Any solid material that is capable of cutting ferrous metals are used, but if the family is the most iron.
<><><>
Cast iron is less prone to warping than other metals.
This refers not to the machining of cast iron, but the use of cast iron as the bed of the lathe.
Yes, more housing is made of cast iron industrial machines.
Because iron does not tolerate the stress.
Its ability to cause melting and casting, the theme is good.
+++
I assume the question asks why cast-iron is the main material for making the lathe - and in fact most machine-tools.
'
It is easy to machine and gives very good bearing surfaces such as the shears on the lathe bed; thanks to its inherent "self-lubricating" and oil-retaining property due its granular structure of iron crystals interspersed with those of graphite - you soon find the graphite when you machine the stuff!
'
It has a damping effect - it is not as resonant as steel so reduces vibration.
'
Re-writing the first respondent's last sentence as I think he meant: it melts at a relatively low temperature, and its low viscosity when molten greatly facilitates casting intricate shapes.
In brinell scale ,the hardness value is 180
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.
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.
Cast iron is less susceptible to deformation from applied forces from the machinery.
In brinell scale ,the hardness value is 180
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.
Made of cast iron lathe bed. Other lathe parts made ​​of steel ST60. Pins and wear them a lot of parts that are made ​​of tool steel.
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.
Cast iron
Cast iron
cast iron
Beds are made of cotton, springs, wood or steal and cast iron.
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.
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.