In this content collection, several considerations are provided for buying a lathe. Go over the basics learn about turrets, live tooling, spindles, tailstocks and more to cover all your bases when preparing to purchase a lathe.

“Turning” defines the work that is traditionally done on a lathe. “Turning centers” is a term sometimes applied to machines with secondary spindles and/or rotating tools for milling and drilling. Lathes are commonly used to reduce the diameter of a workpiece to a specific dimension, producing a smooth surface finish. The cutting tool approaches the rotating workpiece until it begins peeling away the surface as it moves linearly across the side or across the face. 

Very few lathes today are not controlled by a CNC. When equipped with means for changing tools out automatically, such as with a tool turret, the CNC lathe is called a turning center. 

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