Metal lathe

The metal lathe is the quintessential machine tool for precision mechanical work: the workpiece rotates between centres or in a self-centring chuck while a cutting tool—mounted on a mechanically fed cross-slide—removes metal in a precise and repeatable manner. Typical operations include external and internal turning, facing, threading (via lead-screw gearing or CNC cycle), boring and knurling. Unlike the wood lathe, every parameter—spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut—is controlled mechanically or numerically, ensuring tolerances of ±0.01 mm even on mid-range machines. In the maker and hobbyist context, bench-top mini-lathes (such as Myford, Sieg C3, Sherline) allow the production of shafts, bushings, adapters and high-precision mechanical components in small spaces and at moderate cost.