Lathes for metal are designed for processing workpieces in order to obtain products used in mechanical engineering and construction, the manufacture of tools, etc. There are several types of modern equipment of this type. And all of them are characterized by high performance and reliability.
What brands exist
Equipment of this type is represented on the modern domestic market quite widely. There are many brands. As an example, such metal lathes as:
- "Caliber".
- "Universal".
- Jet (China).
Design Features
This type of equipment differs from woodworking machines primarily by the presence of a tool holder. This element makes working with metal parts as convenient as possible. After all, it is simply impossible to hold a tool intended for processing a workpiece with your hands, as when using a machine on wood, in this case, due to the rigidity of the material and heavy load.
The main structural elements of the machine for metal are:
- Bed. All working units and parts are attached to it.
- Front headstock. Inside this assembly is a spindle.
- The tailstock with a quill. This part of the machine is movable and serves to secure the workpiece.
- Caliper This element is used to inform the cutter of translational motion during operation.
- Apron. Transforms into translational motion.
- Electric motor with drive belt.
- Gearbox. It is responsible for the transmission of movement from the caliper to the spindle by means of a screw or roller.
As you can see, the design of this equipment is rather complicated. Therefore, for example, assembling a lathe for metal with your own hands is not too simple.
How the equipment works
Metal lathes operate according to a rather simple principle. Cutting tools are fixed in the tailstock. When you turn on the machine, it begins to move along the guides of the bed and stops in the right place for processing the part. During operation, the support carriage also moves, but along the part. It is located between the grandmothers.
The tool during turning can be located either along the axis of the part, or at a slight angle to it. In this case, when the machine is operating, the product acquires a cylindrical or conical shape. Also, the cutter can be perpendicular to the axis of the part. This treatment is called transverse.
Types of equipment
Lathes for metal are classified into two main types:
- Screw-cutting turning. A distinctive feature of the equipment of this variety is that the tailstock tailstock has a stroke. Therefore, such machines can be equipped with a chuck for drilling holes. On machines of this type, threads can be cut, both internal and external. They are used mainly in instrumentation, when working with ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
- Turning and milling. This equipment is versatile. On machines of this type, it is possible to process workpieces not only from non-ferrous and ferrous metals, but also from plastic and wood. This equipment is used for cutting grooves, chamfering, drilling holes, threading, etc.
Special Purpose Equipment
In addition to the two main ones, there are two additional varieties of metal lathes:
- Turning and carousel.This equipment is used to process parts having large dimensions and weight.
- Turning turrets. Such machines allow you to make all kinds of products from the bar.
Recently, high-precision CNC production equipment has also been used very often at industrial enterprises. Using such machines, it is possible to produce the highest quality and geometrically verified products.
Among other things, this type of equipment may vary at the installation site. There are not only overall, sometimes even mounted on the foundation models. Very popular and in demand is also a desktop metal lathe. It has the same design as a regular one, but it takes up less space and costs less.
Cutting tools
A desktop metal lathe, just like a regular one, should be used using only high-quality and reliable cutting tools. Different types of working tools can be used to process metal billets or bars. They are selected depending on the type of operations performed. So, for example, peeling cutters are used for roughing parts. After their application, noticeable traces remain on the workpiece. Finishing cutters are used to give the surface of the product smoothness. There are also cutting, boring, threaded tools, etc.
Cutters for a lathe for metal from two parts consist. The head is the main element responsible for processing the part. The rod serves to secure the cutter.
Work tools of lathes are made from high-speed or carbon steels as well as from corundum and hard alloys. The last two varieties of materials have recently been used most often.
Reviews about brands of machine tools
Reliable and productive equipment of this type makes production more profitable and facilitates the work of a turner. Any shortcomings can cause a decrease in the quality of the manufactured parts. Decent reviews deserved, for example, domestic Universal machines. Specialists believe that they do very well both with turning and with milling work. A definite disadvantage of this equipment is its high cost. Chinese Jet is praised for its small size, versatility and lack of backlash. However, according to many, such a metal lathe for the home is very good, but it is not worth using it even in a small production. This Chinese equipment, according to experts, will not be able to transfer serious loads.
Corvette machines are considered quite good, reliable and easy to use. But at the same time, noise and a not-too-long engine resource are attributed to their shortcomings. In particular, the old domestic models developed by Soviet engineers earned good reviews from specialists.
Homemade metal lathe: how to assemble
Making this equipment yourself is difficult. However, if you have certain skills, you can put together a very working and even very productive model. Units and parts for it can be purchased at the store, and in some cases, made by yourself.
Going homemade metal lathe something like this:
- The headstock with the spindle mounted is fixed to the travel tube.
- The frame of the machine is going.
- The headstock is installed on it.
- The running tube is mounted.
- The back headstock and a support level are established.
- The support is going.
- The spindle nut and spindle are mounted.
Finish assembling a lathe for metal (with your own hands it is completely possible to do this) by coloring metal parts. Before starting work, the equipment is mounted on a table or workbench. The spindle is lubricated with liquid grease, and the guides and the pin are greased.
