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How to choose a lathe for metal. How to choose a metal lathe for a garage Turning and milling machines for a garage

How to choose a lathe for metal. How to choose a metal lathe for a garage Turning and milling machines for a garage

For a “handy” home craftsman, a desktop lathe for processing metal blanks is the ultimate dream. With its help, the missing parts of the mechanisms being repaired are made, threads are cut, corrugations are made or holes are bored. For some, the universal mechanism opens up new horizons for creativity or hobbies. For others, there is an additional way to replenish the family budget. Unfortunately, the cost of factory equipment in most cases leaves the dream of a complete home workshop unfulfilled. However, the desire to have a lathe at home can be easily fulfilled if you make it yourself. We will tell you more about one of these designs, giving you the opportunity to build a lathe with your own hands.

Purpose and opportunities

The modern lathe is a symbiosis of mechanical parts and electronic components.

The main functions of any modern mechanism, whether it be a simple manual meat grinder or a coal miner, provide rotating parts that could not be made without lathes. A feature of these units is the processing of bodies of revolution by cutting. The machines of the turning group provide manufacturing accuracy unattainable for other metalworking methods. Equipment of this type is easy to automate and allows you to perform the following operations:

longitudinal turning of a smooth or stepped cylindrical surface;
processing of ledges and grooves;
turning of external and internal conical surfaces;
boring of conical and cylindrical holes;
threading (internal or external) with a cutter or drill;
reaming and countersinking holes;
grooving or cutting off;
shaped turning;
corrugated surface.

The main purpose of lathes is the processing of three types of parts - shafts, bushings and disks, resulting in a variety of axles, flywheels, liners, star blanks, etc. In addition, other workpieces with the shape of bodies of revolution are processed on universal units, for example , body parts.

Screw-cutting lathes - the most popular design among home craftsmen

All existing lathes distinguish between:

on the basis of turning (turning-turret, turning-and-boring, multi-cutting machines, etc. - a total of nine subgroups);
size range, which depends on the diameter of the workpiece;
degrees of specialization (special, universal, etc.);
accuracy class.

The most popular for repetition at home are screw-cutting lathes, which have the simplest design among the above units.

Design

Although the first lathes of the turning group appeared at the end of the 18th century, their architecture was so perfect that it has not undergone significant changes so far. We can say that today we use equipment similar to that used for metalworking two centuries ago.

The design of the screw-cutting lathe

A metal lathe consists of the following components and parts:

The bed, which is the basis for all other elements. The accuracy of processing and the versatility of the device depend on the strength and scrupulousness of its manufacture. The body part of the machine must be a massive, fundamental structure. This is the only way to avoid vibrations and tool displacement during turning operations.
Front spindle head. This unit allows you to fix the workpiece and rotate it during processing. Often the headstock includes a gearbox and a caliper or machining head feed mechanism. This allows you to change the speed of rotation of the part and increases productivity.
Rear grandma. This element is designed to hold the part in a given coordinate system, coaxial to the spindle. In addition, a tool fixed in the tailstock allows you to perform additional operations, such as cutting threads.
Caliper. Without a doubt, this node is one of the most important in the design of the machine. The support is designed to hold the cutting tool and move it relative to the workpiece. Depending on the design, the caliper can feed the cutter in different planes, which makes it possible to obtain parts with a complex configuration of internal and external surfaces. The main requirements for the support are the reliability of holding the tool and the feed accuracy, since this is directly related to the quality of processing.

In the manufacture of a homemade lathe, the design is simplified as much as possible. To do this, elements that are problematic to make at home are modified, and some nodes are completely abandoned. For example, the gearbox can be replaced with several pulleys of different sizes, and the automatic feed can be excluded from the scheme.

What you need to make

An ideal option in the manufacture of a homemade lathe would be to use separate components from decommissioned equipment. If this is not possible, then you will have to make components and parts yourself.

Instead of a cast frame, a frame welded from steel shaped pipes and corners is used. It goes without saying that a wooden frame in this case is an unacceptable option. The metal profile will be able to provide the required rigidity and stability of the structure. In addition, with the help of even square and rectangular pipes, it is not difficult to adhere to the strict geometry of the frame. An uneven frame will not make it possible to correctly fix the centers, which will further affect the quality of the work being done.

Low-power asynchronous motor - an excellent power unit for a homemade design

For the drive you need a power unit. It is best to use a low-speed asynchronous type electric motor. Unlike collector units, "asynchronous" are practically not at risk of breakage with a sharp decrease in speed.

For processing workpieces with a diameter of not more than 100 mm, an electric motor with a power of 500 - 1000 W will be enough. If you plan to grind larger parts, you will need at least a 1.5-kilowatt power unit.

In addition, you will have to choose a drive belt (or several belts of various lengths). Do not forget about the fasteners with which individual nodes will be attached to the body. For a homemade lathe, nuts and bolts with a diameter of 8 and 10 mm with a conventional metric thread are suitable.

As a sled, parts machined from a steel bar with subsequent hardening are used, but guides made from suspension struts or long shafts of industrial mechanisms would be the best option. They have excellent geometry, and their surface is hardened in the factory.

The tailstock, like the spindle, is best used from decommissioned factory equipment

The tailstock can also be made from shaped pipes and a thick metal sheet, but the quill is made from a hardened pointed bolt, several nuts with the same thread and a steering wheel made from a pulley from agricultural machinery. Using a home-made quill will require each time you fasten a part to lubricate the contacting surfaces with lithol or grease. A similar procedure will not be needed with a factory-made rotating center, so if possible, then this part is better to buy.

The longitudinal and transverse feed screws can also be turned on a lathe or use a long threaded rod that can be bought at hardware hypermarkets.

For feed screws, a finely threaded shaft is used - this will significantly improve the positioning accuracy of the working tool.

For rotation nodes, rolling bearings installed in the housing will be needed, and pulleys of various diameters mounted on the drive shaft will allow you to adjust the speed. These parts can be bought or ordered from a familiar turner.

Making a caliper will require stocking up on a steel plate with a thickness of at least 8mm. It can also be used for the holder.

Another node that cannot be made in artisanal conditions is the spindle. It will have to be bought. Spindle mounting requires the manufacture of a shaft on which the driven pulleys will be mounted. The strength of this part must be impeccable, so it is best to use parts from decommissioned factory mechanisms.

There are designs in which there is no belt drive. Rotation from the motor shaft is transmitted directly to the spindle. Of course, they have the right to exist, however, when choosing such a scheme, be prepared for the frequent failure of the motor bearings.

In addition to the lathe, in the process of work you will need such tools and equipment:

welding machine;
Bulgarian;
grinding and emery machine;
electric drill and a set of drills for metal;
taps and dies for threading;
set of wrenches;
caliper, metal ruler;
marker.

All these tools and materials will allow you to make a full-fledged desktop-type lathe. If it was not possible to get some details, do not despair - for a while they can be replaced with something else. So, a chuck from an electric drill is quite used instead of a spindle if it is necessary to process small workpieces.

Dimensions and drawings

Determining the dimensions of the machine, first of all, they are guided by the maximum length and diameter of the workpieces. Recall that in industry, low-power turning equipment has the following boundary parameters:

length - up to 1150 mm;
width - up to 620 mm;
the distance from the upper surface of the frame to the spindle axis (axis height) is about 180 mm.

It is hardly worth exceeding these values on homemade equipment. We must not forget that with an increase in size, the risk of distortion of the machine geometry increases many times over. When choosing the size of the caliper and determining the extreme points of its movement, calculating the distance between the centers and the limits of movement of the tool holder, it is best to focus on the drawings of home-made machines. Made by craftsmen, they have proven their efficiency in practice, so it would be foolish not to use proven solutions.

Instructions for making a simple do-it-yourself lathe

Since everyone decides what his lathe will look like and what dimensions it will have, it is impossible to give an accurate description of the manufacture of all parts with dimensions, tolerances and fits. However, the process of building any lathe consists of the same steps.

Frame manufacturing. As mentioned above, it is impossible to make a massive cast-iron frame at home. Therefore, its role will be played by a frame made of a channel or steel profile pipes, which are cut to size and then welded according to the drawing. It is important to observe the correctness of all right angles, so control with a square should be carried out every time the next joint is made. It is best to work on a flat, horizontal slab. This will make it possible to obtain a frame with strict geometry in the horizontal plane. You can do without a massive bed, making it from long shafts as guides.
Parts for the manufacture of the bed
On a lathe, side racks of the bed are made.
side stand
Assemble guides with racks. In this case, distance bushings are installed between the side support elements.
Mounting rails on racks
Bushings for attaching the tailstock and tool holder are mounted on the guides. It is not necessary to make them the same length. One part can be made shorter than the other, using the long element as a guide, and the shorter one to support the moving parts. This solution will increase the working stroke of the rear center.
Installing the main feed bushings and guides
From a steel sheet with a thickness of 8 - 10 mm, the mounting sites for the quill and caliper are made and fastened to the guide and retaining bushings using bolts with a diameter of 6 mm. Particular attention should be paid to the mounting holes, since the slightest inaccuracy will lead to distortion and jamming of the moving parts of the machine.
Installation of the support pads of the caliper and tailstock
Install lead screw. You can machine this part from a workpiece or use a threaded part from any device, for example, from a high chair with variable height. Be sure to make sure that anti-friction bushings made of bronze or brass are installed in the corresponding holes in the side racks.
A vernier and a steering wheel are attached to the lead screw.
Installing the main feed screw
A platform for attaching the headstock is installed, after which the assembly of the bed is considered complete.
From the bearing support, two ball bearings, the main shaft with pulleys and the spindle, the headstock is assembled.
Assembling the headstock
A tailstock is made from a long screw, a sleeve with an internal thread, a metal profile and a handle, after which the rear movable assembly is mounted on the machine.
Control and, if necessary, adjust the alignment of the front and rear centers.
Assemble the support. The process of its manufacture is similar to the assembly of the frame - the guides are equipped with bushings, a screw, a vernier and a small steering wheel are mounted.
A tool holder is made from a thick metal plate and bolts with a diameter of 8 mm, after which it is installed on the caliper.

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 by several cutters at once.

General view of a screw-cutting lathe with DRO

Universal machines with the possibility of processing with one or more cutters at the same time belong to 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 metal equipment with manual or semi-automatic control. In the manufacture of parts from bars, it is necessary to measure the diameter of the spindle hole 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 headstocks, guitars, an apron, but its transverse guides serve to move mechanisms directly involved in the workflow along them. The more reliable, massive and stable the bed, the less vibration and the higher the accuracy of the machine.

Machine selection video

When working on metal, the guides of the machine are under heavy loads, so the bed must be made of very durable metal, mainly cast iron. The rails can be fastened to the uprights by bolting or welding. This does not affect the rigidity of the structure, but the bolted connection will have to be checked more often.

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

Not all car workshops need large universal machines. For example, in tire fitting, for turning bolts and nuts for fastening discs to car hubs, a desktop machine may well satisfy the needs of a workshop for cutting metal threads or turning to replace worn parts with new ones.

Choosing a desktop lathe

Home craftsmen and car enthusiasts who are independently engaged in the manufacture of 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 on the market of turning equipment among the desktop there are machines weighing about 200 kg and costing about $ 4,000. It is unlikely that this machine for metal 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;
the diameter and length of the workpiece that can be processed on this machine.

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

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

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

A machine equipped with all kinds of devices will cost more, but it’s not a fact that all the little things will be needed in the work. It is easier to buy a cheaper model with the possibility of self-equipment 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 the 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.

Acquiring a deliberately inaccurate machine in the hope of self-improvement is not the best way out. It is difficult to search for a desktop machine made in Russia or European countries. By order of our companies, desktop machines are most often assembled 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 variation in weight, specialization and other parameters. How to choose it correctly, each production technologist determines for himself. The general requirements are the necessary accuracy of turning equipment and productivity.

A garage metal lathe is an indispensable tool for repairing small metal parts. In total there are several types, but not all are suitable for a garage room.

There are many manufacturers of the necessary equipment on the market, which differ both in their dimensions and functionality. To facilitate the choice, we will find out which garage lathe is the most suitable and what you should pay attention to.

There are many turning units, in general they are divided into three types:

desktop;
semi-professional;
professional.

Assembling a lathe with your own hands.

The choice of equipment depends on personal needs. The first two types are suitable for use at home, most often car owners prefer the desktop version. Their relatively small size makes it easy to place the unit in a garage and use for a variety of jobs.

Micro-machines have some limitations in use, the main thing is the size of the parts. Since motorists often work at home with small details, the option with a desktop unit is perfect for this.

The desktop lathe for metal, in turn, is divided into 3 types:

turning and milling;
screw-cutting;
combined.

The first type is used when you need to remove chamfers from workpieces, make a hole and trim. The second type allows you to turn parts and apply threads to them, and the combined type gives all of the above.

Modern bench lathes for the garage allow you to perform several operations:

turning parts of shaped, cylindrical or conical shapes;
trimming the ends of parts;
grinding;
boring;
drilling holes and expanding them;
thread cutting.

Drawing machine for woodworking.

The home machine tool unit has several important advantages:

take up little space and a wide range allows you to choose a device that can be installed in almost any room;
reliability - despite the small size of the equipment, it will be possible to perform the necessary operations with high quality;
ease of connection to the mains;
low power consumption compared to large models;
the ability to expand functionality by purchasing additional components.

Of the shortcomings of mini units, it is worth noting the most important one - a lower speed of work, however, such a nuance will not at all affect the quality of the work. Especially if the home machine is equipped with a CNC system - numerical control.

Lathe device

Before choosing equipment, it will not be superfluous to deal with its device. This will allow you to understand the purpose and functions of the main parts of the machine, which will help in the future when choosing.

Any design of a lathe for a garage includes the main components:

frame - the base on which the remaining elements of the machine are installed and fixed;
engine and gearbox - provide rotation of the spindle and caliper;
headstock - serves to fix the object and rotate;
tailstock - another fixation element;
spindle - a metal shaft of the machine that promotes rotation;
caliper - clamp of the cutting tool.

bed

The bed is the main part of the metal lathe, on which the remaining components of the unit are installed and moved. Often the part is made of cast iron in order to obtain a solid structure that can withstand heavy loads and last a long time.

Most often, the element is made in the form of two parallel beams, on which guides are provided for moving parts.

Headstock

The headstock, or spindle, is a cast iron box used for fixing. In addition, it contains a mechanism for switching spindle speeds.

The spindle, in turn, is the main part of the mechanism, on the one hand it is connected to the gear of the electric drive, and on the other hand it has a thread for winding cartridges and fixing the workpiece.

The spindle is the most important component, since the performance of turning operations will depend on its condition. In this regard, when buying equipment, it is important to pay attention to this.

tailstock

The tailstock also serves to hold the object of milling or turning during processing. It is a metal cylinder, firmly fixed on the body. In addition, in some models of the unit, the element allows you to attach various items: a drill, a tap, a reamer, and others.

The tailstock must meet certain requirements:

do not move spontaneously;
ensure a reliable position of the axis;
facilitate quick installation along the axis of the machine;
enable precise positioning of the workpiece on both center holes.

Garage Lathe Parameters

Scheme of a lathe.

When choosing a lathe for a garage, you should pay attention to its parameters.

In order for the equipment to fully meet the requirements, you should pay attention to the main selection criteria:

Machine weight and size.
Here you should build on the possibilities of the garage space.
Ease of connection.
It can be single phase or three phase. Since most often in garages the first type of power supply is 220 V, this item should be taken into account. It hardly makes sense to make separate wiring for 380 V for a three-phase connection specifically for the machine. In some cases, it is possible to adapt the machine tool to connect to a three-phase network.
Unit details.
This point is especially important. You should pay attention to the components of the machine, especially the bed and caliper. They must be made of hard metal alloys.
Power.
For mini-units, usually the power indicator does not exceed 2.25 kW. There are also so-called low-power equipment with a drive power of 0.15 kW. It should be noted that the latter are not suitable for processing large parts made of durable materials. For the manufacture of nuts and washers, power up to 1 kW is enough.
Equipment.
When choosing a garage machine, you should focus on its specialization. Having bought a highly specialized device, you can make a mistake. Depending on your needs, it is better to buy a machine right away with the necessary equipment in the kit, or purchase a basic package and, if necessary, equip the device with additional functions. The second option will be more economical, since you can buy additional fixtures as far as possible.
rotation frequency.
This factor depends on the metals to be processed. It is better to choose equipment with a wide range of speed adjustments, this will give the owner more options.

Mini machines

Lathes, which can be classified as desktop, have a mass of 15 kg and up to 200 kg. For garage use, mini machines weighing no more than 50 kg are perfect. They can be easily installed and, if necessary, moved.

You should not choose the lightest and smallest units for the garage, as they can be unstable and vibrate when working with parts, which, in turn, will affect the accuracy of work.

Floor options

Floor lathes allow the processing of large-sized workpieces and guarantee high precision in the manufacture of parts. However, this kind of equipment has a significant drawback - large size and weight. In this regard, its use in the garage will not always be convenient and even possible.

For home use, manufacturers offer desktop machines with which you can perform almost all types of turning work offered by a floor-standing unit. The main difference is only in size.

Outcome

When choosing a metal lathe for a garage, you should pay attention to several factors. First of all, the dimensions and weight of the equipment are important. For a garage room, desktop units are perfect.

Despite their low weight, they act as a mini copy of a full-fledged factory model and allow you to perform the necessary work with high quality. The only difference is the processing speed of the part.

Also, do not buy the smallest model, as this can affect the stability of the garage machine and give vibration during operation. When choosing, be sure to pay attention to the power of the unit, its functionality, materials, components, speed and type of connection.

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IN in conditions of limited space for a home master, the best option is for a garage in a basic or advanced configuration. There are a lot of manufacturers and modifications of equipment on the modern market. Therefore, below are the recommendations of experts on choosing a mini-machine for turning metals.

Selection criteria, types

A metal lathe for a garage can save both the budget for operating a car, a household plot, and time. The search for small things, which is necessary for repair, construction, often takes several days. If you have the equipment, all this can be done 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 - approximately the same for most manufacturers;
quality - it is not recommended to buy such equipment on order, it is better than a visual inspection, a trial run of purchase methods has not been invented;

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

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

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

It is very difficult to focus on the dimensions of the workpieces that can be clamped in the chuck jaws, placed between the centers of the stocks. The needs of each craftsman are different; from time to time, processing of large-sized parts or performing jewelry operations is required.

Specifications

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

power button - may be absent (for example, for the Corvette-2 model), rotation is turned on by a rheostat that regulates 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 support
center-to-center size RMC - 20 - 50 cm
drive power - 0.15 - 0.6 kW

Desktop device option

For a metal lathe for a garage, 220 V asynchronous or commutator motors are used. The designs of speed control systems, torque transmission to the screw support shafts differ significantly from different companies. 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. Of the domestic manufacturers, the most popular are “Home Master”, “Handyman”, “Caliber”. All other products, regardless of the brand's homeland, are made in China - Optimum, Corvette, JET, Proma, DIY.

For example, the Enkor company produces turning and milling modifications Corvette 407, lathes Corvette 401 - 403. Automatic support feed is used only for threading, processing, peeling 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, 2,500 rpm, an electronic system that allows you to maintain the same speed under any load. A through hole in the spindle allows you to process 20 cm parts.

Desktop device for metal Corvette 401

Optimum machines are equipped with 0.5 - 1.5 kW motors, 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).

Desktop screw-cutting lathe by Optimum

Weiss desktop lathes have the lowest possible vibration, sound pressure. The spindle rotates in roller bearings; after the rotation stops, it remains possible to automatically reverse to move the caliper. The tailstock has a longitudinal movement with position fixation in space.

Universal lathe in the garage manufactured by "Weiss"

Related article:

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

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

manufacturer - 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 - preferably caprolon, which, unlike conventional plastics, does not crumble, but self-reinforces;
the presence of roller bearings on the spindle - provides high-precision processing;
type of guides - the resource of hardened machine elements is an order of magnitude higher, as is the quality of processing;
revolutions - 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, split, reducing the view of the workpiece;
headstock - preferably options with a through hole, allowing you to machine, cut threads on long parts.

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 perform a large list of technological operations. In fact, this is a miniature copy of the factory model, differing from it only in somewhat limited technical capabilities.

Features and benefits of desktop machines

The mini lathe, which is logical, is specially designed to process small products on it. As with any equipment of the turning group, a small machine 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-sized devices, the quality of finished products does not suffer from this at all. Their quality will be especially high if the mini-lathe is controlled by a CNC system.

Small models for metal, which are very easy to manage, are used not only to equip home workshops, where with their help it becomes possible to make many products or bring the quality of finished products to the required level. Small workshops and vehicle repair shops are no less successfully equipped with such units. Since the times of the USSR, schools and technical educational institutions have been equipped with such machines, where with their help young people were taught the basics of the profession of a turner.

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

the use of a household electrical network with a voltage of 220 V to power such a machine;
the possibility of adapting such a device in order to connect it to a three-phase network;
low power consumption;
reliability, which allows such a microlathe to be successfully operated, subject to proper maintenance, for more than a dozen years;
affordable cost (many can afford to purchase such equipment);
compact size and light weight, which makes it possible to install this even in a cramped workshop or garage;
the opportunity 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 commonly called mini-machines. The video below provides an overview of one of these portable machines.

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

Any desktop lathe, regardless of 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 as 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);
the diameter of the hole in the spindle assembly (measured in millimeters).

One of the representatives of compact desktop machines

Turning units, which are classified as small, can have a mass of 40 to 280 kg, respectively, their overall dimensions also vary. To equip a home workshop, it is recommended to choose devices with a minimum weight: up to 50 kg, which are easy to install and can even be moved if necessary. Heavier equipment, even if it is desktop, is already categorized as semi-professional.

The power possessed by small lathes of the turning group usually does not exceed 2.25 kW. Some types of machines for the home, classified as low-power, 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 on the processing of 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 in order not to overpay extra money for a unit that will not be used to its full potential.

Even with small overall dimensions, a lathe for a garage or a home workshop does not cease to be a complex technical device, the accuracy of processing, as well as the reliability and durability of the equipment, directly depend on the quality of its components. Of great importance is the build quality of such components, 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 nodes and mechanisms of the machine are placed 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 metal work, one should also take into account the frequency of its use, on which the wear rate of its constituent elements depends.

In the domestic market, desktop lathes are presented in a large assortment of models and brands. It is easy to get confused with such a variety of options, so to help you make the right choice, we will consider some models of metal lathes from the most popular manufacturers.

Machines brand JET

Benchtop lathes, which have been produced by the Swiss company JET for more than 50 years, have gained immense popularity among home craftsmen and owners of small businesses. Even despite the fact that recently some of the nodes of these machine tools have been produced at factories in China, their quality remains impeccable. Providing high quality, precision and processing efficiency, these units do not cause problems in operation, they are easy to maintain.

The most popular models of machine tools of this brand include the following.

BD-3 is a miniature machine that can be used equally successfully by both amateurs and professionals. The bed of such a device is made of cast iron, which significantly reduces vibration during its operation. The guides of the machine, which can be adjusted along the cross support, are carefully ground, which ensures the accuracy of 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 independent 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.

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

BD-7 is a machine for a home or a small business, which has a number of notable design features: a massive cast-iron bed that reduces the vibration of the unit, two spindle speed ranges, the data of which are reflected on a digital indicator, the spindle itself, equipped with roller bearings. Such a machine for metal is very reliable. The tailstock of this model can be adjusted, which makes it possible to use it for processing conical 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 the thread, since its spindle can rotate in different directions. Compared with the previous model, this machine has more power, it is equipped with a 0.37 kW electric motor.

Machine JET BD-7, costs about 80 thousand rubles

BD-8A is a table type machine in which the longitudinal and transverse feeds are automated. such a machine is quickly rearranged, it is also equipped with a reversible mechanism that allows it to be used for threading. Four tools can be installed in the unit holder at the same time, and its stop center is made according to a non-rotating scheme. The three-jaw chuck of the machine with a working diameter of 100 mm is protected by a special screen, which increases the safety of the operator. An electric motor with a power of 0.55 kW is installed as a drive for this machine.

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

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

Equipment from other manufacturers

In the domestic market, the products of the Czech company PROMA, which has been producing such equipment for more than 20 years, have proven themselves excellently. Among the variety of lathes and screw-cutting lathes for home or small businesses that this company produces, 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 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, which can often be found not only in small workshops, but also in the repair shops of manufacturing enterprises.

PROMA SPA-500, cost about 130,000 rubles

A number of models of machine tools manufactured under this brand are also deservedly popular: SPA-500P, SK-550, SPB-400/400, SPA-700P.

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

In addition, to equip a home workshop or a small business, you can pay attention to the lathes of the following manufacturers.

OPTIMUM is a German trademark under which lathes are produced, including miniature ones, well known and appreciated by specialists throughout Europe. The most famous models of machines for metal work 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 of the world are: WM-180V, WM-250V, WM-250G, WMP-300A, ML-200.

CNC desktop machines

Any metal lathe controlled by a CNC system is capable of performing all the same technological operations as a manual machine. But such a machine does it much faster and more accurately, and it is very important that the human factor does not negatively affect the correct execution of the processing process, and this practically eliminates errors.

Due to the control using 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, they require minimal human intervention to control them, which is best reflected in the quality of work.