20 Different Parts of A Lathe Machine and Their Function

A lathe is a machine tool that uses a cutting tool to remove material from the surface of the workpiece which is placed in the chuck to hold the workpiece and feed to the workpiece provided by the tool to remove the material. It is the most versatile and widely used machine in industries, institutes, etc.

So, in today’s post, we are going to explain each of the different parts of a lathe and the important functions they perform. Keep reading!

Parts of a Lathe Machine

There are different parts of the lathe machine:

#1. Headstock.

The headstock is usually located on the left side of the lathe and is equipped with gears, spindles, chucks, gear speed control levers, and feed controllers.

It is mounted in a fixed position on the inner ways, usually at the left end. Using a chuck, it rotates the work.

#2. Tailstock.

It is also sometimes called a loos headstock or a puppet head. Usually located on the right side of the lathe, the workpiece is supported at the end.

Fits on the inner ways of the bed and can slide towards any position of the headstock to fit the length of the workpiece. An optional taper turning attachment would be mounted to it.

#3. Bed.

The main parts of a lathe, Usually made of cast iron. Provides a heavy rigid frame on which all the main components are mounted. all parts are bolted to the bed. It includes the headstock, tailstock, carriage rails, and other parts.

#4. Carriage.

The carriage is located between the headstock and the tailstock and contains an apron, saddle, compound rest, cross slide, and tool post. Moves on the outer ways. Used for mounting and moving most of the cutting tools.

#5. Chuck.

It allows the mounting of difficult workpieces that are not round, square, or triangular.

#6. Feed rod.

The lead screw is used to move the carriage automatically during threading. Used to connect the feed box and slide box, and transmit the speed and power of the feed box to the slide box, so that the slide box achieves longitudinal linear motion.

#7. Lead screw.

The screw is specially set to bend various threads. When bending other surfaces of the workpiece, only smooth screws are used instead of screws.

Students should distinguish the difference between a light screw and a lead screw based on the contents of the slide box.

#8. Chip Pan.

It is present at the bottom of the lathe. A chip pan is used to collect the chips that are produced during the lathe operation.

#9. Hand Wheel.

It is the wheel that is operated by hand to move a cross slide, carriage, tailstock, and other parts that have a handwheel.

#10. Cooling device.

The cooling device primarily uses a cooling water pump to suppress the slotted fluid in the water tank and spray it to the cutting location, wash the chips, and lower the cutting temperature.

Smoothes the surface to improve tool and service life. Surface processing quality of the workpiece.

#11. Legs.

They are supports that carry the entire weight of the machine over them. The prevailing method is to use cast legs.

Both feet are firmly secured to the floor through foundation spots to prevent vibration in the machine.

#12. Slide box.

This is the control box for the feed movement of the lathe. It is furnished with a mechanism that turns the rotary motion of the light rod and the lead screw to the linear motion of the tool post.

#13. Gearbox.

The gearbox Inside the headstock offers multiple speeds with a geometric ratio by moving the levers.

#14. Spindle.

A hole through the headstock to which bar stock can be fed, allows shafts that are up to 2 times the length between lathe centers to be worked on one end at a time.

#15. Cross Slide.

Mounted on the carriage, the cross slide moves perpendicular to the bed. This component provides movement towards or away from the workpiece, crucial for depth control in cutting operations.

It allows for precise adjustments in the position of the cutting tool, enabling it to make accurate depth cuts.

#16. Tool Post.

Mounted on the carriage, the tool post holds the cutting tool. It allows the tool to be positioned and secured at various angles, providing the flexibility to perform a range of cutting operations.

The tool post is an adjustable part of the lathe that enables precise control over the cutting tool’s position and orientation.

#17. Guideways.

To ensure the accurate movement of tailstock and carriage on the bed comes in outer or inner ways.

#18. Compound Rest.

The compound rest sits atop the cross slide and allows for angled cuts and fine tool adjustments.

It is used for precise cutting angles and finishing work, providing the ability to make precise angular cuts and adjustments for complex machining tasks.

#19. Tool Turret.

The turret provides the ability to change the cutting tools as required. The number and size of the cutting tools will determine the turret’s size. The CNC lathe tool turret rotates with the CNC program commands. And this rotation depends on the CNC lathe machine.

#20. Apron.

The apron is part of the carriage that houses the control mechanisms. It contains gears, clutches, and levers used to control the movement of the carriage and the cross slide.

The apron is essential for the operator to control and adjust the carriage’s position and motion during machining operations.

FAQs.