Lathe Cutting Tools: A Detailed Guide
CNC machining is a process that helps to manufacture a wide range of components with precision-oriented features. The lathe cutting tools are also used with CNC machining to cut components and achieve different geometrical features.
The guide below will help you understand each type of lathe tool and its function.
What are Lathe Cutting Tools?
A lathe cutting tool is a very important and versatile tool that is used with turning operations in CNC machining. The tool rotates the workpiece on its axis, and the cutting tools remain stationary, removing the material from the component. It helps to create symmetrical profiles about the rotation axis and may handle simple to complex components.
Components of a Lathe Cutting Tool
There are different components of a lathe cutting tool, and some of these are as follows:
Headstock: The headstock is a very important component, and it is present on the left end of the machine. It has gears, a spindle, and a motor that drives the spindle; the main function of the headstock is to rotate the workpiece by holding it.
Tailstock: It is at the back of the headstock and supports one of the ends of the workpiece. It holds the tools in the form of drills and carries out the drilling operation.
Bed: The lathe’s bed works like a support that holds the major components, like the tailstock and headstock of the machine.
Carriage: The carriage is present along the bed and holds the cutting tool, which helps the cutting tool move in different directions.
Lead Screw: It is a shaft with a long length having threads and is located parallel to the bed. It helps with precise threading processes and moves the carriage.
Feed Rod: The feed rod is present along the lead screw; it offers carriage movement for operations involving non-threading features.
Spindle: The spindle rotates the workplace, and the workpiece is mounted in it.
Types of Lathe Cutting Tools
There are different types of lathe cutting tools, and each of them is discussed below.
Type 1: Lathe Cutting Tools Based on Material
There are different materials used for manufacturing lathe cutting tools, and some of these are as follows:
High-speed Steel(HSS)
The high-speed steel has carbon, tungsten, vanadium, and chromium, which makes it suitable for use on components equipped with hardness. They work at high speed and cut the harder metals with precision and finishing.
Carbide
Carbide lathe cutting tools offer brittleness and hardness, and hence work with versatile materials. They are, however, expensive and are used in part manufacturing for limited purposes.
Diamond
Lathe cutting tools, which are made using diamonds, are exceptionally hard. They are suitable to be used for all types of materials and are highly expensive.
Cubic Boron Nitride
Cubic boron nitride is also a hard and durable material, which makes the lathe-cutting tools abrasion-resistant and suitable for intermittent cutting.
Ceramic Lathe Tool
Ceramic lathes are highly resistant to wear and are suitable for advanced industrial applications.
Type 2: Lathe Cutting Tools Based on Operations
Lathe-cutting tools are also based on different operations, and each of these is discussed below.
Turning Tools
Turning tools help to remove material through the length of the workpiece, reducing its diameter. Rough turning tools move a bulk amount of material from the workpiece in one go. Hence, they can create rough shapes. Whereas the finishing turning tools remove a small amount of material from the workpiece and create a finished surface.
Chamfering Tools
Chamfering tools are meant to produce a slant edge, and these are suitable for chamfering. They can be placed at the right lathe cutting tools angles so that the inclination is correctly achieved.
Thread Cutting Tools
Thread-cutting tools create patterns of spiral threads on the components, which are cylindrical. They have a nose angle, and it depends on the third angle intended.
Facing Tools
Facing tools use the side cutting edge and move the material in the form of a thin layer.
Forming Tools
Forming tools consist of a grooving and turning tool, which helps create complex shapes.
Grooving Tools
Grooving tools make grooves on the components that have cylindrical shapes.
Boring Tools
Boring tools consist of a boring bar that helps increase the size of the hole diameter.
Knurling Tools
Knurling tools consist of metal rolling wheels that have embossed patterns. They help create parts that have increased grips.
Type 3: Lathe Cutting Tools Based on Structure
Lathe-cutting tools have different structures, and the classification is featured below.
Single Body Tools
Single-body tools have a single piece of material that is designed to attain a specific geometry and size, and they are the most common ones to go for.
Welding Lathe Cutting Tools
Welding lathe cutting tools consist of a rod and head, which are made using different materials and are connected with the help of welding. The flank is from materials like carbide, and the body is from a different metal. These metal lathe cutting tools offer less cutting force as they are made with different materials.
Clamp Lathe Cutting Tools
Cutting tools that have the same composition of the material and consist of an insert on the handlebar are called clamp lathe cutting tools. These tools can be replaced and have properties like durability and strength.
Type 4: Lathe Cutting Tools Based on Feed Direction
Lathe cutting tools, which are based on the feed direction, are the following:
Right-Hand Lathe Cutting Tools
These tools help to remove material when they are transported from right to left. The design is the same as a human hand and has a thumb on the right, indicating the feed direction.
Left-Hand Lathe Cutting Tools
Left-hand lathe cutting tools help to remove material when they are transported from left to right. The direction of the feed is indicated by the left thumb, and the cutting edge lies on the right side of the tool.
Round Nose Lathe Cutting Tools
Round nose lathe cutting tools help create a smooth surface, which they do by moving in the left and right directions.
How to Select the Right Lathe Cutting Tool?
When selecting the right lathe-cutting tool, some of the considerations to have in place are as follows:
- The lathe cutting tools with coatings are durable and can work well. The addition of a layer of coating not only enhances the aesthetics of the cutting tool but also its mechanical properties.
- The role played by the material of the workpiece is also crucial when selecting the right lathe cutting tool. The material of the tool, as well as the workpiece, must be compatible.
- Every lathe operation needs specific tools. Hence, the required operation is considered before selecting the lathe-cutting tool to attain the right finish.
- The cutting tool selection is also based on the shape of the material. So, consider the shape of the face of the component when selecting the tool.
Available Cutting Tool Operations for A Lathe
There are various operations that can be performed by a lathe cutting tool, and these are as follows:
- Turning is the most common operation of lathe tools, which helps to create a cylindrical component with high precision.
- The cutting process also involves facing operations where the workpiece length is reduced from the specific parts. The cutting tool is used in this operation to cut the perpendicular part.
- The chamfering operation creates a canted surface on the part, which is cylindrical. It helps to reduce the damage to the parts that takes place due to the sharp edges.
- The knurling process consists of having two or more metal rolling wheels, which can create an embossed design on the workpiece, which is in a cylindrical shape.
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Conclusion
Lathe-cutting tools are widely used in many applications. However, understanding their working mechanism and types is crucial so that using them in the process of manufacturing becomes easy.
