Brake lathes are machines used to turn automobile brake drums and rotors. They differ from traditional metal lathes as they suspend the workpiece vertically. Cutting bits are used to remove rust and debris and create grooves for better stopping power. Automotive brake lathes have advantages over bench lathes, reducing rotor runout and eliminating the need to remove stuck rotors.
In essence, brake lathes are metal lathes designed to turn automobile brake drums and rotors, as well as a number of other items. While traditional metal lathes suspend the workpiece horizontally between the rotating spindle and tailstock, brake lathes are quite different. Brake lathes have only the spindle and the workpiece is suspended vertically.
As with traditional metal lathes, brake lathes use cutting bits mounted on tool holders to cut a rotating piece of metal. Bench lathes, however, lack a traditional bed simply because they work vertically rather than horizontally. Typically, bench lathes consist of the motor, which powers a rotating spindle, and the movable tool holder and bit. Instead of the mandrel common to many traditional metal lathes, various tapered shafts are used, designed to accommodate different brake disc sizes.
In the operation of brake lathes, the shaft is inserted into the center hole of the brake rotor, and the shaft-mounted rotor is mounted on the spindle shaft and secured with a lock ring. The motor is running and the spindle rotates the rotor assembly at a predetermined speed. The tool holder and bit are cranked into position, either by hand crank or mechanically, to begin cutting into the rotor, thus removing rust, dirt and debris. Also, the bits will cut tiny grooves in the rotor. These grooves are essential in providing the friction between the rotor and brake pads necessary for good stopping power.
In addition to bench brake lathes, many repair facilities will have auto lathes that do exactly what a bench lathe does. Brake lathes are much more compact than bench lathes and are designed, as the name suggests, to be fitted directly to the vehicle, usually to the wheel hub or brake calipers.
While somewhat cumbersome and time-consuming to assemble and install, automotive brake lathes have two advantages over bench lathes. First, auto lathes reduce rotor runout where the cut may not be deep or shallow enough providing a more even application of the cutting bit to the rotor. Runout is simply an uneven surface on the rotor caused by imperfect machining or rotor wear and will cause a pulsation in the brake pedal when braking. Second, auto lathes eliminate the expense and time required to remove stuck or “caught” rotors, a common problem with overused or inferior brake systems.
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