Lathe bits are used to cut steel on a metal lathe. They are made of hardened steel or ceramic and come in different styles. Heat is the main cause of failure, and coolant or lubricating oil is necessary. A well-equipped shop stocks several bits of each style to reduce downtime. Experienced machinists store and transport their bits in a padded box to protect them from damage.
A lathe bit is a tool used to cut steel from a workpiece that is turned to size on a metal lathe. The metal lathe uses cutting tools called bits which are commonly made of hardened and sharp steel or ceramic. Unlike hand tools used in woodturning, a metal lathe bit is set in a holder attached to the lathe and is adjusted by turning a crank in and out by hand or automatically by the lathe itself. The typical lathe bit is a small piece of square steel stock with a machined cutting edge offered in a variety of styles, each capable of being re-sharpened and designed to serve a specific purpose. Some of the higher-end computer numerically controlled (CNC) lathes use a disposable triangle-shaped ceramic cutting tip that can be rotated to provide three cutting edges before requiring replacement.
The main cause of lathe bit failure is heat. Lathe operators will often attempt to force the lathe bit into the turning material, hoping to speed up the cutting process. This generates a large amount of heat and can burn the cutting edge of the cutting tool or bit, effectively dulling it. Not supplying the tool with a coolant or lubricating oil will also lead to premature failure even with adequate speeds and feed rates. Some of the steel cutting tools can be resharpened and heat treated for reuse, however, ceramic bits are single use only and are commonly more expensive than their steel counterparts, making the triple edged design a must.
A well-equipped metal shop will stock several lathe bits of each style to reduce the downtime associated with a dull cutting tool. For the shop with no spare cutting bits in stock, a dull bit will require stopping the lathe, removing the bit, and re-sharpening the tool before putting it back in the tool holder and resuming the job. Extra bits allow a worker to replace dull bits with a fresh bit and then re-sharpen all dull bits at the end of the day to replenish the stock of sharp bits for the next shift.
Some experienced machinists will store and transport their lathe bit collection in a padded box to protect the cutting edges from chipping or nicking during transit. By controlling the storage and transportation of their lathe bit collection, they ensure a sharp, clean edge on the cutting tools they start their shift with. When using a lathe bit commonly sourced from a company tool room, the operator is typically forced to start each shift of sharpening cutting tools.
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