Lathe Operations

Straight Turning

Can be right or left handed. Right handed turning is when the cutter moves from right to left.

Taper turning can be done using a taper attachment, the compound rest, or by offsetting the tailstock. Taper turning can also be done on a CNC lathe.

Facing is working on the flat face of the workpiece.

Contour turning is usually performed on a CNC lathe. Historically, tracers were used to create irregular shapes on a lathe.

Form turning is used to impart an irregular shape on a workpiece using a specially ground tool.

Parting is used to cut off a workpiece. A thin parting tool is used.

Boring removes material from a previously drilled hole. It can enlarge the hole and improve the roundness and surface finish.

External threading creates male screw threads on a workpiece.

Internal threading creates female threads inside a hole in a workpiece.

Grooving can create grooves for items such as retaining rings or glands for o-rings. Grooving can be internal or external.

Knurling forms a pattern on a workpiece. Knurling can be decorative or functional. Knurling increases the effective diameter of the workpiece.