Lathes are designed for machining rotating bodies. They allow you to process cylindrical, conical, spherical surfaces, cut various types of threads, and also perform drilling, boring, facing and cutting. Modern lathes are divided into two main types: universal machines and CNC machines. Over the past decade, the share of CNC machines has been steadily growing. The simplicity of the machines and their wide technological application in production determine their large share among the machine tool stock of metalworking enterprises.
Tver Machine Tool Plant, at the moment, from the turning group produces only CNC lathes and turning machining centers (turning-milling machines).
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| Turning machining center TS1720F4 | CNC machine TS1625F3 |
The main advantage of universal machines is their cost, achieved by the simplicity of their design. All operations on universal machine The turner must do this manually, which often affects the quality and accuracy of the resulting part. The only way to improve the quality of products produced on a universal machine and to facilitate the turner’s work is to install a DRO (digital display device).
CNC machines perform processing using a control program. A CNC lathe has much greater capabilities compared to universal machines: it allows you to produce more accurate and high-quality parts and has high productivity. Currently, universal machines are increasingly giving way to CNC machines, since even the most inexpensive machine with CNC is superior to a similar universal machine in all respects, at a relatively low cost.
These machines are the most common and widely used lathes and are used mainly in single and small-scale production. CNC machines are more suitable for serial and large production serial production. The axis of rotation of the part is horizontal. The operating principle, design and elements of the machines are almost the same type.
Rotary lathes are used for turning heavy workpieces of large diameter and relatively small height. The axis of rotation of the part is located vertically. These machines are capable of turning and boring cylindrical and conical surfaces, trimming ends, and cutting grooves.
The main unit of a rotary machine is a faceplate with a vertical axis on which the workpiece is mounted. Depending on the diameter of the faceplate, rotary machines are single- or double-post. The racks contain supports on which cutting tools for processing parts are mounted.
Semi-automatic copying lathes are used for processing parts of complex shapes. Workpieces on such machines are processed with one or more cutters. During processing, the cutters can move in the longitudinal and transverse directions in accordance with the profile of the copier or reference part.
It is advisable to use automatic lathes in large-scale and mass production of small-sized parts.
Lathes
To process workpieces whose diameter is much greater than their height (pulleys, railway wheels, flywheels), lathes are used. The processing surface can be either cylindrical or conical. It is possible to machine grooves and process ends.
The faceplate, up to 4 meters in diameter, is located vertically, there is no tailstock. Machines for processing particularly large parts consist of two parts located on different bases: the support is located separately. Their faceplate has a special recess for securing workpieces with dimensions exceeding its diameter.
Backing lathes
Backing is a special method of sharpening the back surfaces of processing tools: various types of cutters, tools for drilling and threading. This operation is carried out to preserve the shape of the tool during long-term use.
The design of the backing machine is similar to a screw-cutting machine, but has its own characteristics. The tool being processed is rotated by a spindle. The cutting tool, together with the support, performs linear reciprocating movements in the radial direction, while the tool being processed passes (backs) one tooth.
Specialized lathes
Designed to perform specific operations, often within a production line
Before purchasing a lathe, you need to take into account many factors that determine the correct choice of equipment.
The type of machine should be selected based on production tasks (dimensions of the workpiece, finished part, technological complexity and quantity produced over a period of time)
For the production of piece parts, it is advisable to purchase a universal machine; for mass production, a CNC machine is better suited.
Lathes with a horizontal bed of the TS1625F3 series are the most common because they combine decent quality, productivity and long service life at an affordable price; they also allow the production of long shaft-type parts.
Machines with an inclined bed of the TS1720F4 series have higher rigidity, a higher speed of movement and rotation of the workpiece, the spindle is driven by a servo motor, and chips are removed from the cutting zone using a conveyor. Turning machining centers offer the same advantages as tilt-bed machines and are capable of performing both turning and milling operations using live tools.
For high-speed serial production of small-sized parts, CNC lathes are most suitable. With a bar feeder, the production of small parts becomes almost completely automated.
Maximum processing diameter (mm)
CNC turning:
Size between centers (maximum cutting length) (mm)
CNC turning and turning machining centers::
Positioning accuracy, repeatability, (mm)
CNC turning:
Maximum number of tools
CNC turning:
| TS16A16F3 | 4 |
| TS16A20F3 TS16K20F3 |
6 |
| TS1625F3 | 8, 12 |
| TS1640F3 | 4, 8 |
| TS1720F3 | 12, 8 |
| TS1720F4 | 12, 8 |
Price
The cost of the machine depends on the manufacturer, size group, functionality, and additional options. Before purchasing a machine, you need to decide what options you need.
Many operations can be performed on different machines, with different productivity. For example, an M12 bolt can be produced on a universal lathe; it is advisable to produce a batch of more than 10 pieces on a CNC lathe or automatic lathe. If you plan to process workpieces with a diameter greater than 60 mm, then it is difficult or impossible to use an automatic lathe. If a single processing of workpieces is required that exceeds the parameters of the machine, then, sometimes, it is more expedient to place an order externally than to buy a heavy oversized machine for this task.
Availability of options(opportunities for expanding technological capabilities)
technological capabilities are constantly being improved, see pages with a specific machine
Availability of ready-made machines
As standard, some of the lathes are presented in our warehouse and showroom. Depending on the selected optional equipment, the production time will be determined.
The history of the development of lathes goes back several centuries, but to this day they remain relevant in many high-tech industries. There are many varieties of these units. But they are all united by a single basic principle of processing a workpiece - a body of rotation is processed using turning and/or cutting. The lathe allows you to carry out the following work:
photo: choosing a metal lathe
The main component of a lathe is the spindle. It rotates along with the workpiece, clamping it into a special mount. The cutting tool moves in two planes - transversely and parallel to the axis of rotation of the workpiece. To perform specific tasks and process parts of a certain size, you need to take into account a number of machine parameters:
Understanding the scope of work and its direction will help you decide on the type of machine:
Another distinction depending on the location of the spindle:
If you plan to turn metal or wood at home (garage, small workshop), you need to take into account the limited size of the room. In such cases, you can opt for household or miniature models, which have a limited rotation speed and an area for processing workpieces of only certain maximum permissible sizes.
This parameter is determined by the volume of work for which the unit is designed. If continuous production is planned, then a household lathe must withstand such loads. Accuracy determines the class of the machine. The higher the accuracy class, the more expensive the model.
This limitation determines the type of machine and its capabilities. Different manufacturers offer different machine functionality. Therefore, the cost can increase in direct proportion to the capabilities of each unit. Complex systems For industrial production require large capital expenditures. In the price.ua catalog you can familiarize yourself with the functionality of each model and select the unit that will allow you to perform necessary list works
In the article you will find useful information regarding the selection of the best lathes. Much depends on the purpose of the device - which parts need to be processed and in what ways.
The purpose of lathes is to process metal workpieces with a high level of accuracy. Devices can be large (industrial) or compact (home). It is impossible to say unequivocally which lathe is better, so we will consider in detail the features of different types and draw conclusions. In addition, do not forget to purchase high-quality coolant for the lathe - they are necessary so that the device does not overheat and lasts longer.
Industrial machines are equipped with many attachments that increase functionality, and they can also process large-sized parts. Mini-machines are often installed in a garage, workshop or home; they can be placed on a table and do small turning work.
The article will discuss the best metal lathes from different categories.
When choosing a device, pay attention to the material from which it is made and how the guides for the frame are attached: the fact is that the bed is a very important component; it not only acts as a box where other elements are attached, but working mechanisms move along its guides. The bed should be massive, preferably cast iron, and stable, then the machine will vibrate less and cut metal more accurately.
What else you should pay attention to:
When considering which lathe to choose, you need to immediately take a good and accurate model, and not hope for the possibility of independent modification.
METALMASTER MML 1830V - joint production of Russia and Germany. Produced in China, Russia, Poland. This model has stepless control in two ranges. The following components are included in the package: return cams, thrust center, and replacement metal guitar gears.
Stalex SBL-280/700 is manufactured in China. The model is quite large, but the standard delivery includes a pair of steady rests.
Jet BD-6 is a miniature machine weighing only 33 kilograms. The engine is also low power, so its processing capabilities are limited, although for small home applications, choosing this option may be worthwhile.
In home workshops, semi-professional machines or miniature models are usually installed. The former are more expensive and larger, but more functional and powerful. Conventionally, home devices are divided into:
If, in addition to metal, you need to process wood and other materials, then you should consider milling machines.
The list of home lathes includes a variety of brands, but the most successful of them are Stalex and JET, the representatives of which are discussed in the previous section. Examples of great models for home:
Their prices are relatively affordable for an individual, but functionality and the characteristics at the same time give quite a lot of freedom of action in matters of metal processing.
A small workshop requires a machine of compact size, but with a wide range of functions and good power - after all, orders can be very different.
Examples of suitable models:
A garage machine is one of the most popular uses. There are many options for its use both in working with a car and in the process of furnishing personal plot. Sometimes some small part cannot be found in any stores - but turning it yourself is easy and quick.
Key selection criteria:
The main options for devices for garage use are desktop (often without a tailstock and with minimal functionality), universal (with a milling cutter included), school (smooth speed adjustments, reverse, light weight) and screw-cutting lathes (expensive models with minimal spindle runout) .
Examples of suitable companies:
There are several main criteria for selection. For example, budget: CNC (computer numerical control) machines are generally expensive, but the price range is quite wide. The minimum cost can be called 450 thousand rubles, these are amateur options. The cost of industrial models reaches 15 million.
Which device to choose depends on what parts are planned to be processed - this means dimensions, complexity of shape, material used, and quantitative volumes.
The main popular brands:
In the Soviet Union they made things that lasted for centuries. The industry was structured in such a way that the emphasis was not on variety of models or beautiful design, but on durability. Therefore, Soviet lathes are successfully used to this day. For example:
We hope that now it is easier for you to choose a lathe. And you can purchase coolant and related products for it from the Loc-Line company, located in St. Petersburg.
A lathe is indispensable if you need to frequently make parts from wood or metal, adjust them to the required dimensions, or turn out threaded holes. How to choose a lathe – read the Price.ua review.
A compact benchtop lathe is suitable as working equipment for a small workshop.
With its help, you can manufacture and process parts that have the shape of bodies of rotation - legs for stools, door handles, balusters for stairs and much more. It will also allow you to make a hole and cut threads in a wooden workpiece.
Structure of a tabletop wood lathe:
Important parameters when choosing a lathe:
For small-scale household work, a mini-machine with a power of up to 500 W is quite suitable; for regular large-scale work, a unit with a power of about 1000 W would be preferable; anything larger is a model for industrial production.
Small wood lathes process parts with parameters about half a meter in length and about 25 cm in diameter.
As for the type of speed control, it is better to give preference to smooth. With step control, the speed is fixed at each selected value. Smooth adjustment allows you to change the pace of work without jerking.
In floor-standing models, the material from which the frame is made is important. The heavy cast iron base avoids vibration during operation of the machine. However, some manufacturers make this important part from aluminum.
Before you buy a lathe for working with wood, carefully read the instructions. It should contain information about what is included as standard on the model.
The machine can be equipped with a copier. It controls the movements of the cutter, directing it along a given path. Installing this additional element will allow you to create a large number of similar parts.
The manufacturer can also add reverse to the machine. It allows you to grind workpieces along a “back and forth” trajectory, which also makes it easier to turn parts of the desired shape.
Many modern machine models also have a display that shows the spindle speed.
Prices for household machines with all these options start from 10 thousand UAH. The cost of a 750 W unit will start from 30 thousand UAH. A machine with a power of more than 1 kW will cost 50 thousand UAH and more.
All of them are presented in the lines of the most famous manufacturers in this segment - JET and Holzstar.
When working with a woodworking lathe, the cutting tool is fed manually. For its “metal counterpart” this function is assigned to the machine itself. Otherwise, the principles of their operation are very similar.
Which lathe should I buy for my garage? Metal parts are constantly required to repair a car. Buying a quality, compact, and multi-functional lathe can solve this problem for years to come. But the considerable cost of such equipment for a home auto repair shop makes it necessary to approach its choice responsibly.
How to choose a metal lathe:
Dimensions and weight
To install a large and heavy lathe, you need a strong base. However, the principle “the lighter the better” does not apply. A lightweight machine will vibrate, which will negatively affect the accuracy of the manufactured parts. At the same time, a compact lathe will have a less powerful motor.
Power
For homemade A machine with a power of up to 1 kW will be enough for nuts and washers. Tabletop garage machines most often have a power of 350 W-700 W.
Voltage
Most metal lathes operate on three-phase voltage (380 W).
Maximum processing diameter
It must correspond to the parameters of the workpieces that will be processed on it. But it should be taken into account that an increase in this parameter automatically increases the cost of the machine. For garage needs, a 30-centimeter diameter is sufficient.
Function of automatic movement of the caliper in the longitudinal surface
The support moves the cutting tool along the bed. There are machines on which this manipulation must be done manually. If this option is automated, the processing process is faster and less effort needs to be spent.
This greatly simplifies the processing process.
Material
The machine will serve for a long time and reliably only if its parts are made of hard metal alloys based on tungsten, titanium, and tantalum carbides. The frame can be cast from gray cast iron or welded from low-carbon steel. A welded one will be lighter, but cast iron will more reliably protect the machine from vibration during operation.
Limb division frequency
Everything is simple here: the finer the divisions, the more precise the setting.
Rotation speed adjustment
This function will allow you to set the required rotation speed.
Type of change of direction of cutter movement
There is a lever and through shifting the belt. The first one is more convenient and practical. It is necessary to clarify how the reverse movement of the spindle is ensured on the machine. When processing a workpiece, it is often required that it also move in the opposite direction. Most models have a lever that flips the belt. But there are models where this must be done manually.
Tailstock quill diameter
The tailstock quill of the machine supports the workpiece during processing. The wider and more massive this sleeve is, the less the part is subject to vibration during processing.
Engine type
In appearance, synchronous and asynchronous motors are very similar. The main difference between them is in the design of the rotors. The rotor of an asynchronous electric motor is not powered by current, and the poles on it are induced by the magnetic field of the stator. Synchronous is better suited where engine speed must remain the same, regardless of load. As an equipment for a lathe, an asynchronous one works better - it lasts longer.
Even a small tabletop machine that can easily fit on a table in the garage can serve its owner for many years.
An example of such a unit is JET BD-7. Swiss brand, country of origin – Taiwan. This 0.59 kW workstat is capable of processing parts up to 300 millimeters in length. Its weight is 44 kg, and the price is just over 30 thousand UAH.
When it comes to the home version of a metal lathe, there is no need to talk about such an indicator as ease of working with large parts. In this regard, desktop versions of industrial equipment - the so-called mini-lathes - have limitations in their use, which is why they are widely used in everyday life or in small workshops, since they are not suitable for “in-line” production.
Just at home, as a rule, you have to work with small workpieces, which do not require special technologies and skills.
Unfortunately, not all machines that are advertised and sold fully meet the requirements that “home” craftsmen place on them. In fact, there is a lot of choice, but it doesn’t make sense to buy the first model you come across. After all, each of us wants, in principle, one thing - to have a good combination of high quality products and their reasonable cost.
It is from this position that we will consider individual representatives of units from the “desktop lathe” category. Let's start with the simplest, and therefore relatively cheap.
Review of machine models
Czech model "Proma" DSO-1000 series(made in China) costs about 13,500 rubles. What can she do? With a power of 0.4 kW, it allows processing parts with a diameter of up to 35 cm and a length of up to 100 cm. Connection is from a 220 V network, which is very convenient for use at home. RPM range - from 850 to 1,250 at 4 speeds. Weight – 35 kg.
Flaws
Taking into account the features of the engineering solution, the machine is effective when working with soft metals; Service organizations of this manufacturer are located only in Moscow and St. Petersburg. But since the design is quite simple, this is not very significant.
More perfect model from this manufacturer – the “SV-250m” series – will cost about 2.5 times more (about 25,000 rubles).
It is worth paying attention to Swiss "JET", not least because of the reasonable price. For example, the JWL-1220 series costs about 32,800 rubles. The power is greater than that of the “Czech” - 0.77 kW, but the diameter of the workpiece is somewhat inferior - no more than 30.5 cm. But this model is more convenient to use, and also has a number of additional “services” and expanded equipment.
There is an opinion that there are practically no mini-machines of domestic manufacturers on the market. And this is explained by the fact that our factories are focused on the production of industrial equipment (this is partly fair). However, on various forums there are constantly reviews (by the way, very good) about such Russian models as "Corvette", "Kraton". True, almost all products entering the market are again “made in China,” but there are no significant complaints about them yet.
For example, the Corvette 400 series for home use is universal. They can process workpieces made of various metals, wood, and plastics. It can be used to perform various turning operations - turning of various profiles, facing and a number of others. Power supply – 1 f 220 V with a power of 0.4 kW. True, it is inferior to “Proma” in the maximum size of processed parts - up to 18 cm. But taking into account the low price - about 22,500 rubles - this is one of the best options for the home craftsman.
There are other models, for example, "TV" of the domestic manufacturer "Rustan". But although they differ in greater power (from 1 kW) and capabilities, they have a fairly significant weight (from 180 kg) and cost an order of magnitude more expensive (from 230,000 rubles). Therefore, such models are more suitable for small workshops, private services, and the like. But, for example, it is hardly advisable to purchase it for installation in a garage.
In order for the machine to fully meet all the user’s expectations and serve for a long time, it is necessary not only to know how to turn it on/off, but also to understand some of the features of such products. In appearance, all the new equipment looks very attractive, and the passport indicates various parameters that seem to suit the buyer quite well. And yet...?
What to look for when choosing
If you plan to place it not in a workshop, where there is enough free space, but, for example, in a garage, then the question is more than relevant. You can’t just put a unit that is too heavy on the table, especially taking into account even slight vibration. This means that you will have to mount a “pedestal” under it from a corner or channel and free up space, or reinforce an existing workbench with “hardware”. The weight of most models of benchtop lathes ranges from 15 to 90 kg, so there is a choice.
Even if we are talking about our own home, rarely does anyone have a 380 V (3 ph) cable installed in a barn or other outbuilding. As a rule, there is single-phase 220 V power supply everywhere. When choosing a machine, this must be taken into account. Laying a new route is not only troublesome, but also quite expensive (of course, if everything is done “wisely”), especially if the territory is already inhabited. After all, no one will run an “overhead” line specifically for the machine.
Practice shows that for domestic use a model with this indicator up to 400 mm is sufficient.
For domestic use, it is quite sufficient in the range of 0.5 - 0.7 kW.
Asynchronous models have a long maintenance-free service life.
The accuracy of workpiece processing depends on the cost of its divisions.
The benefits of such an engineering solution are clear, but not all machines can boast of this. It is worth paying attention to the number of revolutions - to what extent they change.
In this regard, you need to count on the future, since it is unknown what you will have to face tomorrow. If you’re going to spend money, then it’s on a device with which you can perform various types of work, and not something “highly specialized.”
The versatility of using a lathe largely depends on what accessories are included with the product. Even if they are not supplied, what can you use? In other words, is it possible to “modify” the machine for certain tasks? Maybe it would be more advisable to purchase a cheaper model, and if necessary, “equip” it additionally? This issue is worth looking into in more detail.
Nowadays you can quite often find advertisements for the sale of tabletop machines. Needless to say, it will be much cheaper. But not a single seller will tell you about the real reason that forces him to part with the equipment. Therefore, you need to verify its suitability for yourself.
