Lathes remove material symmetrically from a workpiece. A speed lathe runs faster than a standard lathe and is used for small tasks. Lathes come in different types and sizes, but all create symmetry in the workspace. Standard lathes are large and expensive, while finishing lathes and speed lathes are smaller and less expensive to operate. Speed lathes increase productivity by allowing operators to work on more pieces per job cycle.
Lathes are used to symmetrically remove material from a workpiece; the piece turns and the lathe removes material uniformly in a plane perpendicular to the spinning. A speed lathe is a type of lathe designed to run much faster than its common counterpart. These machines are generally only used for small tasks such as finishing an object or removing cutters left over from previous production stages. The speed increase is usually achieved by modifications to the lathe motor; these modifications allow the lathe to reach adequate speeds faster than common lathes.
There are many different types of lathe. To be a lathe, a device only needs to do one thing: affect a workspace symmetrically. While most lathes do this by turning the part, it’s technically not necessary. This symmetry means that the shape of the piece looks the same from any direction when held in the same orientation. For example, a candelabra generally looks the same from any angle when placed on a surface.
A common machining lathe holds a workpiece in two places. Then it uses powerful motors to spin the piece at very high speed. A series of tools then touch the part and remove material at right angles to the axis of rotation. When finished, the workspace has a distinct shape that is the same from all sides.
These lathes are often very large and bulky. It is not uncommon for a standard machining lathe to be as large and heavy as a small car. This footprint allows them to accommodate larger workpieces and house the motors that spin the material. When a part requires only a small amount of work, these lathes are prohibitively expensive to use.
When a smaller tool is needed, manufacturers use finishing lathes. These lathes generally sit on a work table or stand and are about the size of a household microwave oven. They have much smaller motors and can’t do many of the tasks that larger lathes can, but they are much less expensive to operate.
A speed lathe is a type of finishing lathe. When an operator uses a finishing lathe, most of the working time is spent waiting for the lathe to speed up or slow down. A fast lathe tops out at speeds much faster than common versions and often has a more robust braking system. This allows operators to operate on more pieces per job cycle, increasing throughput and productivity. Changes in the speed lathe’s operations generally mean it has slightly less horsepower than a lathe of the same basic shape and cost.
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