Lathe

Noted as the most dangerous machine in the lab, the lathe requires that you please pay attention to ALL the information in this tutorial.

This is to ensure the safety of YOU, the machine, and OTHER STUDENTS.

The intro/tutorial is broken into 4 sections: Safety, Features of the lathe, General operation, & other important notes

Safety & Attire

There are some simple clothing restrictions to consider before using the lathe.

• If your hair touches your shoulders, it needs to be tied
• If your beard dangles, it needs a cover
• Short or rolled sleeves only
• Loose jewelry removed. This includes rings, bracelets, and necklaces
• No earbuds or headphones
• Closed toed shoes
• And of course, safety glasses

Yes, taking bracelets and necklaces off can be a pain, but better you take them off than the lathe.

"If the lathe CAN grab it, it WILL" - A Wise Machinist

Someone else should always be in the room with you while you are operating the lathe! Should your company step out for a quick bathroom break, at the very least the shop door should propped well open.

Important Features

You need to be familiar with the different parts of the lathe and know 'What's in the pantry?', so to speak. What are the different parts of the lathe? What do these parts do? When do I use what?

Here, we'll explore answers to these question by discussing different parts of the lathe and what they are used for.

1. Emergency Brakes
2. Tool Post
3. Head & Tail Stock
4. Feeds
5. Position Tracker

Emergency Brakes

There are actually two ways to stop the lathe while it is operating. There is the more obvious 'big red button' on the left hand panel of the machine and the less obvious foot pedal located just above the floor.

Both of these options will result in the same outcome of stopping the lathe, however the red button will let the lathe come to its own stop which is less favorable in an emergency situation. The floor pedal is the best option in the event of an emergency since with a quick press of the foot the lathe halts almost immediately.

Chuck Speeds

You'll note the three levers that allow you to change the speed of the lathe.

Hand Wheels

There are three wheels that you can use in order to move the tool into your

Operation

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