How to choose a desktop lathe. DIY metal lathe: a simple and inexpensive design for the home. Selection criteria, types

Desktop - a good model for a home, garage or small workshop, because the functionality of such a device allows you to effectively use it to carry out a large list technological operations... In fact, this is a miniature copy of the factory model, differing from it only in slightly limited technical capabilities.

Features and benefits of bench-top machines

A mini lathe, which is logical, is specially designed so that small products can be processed on it. As with any equipment of the turning group, on a small machine you can perform various technological operations on metal: turning cylindrical and conical parts, trimming their ends, grinding, drilling, reaming holes, cutting external and internal threads, etc.

Despite the fact that processing on such units is performed at a much lower speed than on full-size units, the quality of finished products does not suffer from this. Their quality will be especially high if the mini-lathe is controlled by the CNC system.

Small metal models, which are very easy to operate, are used not only to equip home workshops, where they can be used to make many products or bring the quality of finished products to the required level. Such units are no less successfully equipped with small workshops, repair workshops Vehicle... Since the days of the USSR, schools and technical schools, where with their help young people were taught the basics of the profession of a turner.

Among the advantages that a small-sized lathe possesses, the most significant are:

use for powering such a machine for household electrical network with a voltage of 220 V;
the ability to adapt such a device in order to connect it to a three-phase network;
low power consumption;
reliability that allows you to successfully operate such a micro-lathe, subject to the correct Maintenance more than a dozen years;
affordable cost (many can afford to purchase such equipment);
compact size and low weight, which makes it possible to install this even in a cramped workshop or garage;
the ability to learn how to work on such a device in a short period of time, while the operation and maintenance of the machine will not cause any particular difficulties even for a novice turner.

Among desktop lathes there is a category of the most compact models, which are usually called mini-lathes. The video below provides an overview of one such portable machine.

An important advantage of such equipment is also the fact that it can be additionally equipped with various devices, which makes it possible to effectively use tools on it for milling and complex drilling of workpieces. With the help of such a simple refinement, you get at your disposal already desktop, that is, universal equipment with wide functionality.

Any desktop lathe, regardless of the model, can be characterized by several basic parameters. These include:

the mass of the device, which is measured in kilograms;
power, measured in kilowatts;
the speed, expressed in the number of revolutions per unit of time, with which its spindle rotates;
the height of the centers (expressed in millimeters);
the maximum length and diameter of the workpiece (in mm) that can be processed on such a unit;
the number of speeds that the device drive can provide (as a rule, a desktop lathe has no more than six such speeds);
diameter of the hole available in the spindle unit (measured in millimeters).

One of the representatives of compact desktop machines

Turning units, which are classified as small, can have a mass from 40 to 280 kg, respectively, their dimensions... To equip a home workshop, it is recommended to choose devices with a minimum weight: up to 50 kg, which are convenient to install and can even be carried if necessary. Heavier equipment, even if it is desktop, already falls into the semi-professional category.

The power that small lathes of the group have, usually does not exceed 2.25 kW. Some types of home machines belonging to the low-power category are equipped with a drive with a power of 0.15 kW. Paying attention to this parameter of the machine, you should decide in advance for processing parts from what materials and with what dimensions you are going to use it. It is important to do this not only in order to initially select a household machine of the required power, but also so as not to overpay extra money for a unit that will not be used at its full capacity.

Even with small dimensions, a lathe for a garage or home workshop does not cease to be a complex technical device, the quality of its components directly affects the accuracy of processing, as well as the reliability and durability of the equipment. The build quality of such components is also of great importance, as well as the material from which they are made. The last two parameters are especially important for the following structural elements of the turning unit:

machine support, which is responsible for the reliability and accuracy of fastening the cutting tool, as well as for its movement during processing;
bed - a bearing element on which all the units and mechanisms of the machine are located and fixed.

The metal from which these structural elements are made must be of exceptional strength and have a carefully polished surface. Only if these important conditions are met, you can count on the fact that your household machine will last for many years without losing its original characteristics. When choosing a home turning device for metalwork, you should also take into account the frequency of its use, which determines the rate of wear of its constituent elements.

On the domestic market table lathes are presented in a wide range of models and brands. It's very easy to get confused with such a variety of options, so to help you do right choice, consider some models of metal lathes from the most popular manufacturers.

JET machines

Desktop lathes, which have been produced by the Swiss company JET for more than 50 years, have won immense popularity among DIYers and small business owners for a reason. Even in spite of the fact that recently some of the units of these machines are produced at factories in China, their quality remains impeccable. Providing high quality, precision and efficiency of processing, these units do not cause problems during operation, they are easy to maintain.

To the most popular machine models of this brand include the following.

The BD-3 is a miniature machine that can be used equally successfully by both amateurs and professionals. The frame of such a device is made of cast iron, which significantly reduces vibrations during its operation. The guides of the machine, which can be adjusted along the transverse slide, are carefully ground to ensure accurate movement along them. The equipment is equipped with a low-power (0.15 kW), but very efficient motor, which reduces energy consumption. The spindle of such a miniature unit can rotate in the range of 100–3800 rpm. The manufacturer even provided for the possibility of self-service maintenance of the equipment, for which the standard set includes an additional tool holder and a three-jaw chuck with a working section of 50 mm.

JET BD-3 machine, costs from 42,000 rubles

The BD-7 is a machine for the home or small business, featuring a number of notable design features: a massive cast-iron bed that reduces vibration of the unit, two ranges of spindle speed, the data on which is reflected on a digital display, the spindle itself, equipped with roller bearings. Such a metal cutting machine is very reliable. The tailstock of this model can be adjusted, which makes it possible to use it for processing tapered surfaces. Due to the presence of a reverse mechanism, the workpiece on such a unit can be fed in two directions. On such a device, it will turn out to cut a thread, since its spindle can rotate in different directions. Compared to the previous model, this machine has more power, it has a 0.37 kW electric motor.

JET BD-7 machine, costs about 80 thousand rubles

BD-8A is a bench-type machine in which the longitudinal and transverse feed are automated. such a machine is quickly rearranged, it is also equipped with a reversing mechanism, allowing it to be used for threading. In the holder of the unit, four tools can be installed simultaneously, and its thrust center is made according to a non-rotating pattern. The three-jaw chuck of the machine with a working diameter of 100 mm is protected by a special screen, which increases the operator's safety. As a drive, this machine is equipped with an electric motor with a power of 0.55 kW.

JET BD-8A machine, price from 170,000 rubles

The JET company also produces more powerful machines, which are often purchased not for home, but for equipping small workshops. Such equipment, in particular, includes BD-9G, BD-920W, BD-11W.

Equipment from other manufacturers

The products of the Czech company PROMA, which has been producing such equipment for more than 20 years, have proven themselves in the domestic market. Among the variety of lathes and screw-cutting lathes for home or small businesses that produces this company, the following devices should be noted.

The SM-250E is a true micro-lathe weighing only 23 kg. With its modest dimensions, such a unit boasts excellent technical characteristics... It is this machine that is best installed at home if you are going to perform metal turning work at an amateur level. What is important, due to the high reliability of its design, such a miniature machine practically does not need any special service during the entire warranty period.
SK-400 is a universal unit, the mass of which is already 120 kg. This machine, with which you can perform the entire range of metal turning and drilling workpieces, is mainly used to equip vehicle service stations.
SPA-500 is a semi-professional model that can often be found not only in small workshops, but also in repair shops of manufacturing enterprises.

PROMA SPA-500, cost about 130,000 rubles

A number of models of machine tools produced under this trademark enjoy well-deserved popularity: SPA-500P, SK-550, SPB-400/400, SPA-700P.

Domestic lathes for metalwork are also presented at modern market, they can often be found in both educational and home workshops. Using such devices, which are characterized by unpretentiousness in operation and maintenance, you can quickly learn the basics of the turning profession. Among the models of miniature lathes produced by domestic manufacturers are TV-6, TV-9, TV-16.

In addition, for equipping a home workshop or a small business, you can pay attention to lathes from the following manufacturers.

OPTIMUM is a German trade mark under which lathes are produced, including miniature ones, well known and appreciated by specialists throughout Europe. The most famous models of machine tools for metalwork of this brand, on which the CNC system can be installed, are D140x250, D210x400, D250x550.
The Chinese company Weiss Machinery, which produces inexpensive, but high-quality, reliable and functional turning equipment. The most popular models that are known in many countries around the world are: WM-180V, WM-250V, WM-250G, WMP-300A, ML-200.

Desktop CNC machines

Any CNC-controlled metal lathe is capable of performing all the same technological operations as a manual unit. But such a machine does it much faster and more accurately, and it is very important that the correctness of the processing process does not have a negative impact. human factor, and this practically eliminates errors.

Due to the control with the help of a computer program on such machines, the tool is quickly changed, and the accuracy of all technological operations is constantly monitored. Carrying out high-quality processing, such machines work almost independently, to operate them requires minimal human intervention, which in the best way reflects on the quality of work.

Such machines (including small ones) are very effective when performing such technological operations as marking, engraving, shaped turning, etc. Naturally, to perform all operations on the machine, it is necessary to install the appropriate tool.

The most popular models of metal lathes equipped with CNC systems that are presented on the domestic market are devices manufactured under the OPTIMUM trademark: D210x400, D240x500G, TU2506, as well as JET products: BD-8CNC, etc.

In particular, the products of the OPTIMUM trademark are distinguished by the following advantages:

you can urgently turn off the machine using a special button;
processing accuracy is high, as it is provided by an intelligent CNC system;
machine guides, which have a prismatic shape, are made of cast iron, hardened and carefully ground;
in order to make the frame of the device even stronger, it is subjected to natural aging, the duration of which is six months;
on machines of this brand, you can cut any type of thread;
the electric motor installed on OPTIMUM machines is maintenance-free.

The formation of control commands on such machines is provided by a special computer program NC Drive. This program, which is a universal tool, can control such options of the machine as changing the cutting tool, machining cycles, moving the equipment axes, moving the cutting tool relative to the workpiece: linear, circular, spiral.

Often, at home, it is required to cut metal to make a product.Lathe for metal for homeis a reduced analogue of the production sample.

Despite the lower performance than industrial equipment, home appliances are indispensable when working with small workpieces.

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Why a lathe at home

Very often, a home craftsman needs to make or process any metal part, but he does not have the necessary tools at hand, or they are not enough for this. In this case, you have to turn to a specialist for a paid service or ask your friends for help. Therefore, it is very convenient when at home or in the garage there is a personalsmall lathe... It can be used to perform many tasks:

Application of internal and external threads at different frequencies.
Boring the workpiece to the required size.
Possibility to grind a cone or cylindrical part.
Turning parts.
End machining.
Drilling holes.
Countersinking.
Hole reamer.
Grinding grooves and grooves.
Trimming parts.

If you install additionalspare parts for metal lathes, you can extend the relatively small functionality of a small home tool.

Home lathe for lathe work

Turning equipment for home use in terms of its functionality, it is an analogue of a machine that is installed in enterprises, but with its help only small parts and spare parts can be processed. However, for personal use, this is sufficient.

The equipment is a complex structure of several elements attached to the frame. Mandatory requirement to the frame is its stability.

Lathes for the home workshopequipped with a part that holds the cutter in the required position. Depending on what type of work is being done, cutters and drills are replaced with suitable ones.

Advantages of home equipment:

Low energy consumption. To power a small desktop machine, it is enough to connect to a household power supply with a voltage of 220 V.
The equipment can be adapted for connection to a three-phase network.
Reliability of the unit due to its uncomplicated design, which, moreover, ensures a long service life.
Affordable cost in comparison with professional equipment.
Due to its compactness and low weight, the equipment can be easily placed in a home workshop. There are not just small, but mini-machines, very convenient for personal use.
The ability to expand functionality after installing additional devices.
You can learn how to work with the instrument from scratch and in a short period of time.

Equipment types

For home use, desktop mini-units and semi-professional equipment are used. Semi-professional equipment, more powerful than mini-machines, is used for piece production, as well as drilling, milling. According to the method of processing parts, the devices can be divided into groups:

Desktop turning-milling machine for metal.Used for the production of cuts and bevels, holes, grooving, facing, threading.
Screw-cutting lathe for metal.It is used for turning and boring workpieces, cutting external and internal threads, production of various recesses. They are characterized by minimal spindle runout, high cost, it can be used to process products from various types of metals.
Universal machines that are used for any kind of work.

Important!The milling machine can process not only metal, but also products from other materials. This versatility is due to the vertical position of the milling part.

Home equipment design

A home unit for turning work differs from industrial designs in lower productivity. Spare parts for this small-sized equipment of miniature dimensions. Structurally, small lathe for metalincludes the following main nodes:

Front bollard: This is where the drive motor is located, which is started using a button on the front of the unit.
U-shaped rear pedestal: electrical equipment is located here, which carries out high-precision control of the machine. The control panel is located on its upper part. This part of the tool has great stability due to the stiffening ribs located at the bottom and top.
The main body of a turning tool is a frame or bed. It is fixed at the top of both pedestals, connecting them. The lead screw and the rack are located in front, and the headstock moves along the back.
The feed box is equipped with a control panel that sets the required thread pitch and feed. A handle is located near the console, which starts a propeller or a moving shaft.
Frontal lock (headstock): installed on the bed in a horizontal position, rotates the workpiece to be processed.
The rear retainer secures the fixture and acts as a stop center.
The spindle is a spare part located inside the front retainer.

Important!For trouble-free operation, it is recommended to ensure that all parts of the equipment are treated with grease or oil.

Bench-type turning machines

Today, mainly imported units are produced. However, you can still find reliabletable lathes for metal times of the USSR.

Among them, the equipment model 1M63 stands out for threading, the manufacture of cylindrical and cone-shaped workpieces.

Among the advantages are high speed threading, easy operation and maintenance.

Another popular model of Soviet times - 1I611P, which is used for high-precision machining of parts from any type of metal. The disadvantage of this sample is its heavy weight.

Popular among imported machineshousehold table metal latheCzech production PROMA SM-250E. It has a low cost (up to 30 thousand rubles), is used for the processing and manufacture of both metal and non-metal products. The maximum part length should be 250 mm, the diameter above the bed is 14 cm, and the diameter above the carriage is 7.6 cm. The equipment performs most of the necessary tasks - from threading to reaming.

The Chinese-made Profi-350 model is also popular. This is a fairly powerful machine (up to 350 W), it is used for processing any materials. The maximum diameter of the product is 18 cm. This equipment has a mass additional opportunities, including the execution of tasks for processing, grinding and sharpening tools.

Among the more expensive samples, the Metalmaster MML can be distinguished. It is a universal lathe with mechanical and electronic control. Spindle revolutions are taken into account digital indication... One of the advantages is that the equipment can handle long workpieces up to 55 cm.

Garage units

Car enthusiasts probably often wonderwhich lathe to choose for the garage.

From the small-sized options, the PROMA SM-250E model can be distinguished. The weight of the equipment is 35 kg, the ability to process products with a maximum length of 21 cm and a diameter of up to 140 mm.

In addition, this model is capable of grinding workpieces, knurling, sharpening tools.

Another metal lathe for garage- it is a Corvette 401 or 403. The smallest model is equipped with a 0.5 kW electric drive with an indicator of 2500 rpm. Thanks to the presence of an electronic system, the Corvette keeps the same speed at any speed. The maximum length of the part to be processed must be 20 cm.

Mini machines

Micro lathecharacterized by its small size, allowing it to be placed on a miniature stand or table. They are installed in home or school workshops that are not intended for mass production.

Most famousschool lathe for metalIs a TV-6 model.It is intended for teaching turning and is used for simple tasks: preparing holes, cutting off parts of elements, trimming ends, cutting threads.

Its advantage is its ease of use, as well as the absence of the generation of volatile compounds and dust. This is due to the fact that only non-ferrous metals and steel can be used during operation.

The limitation of the length of the workpiece to be processed is 35 cm, diameter - up to 20 mm.

Another model is the SM-300E. Differs in a small amount of power consumption, only 300 watts. It can be used to cut both metric and inch threads.

The maximum size of the workpiece diameter is 1.8 and 1.1 mm. This is not a multifunctional, but miniature (only 73x33x33 cm), easy to maintain and daily use, apparatus.

Rules for choosing home equipment

When choosing a turning unit for home use, you should pay attention to some recommendations that will help you acquire a reliable and functional unit:

Point of choice	Recommendation
Lathe power	The recommended motor power, which is sufficient for home use, is in the range of 0.5-0.7 kW. Equipment with a capacity of 1 kW or more is semi-professional.
Engine	It is recommended to choose models with an asynchronous motor, which provides a longer use of the unit.
The maximum value of the diameter of the workpiece	For domestic use, a diameter of up to 400 mm is sufficient.
Gear material	Instead of plastic, it is better to choose caprolon gears.
The presence or absence of roller bearings on the spindle	Due to the presence of rollers, a high machining accuracy is achieved.
RPM speed	For the first gear: 0-1500, for the second - 0-2500.
Number of speeds	One or two
Front headstock type	It is preferable to choose a model with a through hole for grinding long parts.
Weight and dimensions	The dimensions should be comfortable for use in a small space, and the weight should be sufficient for the workbench to hold it firmly. The maximum recommended weight is 90 kg.
Power grid parameters	Usual mini latheconnected to a 220 V power grid. Do not give preference to a unit operating from a three-phase network, so as not to lay additional wires.
Limb division step	The smaller the number of divisions, the more accurate the equipment works.
The presence of a reverse	A useful but not required addition.
Additional equipment	It is more economical to purchase a model with a basic configuration and expand it in the future with the necessary equipment than to buy a unit in which they are already included.
Manual control of the movement of the cutter	Model with the ability to independently switch the direction of the cutter, is preferable.

In addition, you should pay attention to the following points:

Intensity of exploitation. If you plan to use the device rarely, you shouldn't choose a powerful model.
Accuracy of speed control: the more precise it is, the more choice of materials to be processed and the better the processing.
The power of the unit will depend on the type of material used for work.

Advice!When choosing a machine, you should focus on Russian manufacturers: their products are simpler and cheaper to operate, since service centers and spare parts with consumables are located in Russia.

An equally important criterion when choosing equipment is its lathe price.

Despite the fact that this is not a professional device, the price of a mini-machine can reach several hundred thousand rubles.

Therefore, you need to proceed from your financial capabilities.

You need to choose a machine with the necessary functions, but at the same time not the lowest price category.

In order for the equipment to serve for a long time and without interruption, it is necessary to properly service it before and after the end of work:

Before starting up the unit, check if there are any problems. The launch is carried out only after the elimination of the breakdown.
The lead screw and the cutter slide must be lubricated with a special oil: daily for three- or four-hour operation and twice a day for more intensive use.
As work is completed, shavings should be removed, the surface of the machine cleaned, and cutting tools removed from the equipment. All knots are wiped dry drive belts are checked for wear.
The condition of the protective cover should be checked regularly.

Table lathe for metal- useful equipment for every home craftsman. Among the variety of models, you can choose the one that is suitable for certain parameters. At the same time, it is important to remember that for long-term operation it is necessary to follow simple rules for servicing the machine.

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In conditions of limited space for a home craftsman, it becomes the best option for a garage in a basic or extended configuration. There are a lot of manufacturers and modifications of equipment on the modern market. Therefore, below are the recommendations of specialists for choosing a mini-machine for metal turning.

Selection criteria, types

A metal lathe for a garage can save both the budget for operating a car, a backyard farm, and time. The search for small things that are necessary for repair, construction, often take several days. If you have the equipment, all this can be made on your own. The main selection criteria are:

purchase budget - most often the basic equipment is purchased, additional functionality is purchased later, as needed, with sufficient funds it is better to choose a multifunctional (universal) machine right away;
dimensions - about the same for most manufacturers;
quality - it is not recommended to buy such equipment on order, better than a visual inspection, a trial run of purchase methods has not been invented;

On small machines, small workpieces are processed by default, so the accuracy must be appropriate. Spindle runout, lack of centering, cutter feed scale are not allowed.

There are several for use in a garage:

desktop - minimal functionality, some models do not include a tailstock;

school - various equipment, 2 step speeds with smooth adjustments inside each of them, reverse, weight within 200 kg;

screw-cutting lathe - minimum spindle runout, high price;

It is very difficult to be guided by the size of the workpieces that can be clamped in the chuck's jaws, placed between the centers of the headstock. The needs of each master are different, from time to time it is required to process large-sized parts or perform jewelry operations.

Specifications

A desktop-type garage metal lathe most often has the following operational characteristics:

power button - may be absent (for example, for the Corvette-2 model), rotation is switched on by a rheostat that regulates the speed
dimensions - length 1.2 - 1.7 m, width 0.5 - 0.6 m
weight - within 120 - 200 kg
workpiece diameter - 10 - 20 cm above the bed or 5 - 15 cm above the slide
center-to-center size of RMTs - 20 - 50 cm
drive power - 0.15 - 0.6 kW

Desktop device option

For a metal lathe for a garage, asynchronous or collector motors of 220 V are used. The designs of speed control systems, the transmission of torque to the screw shafts of the support differ significantly from different firms. In some modifications, the reverse is switched by a lever, in others, in order to obtain reverse rotation, you have to throw the transmission belt.

Most lathes only cut metric and inch threads in one direction. Among domestic producers, the most popular are Domashny Master, Handyman, Caliber. All other products, regardless of the brand's homeland, are manufactured in China - Optimum, Corvette, JET, Proma, DIY.

For example, the company "Enkor" produces turning and milling modifications of the Corvette 407, lathes Corvette 401 - 403. Automatic feed of the caliper is used only for threading, processing, roughing is carried out manually. The chuck is equipped with straight, reverse jaws, parts can be clamped without a chuck in the centers. The smallest of them (Corvette 401) is equipped with a 0.5 kW electric drive, a speed of 2,500 rpm, an electronic system that allows maintaining the same speed under any load. The through hole in the spindle allows you to machine 20 cm of workpieces.

Tabletop device for metal Corvette 401

Corvette 401

The machines of the Optimum company are equipped with motors of 0.5 - 1.5 kW, the RMC reaches 40 - 70 cm, the height of the centers is 7 - 14 cm. The homeland of the brand is Germany, 95% of production is concentrated in China. A feature of the equipment is an error of 0.025 mm and 0.01 mm (displacement, spindle runout, respectively).

Screw-cutting lathe for metal desktop company "Optimum"

table metal machine from Optimum

Weiss table lathes have the lowest possible vibration and sound pressure. The spindle rotates in roller bearings, after stopping the rotation, it is possible to automatically reverse to move the caliper. The tailstock has a longitudinal movement with fixing the position in space.

Weiss universal lathe in a garage

Weiss garage lathe

Related article:

... In the publication we will consider step by step instructions making a machine with photos and videos, an overview of finished models, safety precautions when working on the machine.

When purchasing a metal lathe for a garage, you should pay attention to the following points:

manufacturer - the products of domestic firms are easier to operate, since there are more service centers, spare parts, consumables in the Russian Federation;
transmission type - belt or gear (the input shaft is always driven by a V-belt);
gear material - caprolon is preferable, which, unlike conventional plastics, does not crumble, but self-strengthens;
the presence of roller bearings on the spindle - provides high-precision machining;
type of guides - the resource of hardened elements of the machine is an order of magnitude higher, as well as the quality of processing;
rpm - usually 0 - 1500 in 1st gear, 0 - 2500 in 2nd gear;
the presence of several speeds - usually 1 or 2;
protective devices - some models are equipped with plexiglass casings, which fade over time, crack, reducing the view of the workpiece;
headstock - options with a through hole are preferable, allowing you to grind, cut threads on long parts.

Metal parts are constantly required to repair a machine. It's good if the model is common - you can buy it. If the car is rare, you have to either wait a long time until it is delivered, or order production. In this case, you can purchase a lathe for the garage. If you have experience, you can use it for a side job.

What types of lathes are suitable for private use

There are nine types of lathes in total, but not all are needed in the garage. Most often, private traders can see small screw-cutting lathes. Along with processing parts (grinding, drilling, milling, drilling radial holes, etc.), they perform threading different types and taper turning. It is such a lathe for the garage that they are trying to buy - it covers almost all the needs of car owners.

They are produced in two types - desktop and with a bed (floor). Desktop - small, lightweight (up to 200 kg) machines. It is easier for them to find a place in the garage. The disadvantage is that large and heavy parts cannot be processed on them. One more point: due to their small mass, they are not always able to produce high processing accuracy.

Floor lathes (usually school lathes) have a much larger weight and dimensions. For normal operation, a separate foundation must be made for them. Installation on vibration dampers is possible, but they are not easy to find.

Lathe device

In order to choose a lathe, it is desirable to know its structure, purpose, functions and possible parameters of each of the parts. First, let's take a look at the main nodes.

These are the main components of the lathe. It makes sense to take a closer look at complex units, since the capabilities and operation of the equipment depend on their performance.

Stanina

Most often these are two parallel massive metal beams / webs, connected by crossbars to give greater rigidity. The caliper and tailstock move along the bed. For this purpose, guide rails are machined on the bed. The tailstock moves along flat guides, the caliper moves along prismatic ones. Prismatic tailstock guides are very rare.

Bed for a lathe for metal - factory and homemade

When choosing a used machine, pay attention to the condition of the slide and the smooth movement of parts along them.

Headstock (spindle)

The headstock in modern lathes, most often, combines a part holder and a device for changing the spindle speed. There are several types of speed control - by moving the levers to a certain position, using a regulator.

The control of the regulator with a smooth change in the rotation speed is carried out on the basis of microprocessor control. In this case, there is a liquid crystal display on the headstock housing, which displays the current speed.

The main part of the headstock is the spindle, which on the one hand is connected to the electric drive pulley, on the other it has a thread onto which chucks are screwed to hold the workpiece. The accuracy of turning work directly depends on the condition of the spindle. There should be no beats and backlashes in this unit.

Guitar gears - to transmit rotation and change its speed

In the headstock there is a system of changeable gears for transferring and changing rotation to the gearbox shaft. When choosing a lathe for a garage, pay attention to the condition of the gears and the absence of spindle play. The accuracy of workpieces processing depends on this.

Tailstock

The tailstock is movable - it moves along the guides on the bed. It is brought to the part, its position is adjusted, the quill rests against the part, holding it in the right position, the position of the quill is fixed by turning the corresponding handle. Then the position of the tailstock is fixed with another locking handle.

In some models, the tailstock is designed not only to support massive or long parts in a given direction, but also to process them.

To do this, depending on the operations performed, the corresponding equipment is fixed on the quill - cutters, taps, drills. The additional center of the machine on the tailstock can be fixed or rotating. The rotating rear center is made on high-speed machines, for removing large chips, turning cones.

Support

Lathe support - a movable part on which tools for processing parts are attached. Due to the special design of this unit, the cutter can move in three planes. Horizontal movement is provided by guides on the bed, longitudinal and cross slide.

The position of the cutter relative to the surface of the machine (and part) is set by the rotary tool holder. In each of the planes there is a latch that ensures holding in a given position.

The tool holder can be single or multiple. The tool holder, most often, is made in the form of a cylinder with a side slot into which a tool is inserted, which is fixed with bolts. On simple machines, there is a special groove on the support, into which a recess is inserted on the lower part of the holder. This is how the cutting tool is fixed on the machine.

Garage lathe: parameters

First of all, you are determined with the mass and type of connection. When choosing a mass, you should not strive to find the lightest machine. Very light ones do not give stability, they can vibrate during operation, which will affect the accuracy of work. Yes, it is problematic to install heavy machines, but installation is a single event, you will have to work regularly. Therefore, weight is far from the most basic selection criterion.

Lathes that are too large cannot be installed in every garage, and small and medium-sized ones are an excellent choice.

The type of connection - single-phase or three-phase - is more important. And then, three-phase can be connected to 220 through special starters. From the electrical characteristics, the engine power is also important. The higher it is, the greater the rotation speed the lathe can develop. These are general points. There are also special ones:

The diameter of the workpiece that can be machined on the machine. Determined by the diameter of processing above the bed and above the slide.
The length of the workpiece. Depends on the course.
List of operations.
Maximum number of revolutions.
The adjustment method is smooth, stepwise.
Reverse capability.

The dimensions of the workpieces are directly related to the dimensions of the machine. So here you have to find a reasonable compromise. Usually you don't want to clutter up the garage too much, but you need to handle the dimensional details.

Micro and mini lathes

In order not to clutter up the garage, you can find mini or micro lathes. They are very small in size and light in weight. For example, micro lathe for the garage PROMA SM-250E has dimensions of 540 * 300 * 270 mm and a weight of 35 kg. It can process workpieces with a length of 210 mm and a diameter of 140 mm. Smooth speed control from 100 to 2000 rpm. Not so bad for this size.

Mini lathes - they belong in the garage

Despite its small size, it can perform the following operations:

turning surfaces,
threading;
drilling;
countersinking;
deployment.

Grinding of parts, knurling, tool sharpening are also possible. The basic operations, as you can see, are present. The disadvantage is that you cannot process at least some large parts on machines of this type, and the disadvantage of this particular model is the price. This lathe for a garage costs from $ 900.

In the same category there are Chinese JET BD-3 and JET BD-6 (price 500-600 $) and domestic CRATON MML-01 (price 900 $), Enkor Corvette 401 (650 $), German Optimum - from 1300 $ to 6000 $; Czech Proma - from $ 900,

Floor options

Here the choice is not so wide, because both prices and weight are much higher. There are several proven models that you can install in your garage.

These are the so-called school machines - TV 4 (its improved version of TV 6), TV 7 and the desktop version of TV 16. With a mass of 280 kg (TV 4) and 400 kg of TV 7, it is desirable to have a separate foundation. If you just put it on a concrete floor, it will break it.

The choice of a lathe is a purely individual matter. When choosing it, it is necessary to take into account, first of all, the purpose in production. The dimensions and weight of the machine itself depend on the number of operations that are supposed to be performed on it, the size of the workpieces in diameter and length. When choosing a machine for large batches of production of the same type of parts, it is better to choose a CNC machine with a multi-spindle head, if the part needs to be processed with several cutters at once.

General view of a screw-cutting lathe with DRO

Universal machines with the ability to process one or several cutters at the same time are classified as light and medium-weight machines. When choosing a lathe for an enterprise equipment repair workshop or a car park garage, it is better to opt for universal equipment for metal on manual or semi-automatic control. When manufacturing parts from bars, it is necessary to measure the diameter of the spindle bore with the diameter required for the production of bar parts.

To choose a reliable lathe, you need to pay attention to the material and method of fastening the guides of the bed, it serves not only as a box for attaching headstock, guitar, apron, but its transverse guides are used to move mechanisms directly involved in the work process along them. The more reliable, massive and stable the bed, the less vibrations and the higher the accuracy of the machine.

Machine selection video

When working on metal, the guides of the machine are subjected to strong loads, so the bed must be made of very strong metal, mainly cast iron. The fastening of the rails to the uprights can be done by bolting or welding. This does not affect the structural rigidity of a large role, but the bolted connection will have to be checked more often.

In the organization of the workplace, the curbstones play an important role, but their main purpose is to ensure that the bed stands on them without distortions, which can lead to the subsequent rejection of products. For short machines up to 1 ton, the weight of the pedestals can be 2. For longer and wider lathes that work metal, the pedestals can be 3 or 4.

Not all car workshops need large universal machines. For example, in a tire service for grinding bolts and nuts for attaching disks to car hubs, a desktop machine may well satisfy the needs of a workshop for metal threading or turning to replace worn parts with new ones.

Choosing a desktop lathe

Home craftsmen and car enthusiasts who independently manufacture metal parts are more interested in a desktop machine that can be used at home, in a garage or elsewhere, because it is easy to transport. It should be noted that there are machines weighing about 200 kg and costing about $ 4000 on the market of turning equipment among desktop machines. It is unlikely that this metal machine will be appropriate for installation in a home workshop or garage. First of all, when choosing a desktop machine, you need to pay attention to such characteristics as:

connection method;
the required voltage in the network;
diameter and length of the workpiece that can be processed on this machine.

It is obligatory to check the absence of backlash of the quill and other moving parts.

For home use as well as for a repair shop, a universal metal machine is required. The narrow specialization of home equipment is not very effective, you can never know in advance what metal work will be required in the process of repairing plumbing, home heating systems or household appliances.

The versatility of the machine does not depend on its appearance, and on the number of possible independent upgrades using special turning devices, regardless of whether they are included with the machine or they can be purchased separately.

A machine equipped with all sorts of devices will cost more, but it is not a fact that all the things will be needed in the work. It is easier to buy a cheaper model with the ability to self-equip with the necessary devices that will be useful for performing certain metal operations.

The main thing when choosing any lathe is to make sure:

that at all speeds declared by the manufacturer, it works flawlessly, without interruptions;
make sure that there are no backlashes of all moving parts;
the accuracy of the tasks, which is directly related to the first two.

Buying a deliberately inaccurate machine in the hope of self-revision is not the best way out. Search for a bench machine Russian production or European countries is difficult. By orders of our companies, most often bench machines are collected in China, which does not make them worse. Domestic assembly of machine tools is more about industrial turning equipment.

Industrial turning equipment has a wide range of weight, specialization and other parameters. How to choose it correctly, each production technologist determines for himself. General requirements is the required precision of turning equipment and productivity.