students become familiar with the safety issues related to use of the lathe. The lathe can be especially dangerous, because of the high rotating mass (the work piece) during machining operations. If not properly secured and balanced it can be thrown from the machine. The lower mass (the cutting tool) is stationary, this is completely opposite to what is most frequently the case with the milling machine. The importance of chip control and staying out of the cutting line is stress.

Lathe nomenclature is discussed and how the various controls are used. Students are task to select and set the machine to various spindle feeds and speeds as well as how to do a quick check to determine if the tailstock and headstock are aligned. Students learn, by machining a piece of aluminum, how to determines if the lathe dials are calibrated for radius or diameter reduction.