Lab Session: 03

Lathe Machine Operations

Threading

Threading is the act of cutting of the required form of threads on the internal or external cylindrical
surfaces. The principle of thread cutting is to produce a helical groove on a cylindrical or conical
surface by feeding the tool longitudinally when the job is revolved between centers or by a chuck.
The longitudinal feed should be equal to the pitch of the thread to be cut per revolution of the work
piece.

Boring
Boring is the operation of enlarging and a hole in the work piece already produced by drilling. In
this operation, a boring tool or a bit mounted on a rigid bar is held in the tool post and fed into
the work by hand or power in the similar way as for turning.
Knurling
Knurling is an operation of providing a diamond-shaped or straight-line pattern or knurled surface
on the surface of work piece. In this operation, a knurling tool is moved longitudinally to a
revolving work piece surface. The projection on the knurled tool reproduce depression on the work
piece surface. Knurling is essentially a roughening of the surface and is done to provide a better
gripping surface.

Step Turning
Step turning is an operation performed on lathe machine where the excess material is removed
from the work piece to obtain various steps of different diameters. This process is carried out in
the similar way as straight turning.
Grooving
It is an operation of reducing the diameter of a work piece over a very narrow surface. In this
operation, a tool of appropriate shape is fed in to the revolving work up to the desired depth at
right angles to the center line of the work piece.

Parting/Cut-Off
The parting or cutting off is the operation of cutting away a desired length of the work
piece, i.e., dividing the work piece in two or more parts. In this operation, the tool is fed radially
and the end part of the work piece is cut off.