CNC Lathes

A lathe can be described as a machine tool that turns a piece of material and to carry out various operations including drilling and sanding. These tools are used for wood turning, metalworking, metal spinning and glass working. Generally, they are small enough to sit on a stand or workbench and almost all lathes have a bed, which tends to be a horizontal beam which ensures that swarf or chips falls free off the bed.

There are a variety of different lathes available on the market. Woodworking lathes, also known as turning lathes are the oldest variety and all other varieties have since evolved from this initial design. Metal lathes are one of these such lathes which come in a wide range of sizes and shapes depending upon their application. Some lathes are also combined with other tools, such as a drilling machines and are known as combination lathes.

In more recent years, lathes have evolved with the introduction of new materials and as a result, they are incredibly versatile. They can now be used in many different ways with a wide range of materials. With the radical developments in technology, Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) is quickly replacing the older production lathes because they are particularly easy to set and operate. Once these machines have been set and trialled the machine can then continuously turn out parts, needing only the occasional supervision of an operator.

CNC lathes are controlled electronically from a computer, this makes it easier to be modified at a later date. Operators of these machines are required be highly skilled, however on the plus side the knowledge base which is needed, tends to be much more general in comparison to the older production machines where intimate knowledge of each individual machine was considered essential. These machines will generally be set and monitored by a single person who will look after a small number of them at once.

CNC lathes have developed further more recently. The basic design remains the same but technology has changed. The machines are often totally enclosed, due in large part to occupational health and safety issues.

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