Operations Performs on Lathe Machine

Facing

Facing is the process of removing metal from the end of a workpiece to produce a flat surface. Most often, the workpiece is cylindrical, but by using 4- jaw chuck we can face rectangular or odd-shaped work to form cubes and other non-cylindrical shapes.

When a lathe cutting tool removes metal it applies considerable tangential (i.e. lateral or sideways) force to the workpiece. To safely perform a facing operation the end of the workpiece must be positioned close to the jaws of the chuck. The workpiece should not extend more than 2-3 times its diameter from the chuck jaws unless a steady rest is used to support the free end.

Straight turning

In this operation the work is held in the spindle and is rotated whole the tool is fed past the work piece in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation. The surface generated is a cylindrical surface.

Taper Turning

A taper may be defined as a uniform increase or decrease in diameter of a work piece measured along its length. In a Lathe taper turning is an operation to produce a conical surface by gradual reduction in diameter from a cylindrical job. 

Contour turning

Instead of feeding the tool along a straight line parallel to the axis of rotatation as in turning, the tool follows a contour that is other than straight, thus creating a tapered cylinder or conical shape.

Form turning

In this operation, sometimes called forming, the tool has a shape that is imparted to the work by plunging the tool radially into the work.

Chamfering

            The cutting edge of the tool is used to cut an angle on the corner of the cylinder, forming what is called a "chamfer."

Cutoff

The tool is fed radially into the rotating work at some location along its length to cut off the end of the part. This operation is sometimes referred to as parting.

Threading

A pointed tool is fed linearly across the outside surface of the rotating workpart in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation at a large effective feed rate, thus creating threads in the cylinder.

Boring

A single-point tool is fed linearly, parallel to the axis of rotation, on the inside diameter of an existing hole in the part.

Drilling

Drilling can be performed on a lathe by feeding the drill into the rotating work along its axis. Reaming can be performed in a similar way.

Knurling

This is not a machining operation because it does not involve cutting of material. Instead, it is a metal forming operation used to produce a regular cross hatched pattern in the work surface.