Session 3

Classification of lathes

Kinematics system of centre lathe

Working principle of lathe machine

 Classification of lathes

Lathes are very versatile of wide use and are classified according
to several aspects:
(a) According to configuration

• Horizontal

-Most common for ergonomic conveniences

• Vertical

- Occupies less floor space, only some large lathes are of this
type.
 Classification of lathes
(b) According to purpose of use
•General purpose
-Very versatile where almost all possible types of operations
are carried out on wide ranges of size, shape and materials of
jobs; example : centre lathes
•Single purpose
Only one (occasionally two) type of operation is done on
limited ranges of size and material of jobs; example – f
acing lathe, roll turning lathe etc.
•Special purpose
- Where a definite number and type of operations are done
repeatedly over long time on a specific type of blank; example:
gear blank machining lathe etc.
 Classification of lathes

(C)According to size or capacity

• Small (low duty)
- In such light duty lathes (upto 1.1 kW), only small and medium
size jobs of generally soft and easily machinable materials are
machined
• Medium (medium duty)
- These lathes of power nearly upto 11 kW are most versatile and
commonly used
• Large (heavy duty)
• Mini or micro lathe
- These are tiny table-top lathes used for extremely small size
jobs and precision work; example : swiss type automatic lathe
 Classification of lathes

(D)According to degree of automation

• Non-automatic
- Almost all the handling operations are done manually;
example: centre lathes
• Semi-automatic
- Nearly half of the handling operations, irrespective of the
processing operations, are done automatically and rest manually;
example : capstan lathe, turret lathe, copying lathe relieving
lathe etc.
• Automatic
- Almost all the handling operations (and obviously all the
processing operations) are done automatically; example – single
spindle automat (automatic lathe), swiss type automatic lathe,
etc.
 Classification of lathes

(E)According to type of automation

• Fixed automation
- Conventional; example – single spindle automat, swiss type
automatic lathe etc.
• Flexible automation
- Modern; example CNC lathe, turning centre etc.
(f) According to configuration of the jobs being handled
• Bar type
- Slender rod like jobs being held in collets
• Chucking type
- Disc type jobs being held in chucks
• Housing type

Odd shape jobs, being held in face plate

 Classification of lathes

(g)According to precision
• Ordinary
• Precision (lathes)
- These sophisticated lathes meant for high accuracy and finish
and are relatively more expensive.
(h) According to number of spindles
• Single spindle
- Common
• Multispindle (2, 4, 6 or 8 spindles)
- Such uncommon lathes are suitably used for fast and mass
production of small size and simple shaped jobs.
Classification of Lathes
Bench Lathe
Engine Lathe
Tool room Lathe
Special purpose lathe (Gap bed)
Kinematic System Of Lathes
Kinematic System and working principle Of Lathes
 Lathe Components
1. Bed:

• It supports all major components of lathe as it is the

base of machine.

• These have large mass, rigidly built as single piece

casting from gray/ toughened C.I to resist deflection &
absorb vibrations generated during cutting process.

• Three main parts head, tail stocks , carriage are

mounted on bed
2. Head stock:

• It is a part which secured permanently at left hand

end of bed which supports spindle & equipped with
power driving mechanisms (motors, pulleys, V-belts
) for spindle at various rotational speeds.

• It have a hollow spindle to which Work holding

devices such as chucks, collets are attached.
3. Tail stock/ Loose head stock/ Puppet head:
• It is mounted on inner ways at right hand end of bed
which can slide along the ways & can be clamped at
any position, supports the other end of w/p.
• It is equipped with a centre that may be fixed(dead
centre) or may be free to rotate with w/p called (live
centre)
• Drills & reamers can be mounted on tailstock quill (a
hollow cylindrical part with tapered hole) to drill axial
holes in w/p. Quill can move in & out with hand wheel.
4. Carriage:
• It slides along the guide ways between head stock,
tailstock & consist of assembly of saddle, cross
slide, tool post, compound rest, apron.
• Main function of carriage is to hold cutting tool &
move it to give longitudinal & / cross feed to it.
• Operator moves carriage manually by hand wheel/
automatically by engaging feed shaft with carriage
feed mechanism.
• Carriage consists of:
a) Saddle:
 Part of carriage which slides along bed ways & support
the cross slide, compound rest, tool post.
b) Cross slide:
 Mounted on top of saddle & always moves in direction
normal to axis of main spindle.
 It can be either operated by hand by means of cross
feed screw or may be given power feed through apron
mechanism.
c) Compound rest:

• It is mounted on cross slide & carries a graduated

circular base called as swivel plate.

• Upper part is called compound slide can be moved

by means of compound rest feed screw.

d) Tool post:

• Top most part of carriage, used for holding tool/

tool holder in position.
e) Apron:

• It is hanging part in front of carriage.

• It serves as housing for number of gear trains

through which power feeds can be given to the
carriage & cross slide.
5. Feed rod & Lead screw:

• Feed rod is powered by set of gears from head stock.

• It rotates during operation of lathe & provides

movement to carriage & cross-slide by means of
gears, friction clutch, key way along the length of
rod.

• Lead screw it transmits power to carriage through a

gear & clutch arrangement in carriage apron.
 Working Principle of lathe
• The lathe is a machine tool which holds the work piece
between two rigid and strong supports called centers or in a
chuck or face plate which revolves as shown in Fig.
• The cutting tool is rigidly held and supported in a tool post
which is fed against the revolving work.
• The normal cutting operations are performed with the cutting
tool fed either parallel or at right angles to the axis of the
work.
• The cutting tool may also be fed at an angle relative to the
axis of work for machining tapers and angles.
Working Principle of lathe
Working principle of turning