A compound rest is a device on a lathe used to shape and polish objects. It sits on a moving carriage and allows for finer adjustments than programmable settings. It can be manually placed and rotated for precise tool placement and angle adjustments. It also allows for tool swapping to create the desired cut or polish.
A compound rest is a device found on a lathe tool. Lathes feature a rotating chuck used to fit an object into wood or metal. The mandrel rotates the object, allowing users to shape or polish the object using a variety of tools or accessories. This device is found in many woodworking shops, manufacturing plants and industrial facilities.
The tools used to shape and polish objects on a lathe sit on a moving carriage that sits above the chuck. Many lathes have programmable settings that automatically adjust the carriage to make precise cuts in wood or metal. Compound rest lathes give users additional control options beyond those offered by the programming settings. The compound remainder sits on top of the cart, where the user can manually place it in the desired location.
While the carriage on a lathe can be set to a specific range of settings, the compound remainder can be used to make even finer adjustments. For example, most lathes can only feed an object or move shaping tools at specific intervals. Using a compound rest, users can set tools to points between intervals to make cuts as needed. It also allows operators to more precisely adjust the depth of cut, as well as the radius or taper.
A standard compound mount locks into place on top of the cart when not in use. Once unlocked, it rotates out of place in a full arc motion so tools can be placed anywhere along the arc. By sliding the carriage electronically and manually rotating the rest, users have great control over where the tools are placed in relation to the object. Most lathes come with a protractor at the base of the compound rest, which helps set the angle.
Depending on the design of the lathe, the rest can raise and lower to various elevations above the carriage. If the compound rest is set to a fixed elevation, users need to adjust the height of the cutting tools within the compound rest itself to change the depth and location of the cuts made on the object. Many lathes also allow workers to change the angle of these tools within the rest, which can be useful for angled cuts or precision tapers. Finally, the tools themselves can be swapped over the rest to create exactly the right cut, or to polish or shape an item.
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