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Lathe – is a mechanical device that uses a chip machining to change a shape of the material or component by rotation or cutting into its final product (semi-finished product).  Using the lathe, it is possible to produce rotary parts, drill holes, cut external and internal threads.

The material (product) is clamped in the chuck. The lathe is produced in several dimensions, according to turntable diameter or turning length. Other equipment can be a revolver head, milling head, counter spindle, tailstock, chip conveyor (for extracting metal chips), cooling system (during turning a lot of heat is generated, which must be cooled. The cooling can be internal or external and according to its strength is expressed in bars).In case of CNC lathes. For numerically controlled lathes, if the manufacturer does not have its own system, it is possible to choose the system which is commonly used, for example: Fanuc, Siemens, Heidenhain or Fagor.  

Types of lathes:

• Center type lathes
• Facing lathes
• Semi-automatic copying lathes
• Vertical lathes (carousels)
• Revolver type (poloautomaty, jednovřetenové, několikavřetenové)
• CNC lathes
• Special

The regular lathe consists of following parts: beds, spindle, support, tailstock spindle or sliding gearbox. 

Basic division of the inclination of the lathe bed: 

• horizontal or sloping (inclination 45 degrees)
• sliding or linear

Clamping part – it is usually formed by a chuck on one side and tailstock on the other, or a chuck and second clamping part by a counter spindle. 

Cutting part – formed by a cutting wedge attached to the longitudinal part - the Z axis.

The transverse part (perpendicular to the axis of the spindle) designated as the X-axis, or the automatic tool head, also usually located on the transverse feed on the machine. 

Other axes, used especially in case of CNC lathes:

• axis C1 (indexed spindle position, 
• axis C2 (indexed axis of the  counter spindle)
• axis Y (Axis Y enables movement of tool perpendicular to axis Z and machining with live tools)
• axis B (indexed support axis)

The machine can be erupted with a measuring tool probe (automatically or manually foldable).

According to the technological operation, turning is focused on processing of:

• Cylindrical surfaces
• Front surfaces
• Conical surfaces
• Threads

There are several hundreds manufacturers in the world, among the most popular in Czech republic are: TOS, MAZAK, DOOSAN, ŠKODA, OKUMA, GILDEMEISTER, HAAS, KOVOSVIT, GOODWAY, TAJMAC-ZPS.