Cast iron is used as the "material of choice" for many machinery housings or bases because it is extremely stable in its structure. Certainly it is subject to thermal expansion and contraction, but the crystal structure of cast iron makes it "hold its shape" in applications ranging from machines and machine parts to cookware. And in things like a lathe bed, we need the thing to be "the same" every day and all the time so we get accurate, consistent work. Cast iron also suppresses high frequencies generated during machining.
Note that the ways (the parts of the bed that the carriage slides on), are hardened and machined to provide lasting and accurate surfaces.
Lathe beds and most other machine tool beds are made of cast iron.
Due to its resistance to deformation and wear, cast iron is used for lathe and most other machine tool beds ensuring long term accuracy of the machine.
cast iron
Cast iron
A lathe that measures 6 inches from the center of the spindle to the closest part of the bed is considered a lathe with a 12 inch swing.
The bed of a lathe is the central beam that runs down the machine. The head, which holds and turns the workpiece, is fixed at one end, there is a tailstock at the other end which can be adjusted along the bed, and usually a carraige in between, which holds turning tools. The workpiece that can be turned in the lathe is limited to what will fit in the head without hitting the bed. A gap bed lathe has a gap in the bed near the head, so a larger workpiece can be turned.
The swing of a lathe can be increased if the gap-bed section is removed, providing the lathe has this option and the workpiece is not longer than the gap when clamped in the chuck.
In brinell scale ,the hardness value is 180
The bed ways of a lathe in itself are not hollow, but the area between the ways are. This is primarily to reduce the weight of the machine and also the cost due to much less material used to manufacture it.
Cast iron
Cast iron
A lathe that measures 6 inches from the center of the spindle to the closest part of the bed is considered a lathe with a 12 inch swing.
The bed of a lathe is the central beam that runs down the machine. The head, which holds and turns the workpiece, is fixed at one end, there is a tailstock at the other end which can be adjusted along the bed, and usually a carraige in between, which holds turning tools. The workpiece that can be turned in the lathe is limited to what will fit in the head without hitting the bed. A gap bed lathe has a gap in the bed near the head, so a larger workpiece can be turned.
The swing of a lathe can be increased if the gap-bed section is removed, providing the lathe has this option and the workpiece is not longer than the gap when clamped in the chuck.
The bed of a lathe is the central beam that runs down the machine. The head, which holds and turns the workpiece, is fixed at one end, there is a tailstock at the other end which can be adjusted along the bed, and usually a carraige in between, which holds turning tools. The workpiece that can be turned in the lathe is limited to what will fit in the head without hitting the bed. A gap bed lathe has a gap in the bed near the head, so a larger workpiece can be turned.
In brinell scale ,the hardness value is 180
The bed length of a lathe is the total length of the bed way from where it starts to (close to the headstock) to where it ends. When a lathe is advertized for sale it would show for example: 200mm x 1000mm or 8" x 40". The 200mm or 8" describes the "swing" of the machine and the 1000mm or 40" describes the workable distance between the chuck and center. This should not be confused with the bed size of a lathe as the bed houses the tail stock and therefore the distance is shortened.
The bed length of a lathe is the total length of the bed way from where it starts to (close to the headstock) to where it ends. When a lathe is advertized for sale it would show for example: 200mm x 1000mm or 8" x 40". The 200mm or 8" describes the "swing" of the machine and the 1000mm or 40" describes the workable distance between the chuck and center. This should not be confused with the bed size of a lathe as the bed houses the tail stock and therefore the distance is shortened.
Its the chisel, or lathe chisel which is used to shape the wood as it spins horizontally in the lathe. Bed posts, table or chair legs and porch posts are some examples of items that can be turned on a wood lathe.
A turret lathe has six-usual tools arranged in the order of use on a rotating turret which is cycled by a large wheel or (Turnstile) like contrivance- in fact some lathe makers calle them Turnstile lathes. the British prefer the term Capstan lathes, the Capstan being that old extended bar device ( somewhat resembling a turnstile) used by seamen to manually raise the anchor- in old Pirate films, etc. The Capstan or Turnstile is oriented vertically, like a steering wheel. they usually have six stops on a hexagon turret. For this reason, a number of automobile makers had hexagonal trademarks such as Essex and Packard- a mark of homage to the machines used to make the parts!- the Turret Lathe.