What Is a Lathe Used for?

A lathe is a machine used to cut a shaped design in a block as it spins horizontally at a high speed. The object to be cut is mounted in place, and the cutting tool creates the shape in the object as it turns.

Types

There are metal cutting and woodworking lathes. They are used to cut three-dimensional circular objects.

Function

A lathe can be used two ways to cut wood or metal. One is to cut the spinning object with hand tools. The other is to set the lathe and tools to cut the object automatically at a preset precision setting using molds or shaped guides.

Effects

Lathes are used to cut round objects like wooden legs of chairs and tables. They are also used to create metal bars or pieces needed in machinery.

Expert Insight

Setup and preparation time is the most tedious part of working with a lathe. Cutting with a lathe is the enjoyable part, especially lathe cutting that is done by hand with hand tools.

Other uses

Lathes can also cut interior curves. The inside of a bowl is one example of an interior lathe cut.