Household metal lathe: types, description

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Equipment for the processing of various materials is represented by a variety of variations for industrial and domestic purposes. The desktop lathe is optimally suited for a small workshop, garage or technical corner in a private house. The unit allows you to perform various operations for the processing of metal or wood. In fact, the device is a direct analogue of the factory machine, which differs in some technological limitations. Consider the features of the device and its varieties.

Features

The lathe is designed for processing small workpieces. On such a device, you can perform various technological operations on the conical configuration of the metal, as well as the execution of cylindrical and other finishes, including cutting ends, grinding, drilling and developing holes.

Small variations are easy to operate and versatile, allowing you to bring the quality of the processed products to the required degree. These devices are equipped with home workshops and small workshops for the repair of vehicles and other equipment. During the Soviet Union, similar lathesschools and colleges were equipped, which made it possible to get the first skills and learn the basics of professional turners.

Benefits

Among the advantages of the unit in question, the following points can be distinguished:

• the lathe is powered by 220 or 380 volts;
• The unit is characterized by low power consumption;
• operational reliability and durability (subject to proper maintenance);
• fair price;
• compact dimensions and low weight, which allows you to install the device in a cramped workshop or garage.

Besides, the metal lathe is a good device for teaching beginners. There are usually no problems with the operation and maintenance of the unit, due to the reliability and simplicity of the design.

Short description

The advantages of the equipment in question include the possibility of equipping it with additional "chips" that ensure the effective use of tools for milling and complex drilling of parts. The result is a universal device with wide functionality.

Any desktop lathe, regardless of model, can be characterized by several basic parameters. Among them:

• unit weight of several kilograms;
• power indicator in kilowatts;
• optimum center height in millimeters;
• determination of the maximum length and diameter of the processedblanks;
• possibility of suitable part processing speed;
• multifunctional spindle unit with different bore diameters.

Lathe specifications

Small fixtures include units weighing between 40 and 300 kilograms. Analogues weighing about 50 kg are easy to mount, transport and use in a semi-professional way. Heavier equipment refers to professional use modifications.

The power indicator of the considered devices usually does not exceed 2.2 kW. Many devices have a drive with a power of only 0.15 kW. Before purchasing a device, it is necessary to clearly define its future functionality and frequency of use. This is important not only for choosing the required power, but also for the sake of financial savings.

Application

Even with small dimensions, the screw-cutting lathe remains a complex and technically equipped device, which is responsible for the accuracy and reliability of processing, which affects the durability and practicality of the product.

The following structural elements play an important role in the operation of the device in question:

• support, responsible for the reliability and accuracy of fixing the cutting tools, and its movement at the time of processing the workpiece;
• bearing bed, on which all the main parts of the machine are placed.

Metal for the manufacture of aggregates is durable and has a polished surface. Subject to these conditions, you cancount on long-term performance and high quality equipment.

Brand JET

For more than half a century, the Swiss company has been producing metal lathes, which have found popularity not only among industrialists, but also among home craftsmen. Most of the production facilities are located in China, but this does not affect the impeccable quality of the devices. Modifications are also easy to operate and maintain.

BD-3

The characteristics of the lathe make it possible to use it, both by professionals and beginners. The base of the unit is made of cast iron, which significantly reduces vibration moments during operation. The guide elements can be adjusted according to the cross support. Detailed grinding ensures maximum precision in the movement of the clamps. An engine with a power of about 0.15 kW acts as a power plant.

The spindle of the specified device makes about 100-3800 thousand revolutions per minute, the manufacturer has provided the possibility of self-maintenance of the equipment. To do this, the delivery set includes a three-jaw chuck and an additional cutter lock.

BD-7

This metal lathe is suitable for small businesses and private households. The design of the unit includes the following elements:

• massive cast iron bed;
• roller bearing spindle;
• digital display;
• Adjustable tailstock for tapered surfaces;
• reversible product feed mechanism with the ability to cut various threads;
• 0.37 kW power unit.

BD-8A

The desktop machine is equipped with automated transverse and longitudinal feed of the part. The spindle head is quickly rearranged to the desired position, a reverse is provided, which can be used for threading.

The thrust center of the unit is made according to the return principle. The three-element cam with a diameter of 10 centimeters is protected by a special screen to ensure the safety of the operator. Starts the device with a power unit with a power of 0.55 kW.

CNC lathe

Any analogue of a mechanical version with program control is capable of providing all the operations performed by the devices discussed above. It is worth noting that such a device makes all procedures faster and more accurate. The participation of the human factor is minimized here.

The computer program allows you to quickly change the nozzles, and also determines the maximum accuracy of the work. A wood or metal lathe with a similar configuration is characterized by high quality workpiece processing, the ability to engrave and mark.

Among the most popular modifications are the following brands: OPTIMUM: D210x400, D240x500G, TU2506, as well as JET products: BD-8CNC.

Popular brands

Among the popular brands, several modifications should be noted, namely:

• SPA-500P;
• SK-550;
• SPB-400/400;
• SPA-700P;
• TV-6, TV-9, TV-16.

Types of lathes for wood and metal of domestic production do not differ in complex design, they can often be found in educational and home workshops. Such units are unpretentious in operation and maintenance, do not require special qualifications of the worker.

Most popular models with brief characteristics:

1. OPTIMUM is a German brand under which lathes are produced, including miniature ones, well known and appreciated by specialists throughout Europe. Popular models in the domestic market can be found under the indices D140x250, D210x400, D250x550.
2. Chinese company Weiss Machinery produces inexpensive, but high-quality, reliable and functional turning mechanisms. The most popular models are: WM-180V, WM-250V, WM-250G, WMP-300A, ML-200.

Selection criteria

Types of lathe for wood and metal are divided according to several parameters:

• weight in kilograms;
• power in kilowatts;
• turnover of the working part in torsion for a certain unit of time;
• height of centers in millimeters;
• minimum and maximum product size that the unit can handle;
• number of speeds (usually no more than six positions);
• Spindle seat size in mm.

It is worth paying attention to these characteristics first of all. The mass of the unit canvary from 40 to 280 kilograms. For a home, an analogue weighing no more than 50 kg is better suited. Heavier equipment is appropriate for arranging private and semi-professional workshops.

Recommendations

For example, OPTIMUM products are distinguished by the following features:

• there is the possibility of an emergency shutdown of the device using a special button;
• ensures high precision machining thanks to CNC;
• machine guides made of cast iron, hardened and finely ground;
• Additional stability to the bed is provided by natural aging, the effect of which lasts for at least six months;
• any thread type available;
• electric unit is a maintenance free motor.

Types of lathes for wood and metal from this manufacturer work using a special program NC Drive. This "chip" is a universal tool that controls the change of the cutting tip, the adjustment of processing cycles, the displacement of the axes of the fixture, the installation of the unit in a circular, spiral or linear configuration.

What else to look out for?

It is quite possible to make a lathe with your own hands, but certain knowledge and skills will be required. Experts recommend paying attention to the following parameters:

1. The maximum limit for the diameter of the workpiece (it is not more than 660 millimeters), the size is determined by calculating the distance from the center of the axis to the middle of the bed;
2. The weight of the machine also affects the accuracy of its work. The heavier the device, the higher the indicator will be, since there is no displacement of the unit (household counterparts weigh about 40-50 kg).
3. The workpiece length limit is up to two meters, which corresponds to the characteristics of professional fixtures.
4. Processing speed depends mainly on the power of the equipment. High performance is within the power of specialists, it is better for beginners to opt for "weaker" modifications.

Summarize

It is important to understand that a desktop turning unit for metal, despite its compactness and even diminutiveness, is a complex technical device. It is clear that it should be chosen carefully, paying attention to the quality of each element of the unit and the assembly feature of the entire structure. Particularly "reverent" should be related to the quality characteristics of the material from which the main working elements are made.

The cost of a metal lathe for the home depends on several factors: productivity, type, brand. Manufacturers offer a wide range of household analogues, which can be purchased at a price of 18 thousand rubles. More powerful units (over 500 W) will cost at least 25,000, the most expensive and productive analogues - at least 50 thousand.