Shaping a workpiece into a cylinder, cone, or shaped form is the main purpose of a wood lathe. Additional mechanisms can be attached to it, and then the turning unit drills round holes, cuts threads (internal and external), gives the part a complex round profile, applies corrugations, trims and rounds the ends, and grinds. The most functional models have the option of installing a copying device, which results in the required number of identical parts with the exact size. This is practical because it does not require constant adjustment of equipment parameters.
In furniture manufacturing, such machines are a major necessity, as they are able to produce decor, complex parts of various wooden structures. They are also used in carpentry shops, manufacturing, and industrial woodworking.
The structure of the lathe is adapted to perform various tasks. All its working elements are located on a powerful platform. The turning mechanism includes a spindle and two headstocks, one front and one rear. The rear one only fixes the workpiece, while the front one rotates with the workpiece. The workpiece is shaped by a turning cutter, which moves with the help of a movable sled. The cutter is a consumable, but at the same time it is the main element of the lathe. For each new task, you can install a different type and shape of cutter and get a completely different product.
The spindle speed is necessarily adjustable, which makes it possible to turn parts of different shapes and process wood of different hardnesses. The adjustment is usually stepwise, allowing you to select up to five speeds. Household models are equipped with electronic adjustment.
There are wood and metal lathes. They are similar in structure, but in a metal lathe, the workpiece is fed automatically, and in a wood lathe, the feed is manual. The cutting element is brought to the workpiece manually.
Types of lathes:
Desktop (attached to a workbench, table, window sill) – mobile and compact in size. It weighs up to 20 kilograms and is suitable for small parts.
Small-scale – this unit is 5 times heavier in weight, so it is installed permanently. Power reaches up to half a kilowatt. It is used in the mass production of elements for furniture and decorative products.
Production – its drive power is above 1 kilowatt, it is powerful and very heavy. Three-phase voltage is required. The functions of such equipment are usually extended – it is possible to install various cutters, additional devices, and a copier. This is an industrial unit not for home use.
When choosing a machine for home or production work, we focus on the following performance indicators:
Electric drive power;
Spindle speed and the ability to adjust it;
Distance between the headstocks;
The maximum acceptable diameter of the turning.