Investing in a new metalworking lathe is a big step for any shop
(especially home shops), where there's usually no one around to help.
Once the lathe is up and running, you should theoretically be able to
make the special items you previously did without (or paid through the
nose for), such as shafts, plain, tapered or threaded discs, bearings,
and so on. But if you are new to this, you'll want to know a lot more
than you can learn from the salesman or the manual. Does the lathe
really match your needs, and if so, how much? Choosing & Using the
Right Metal Shop Lathe is an essential source of information for lathe
buyers and users at every level, from mini-size tabletops up to
industrial machines weighing half a ton or more. It answers the question
of what else you will need to get useful work from the machine. For
instance, what comes as "standard equipment" with the lathe? Most
include a chuck (usually a 4-jaw independent, not the self-centering
3-jaw you'll want to use most of the time), maybe a faceplate (rarely
used), and a 4-way toolholder you will probably swap right away for a
more sensible design. Never included is a tailstock drill chuck, an
essential accessory you will need from day one--and the same goes for
actual cutting tools. Almost certainly, there won't be a digital readout
(DRO), which used to be regarded as a "maybe-someday" luxury--but not
anymore.
The work talks about cutting oils, cutting speeds and easier-to-machine
materials, and it cautions against buying sets of anything, vs. buying
the one accessory you'll truly need. Finally, there are chapters on
building a tailstock drill press, a special toolpost for easy screw
cutting, and a precision grinder for lathe tools that can be made from
oddments of material in a couple of days or less.
Features
- Differentiates between the truly essential features (screw-cutting)
and the nice-to-have (power feeding), spindle speed selection from a
gearbox (typical) or continuously variable (more convenient).
- Offers advice on screw-cutting US and metric threads, and handling the
machinist's most trouble-prone actions, such as knurling and parting
off.
- Provides a workpiece tutorial that demonstrates many of the
commonplace lathe routines--ideal for first-time users.
