Manufacturing Processes:
The Lathe
The lathe is used to create radially symmetric parts. This includes everything from steel pins to baseball bats. There are many types of lathes, ranging from tiny jeweler lathes to huge industrial ones such as the one shown below.
To use, stock is placed in the chuck and secured with the tailstock to help eliminate vibration. The motor then turns the piece, and tools are cranked into place to shave off material to produce the final part. In some cases, multiple parts can be made in series on the same stock and then cut apart with the bandsaw later.
A variety of tools can be used to produce a variety of effects. The tools below are used for fileting corners, creating smooth cylinders, shaving material, and boring channels. In addition, the lathe can be used to drill holes in the center of stock.
Group Members: Robert Andre and John Bowler