Classification of
Lathe:-
(a) According to
configuration
- Horizontal
- Most common for
ergonomic conveniences
- Vertical
- Occupies less floor
space, only some large lathes are of this type.
(b) According to purpose
of use
- General purpose
- Very versatile where
almost all possible types of operations are carried out on wide ranges of size,
shape and materials of jobs; example : centre lathes
- Single purpose
Only one (occasionally
two) type of operation is done on limited ranges of size and material of jobs;
example – facing lathe, roll turning lathe etc.
- Special purpose - Where a
definite number and type of operations are done repeatedly over long time
on a specific type of blank; example: gear blank machining lathe
etc.
(c) According to
size or capacity
- Small (low duty) -
In such light duty
lathes (up to 1.1 kW), only small and medium size jobs of generally soft and
easily machinable materials are machined
- Medium (medium duty) -
These lathes of power nearly up to 11 kW are most versatile and commonly
used
- Large (heavy duty)
- Mini or micro lathe -
These are tiny table-top lathes used for extremely small size jobs and
precision work; example : Swiss type automatic lathe
(d) According to
degree of automation
- Non-automatic -
Almost all the handling operations are done manually; example: centre
lathes
- Semi-automatic - Nearly
half of the handling operations, irrespective of the processing operations,
are done automatically and rest manually; example : capstan lathe, turret
lathe, copying lathe relieving lathe etc.
- Automatic - Almost all the
handling operations (and obviously all the processing operations) are done
automatically; example – single spindle automatic (automatic lathe), Swiss
type automatic lathe, etc.
(e)
According to type of automation
- Fixed automation -
Conventional; example – single spindle automatic, Swiss type automatic
lathe etc.
- Flexible automation -
Modern; example CNC lathe, turning centre etc.
(f) According to
configuration of the jobs being handled
- Bar type - Slender rod
like jobs being held in collects
- Chucking type - Disc type
jobs being held in chucks
- Housing type- Odd shape
jobs, being held in face plate
(g) According to
precision
- Ordinary
- Precision (lathes) -
These sophisticated lathes meant for high accuracy and finish and are
relatively more expensive.
(h)
According to number of spindles
- Single spindle -
Common
- Multi spindle (2, 4, 6 or 8 spindles) - Such uncommon lathes are suitably used for fast and mass production of small size and simple shaped jobs
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