Know about the popular CNC lathes

Lathes are basically machines which turn wood, metal and other materials and carry out varied functions like sanding and drilling. Lathes are extensively used for metalworking, glass working, metal spinning, wood turning etc. Generally the lathes are small and can be placed on a workbench or stand. There are severaltypes of lathes available in the market these days and the sliding head lathes that are controlled by the computer (CNCsliding head lathe) are very popular at the moment.

Earlier the woodworking lathe ruled the popularity charts; they were the oldest kind of lathe tools as well. However, the initial design of woodworking lathes has undergone drastic transformation and several variants of the woodworking lathe are available now.

However, thelathe variant you need to definitely know about is the CNC lathes. CNC or Computer Numerical Controlled lathes are the manifestation of radical progress in the world of technology and the CNC variants are fast replacing all other types of lathes. CNC lathes are very easy to operate and set. One of the biggest advantages of CNC lathes are once they have been set and a successful trial has been carried out; they will shape and turn out parts continuously with minimal supervision. Since the CNC lathes are completely controlled by the computer, making modifications at a later date, whenever required, is very simple.

Recently the CNC lathes have undergone further development and though the basic change has not changed much, the technological advancement is massive. These lathes are usually enclosed, basically for occupation health and safety concerns. 

Importance of checking the sturdiness of wood lathes

Were youchecking out CNC sliding head lathesfrom some of the manufacturers because you need a lathe for shaping wood inyour factory? Well, when it comes to lathe machines for wood you need to understand that if the spinning of wood is out of balance, there will be tremendous vibrations. Also, at times you might need very heavy pieces of wood to be spun and the lathe you choose needs to be capable of withstanding the considerable force. So, when you purchase a wood lathe you will have to make sure that the machine is sturdy enough for the job.

If you have a small shop and want to turn small wooden objects, you might think that it is not very important to thoroughly check the sturdiness of the lathe; this however, is a mistake. Most of the small lathe machines usually come with high minimum speed and turn at very high speed therefore things can get out of control if the wood is unbalanced. In case of vibration, the cuts on the wood might be poor and the finish might be bad.

The larger wood lathes usually have lower minimum speed compared to the smaller wood lathes and this allows for lesser vibration if and when the wood is unbalanced.

So, when purchasing a new wood lathe you should try and opt for the one which is sturdy enough to handle the weight of the wood pieces you usually work with. The lathe should have a strong foundation so that it does not move when the wood turns. 

Different types of lathes used for shaping metals

If you recentlyhad the opportunity to visit a factory that manufactures table legs, you musthave come across sliding head lathes. Lathes are essentially machines or tools with the help of which metal, wood or other some other types of materials are shaped with the help of a rotating drive that turns the piece being worked against cutting tools. Lathes are of different kinds and though CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) lathes have gained immense popularity lately, other kinds of lathes are also widely used.

Metal lathes are those machines which are used to shape metals. The above mentioned CNC lathes are being used widely to shape metals. These lathes are advantageous because of their simple method of operation and setting. These lathes are intended to make use of modern carbide tool and the modern processes are completely used.

Another kind of metal lathe is the centre lathe which is also known as the engine lathe. A lot of entrepreneurs consider the centre lathe as the basis for metal lathe and they are used by most machinists.

There is also the capstan lathe which is popularly referred to as the ram-style turret lathe. This kind of lathe can be essentially described as a manufacturing machine which consists of the basic features of a lathe machine and also the capstan style tailstock.

The turret lathe is a manufacturing tool which is similar to the capstan lathe in appearance. However, the turret slides on the bed and is not fixed.

Combination lathes introduce milling and drilling operations in the lathe plan.

A few advantages of lathes you must know about

Were you thinking of getting a CNC sliding head lathe for shaping salad bowls in your factory? Well, sliding head lathes have become quitepopular off late and they are being used extensively in several factories. However, before you get a CNC lathe, you need to know a little about them in details.

CNC lathes can be used for a wide variety of functions including drilling, cutting and sanding and the lathe machine works on metals, wood and other kinds of materials. A massive advantage of using a lathe machine is it will help you to reduce the time of manufacturing the products you deal in and thereby help you to garner more profit. A lot of people are under the impression that a wood lathe can be used only to shape woods but this is far from the truth; a wood lathe can be used to work on materials like aluminium and brass as well. Metalworking lathes can also be used for other materials apart from metals and this gives you the opportunity to get creative with your products.

Another advantage of lathe machines is, they are available in varied sizes and specifications and this means that irrespective of whether you operate from a small shop or own a large company, you will definitely be able to find a lathe machine which suits your needs.

Metal fabrication is yet another advantage offered by lathe machines. You can use the lathe to create a specific part of the product that requires circular motion.