Carpentry shops and woodworking shops use equipment such as benchtop wood lathes. They are universal because, using them, you can perform a wide range of tasks related to the mechanical processing of wood blanks.
- drilling;
- turning;
- thread cutting;
- creating grooves;
- end processing.
Using a tabletop lathe, you can make furniture elements and parts:
- legs;
- racks;
- stands.
This equipment also allows you to make boxes, toys and utensils from wood. The correct choice of this equipment, its high-quality installation and the availability of skills in its use allows us to produce high-quality products with minimal investment of time and effort of the craftsman.
Characteristics of wood lathes
Tabletop lathes designed for wood processing are mini-equipment that has a lot of advantages. It is light in weight, which for most models does not exceed 18 kg. It can be installed on any workbench without any problems. The power of this equipment varies from 350 to 500 W.
The most powerful models are equipment for small-scale production, so the weight of the machines can reach up to 90 kg. The quality of workpiece processing when using this equipment largely depends on such a factor as rotation speed. The spindle speed can vary from 400 to 3500 rpm. This parameter should be adjusted based on factors such as the type of wood and the required processing accuracy of the workpiece.
What factors influence the cost and main selection criteria?
The cost is influenced by the factors of using machines for their intended purpose, dimensions, the presence of software devices, the number of rotational speeds of the engine and drive system. The brand of a turning machine increases its cost by 1.3-1.6 times. Important, equipment.
The device, just like a machine, is equipped with a variety of devices for comfort and good control. You need to choose wisely for complete sets at an affordable price. An equipped machine may not produce what you want for work:
Important indicators of turning equipment
Mini-machines designed for wood processing have a whole set of important parameters that you should know and take into account when choosing this equipment.
Power - it talks about the performance of a particular model, and also indicates the amount of electricity consumed by the equipment during its operation. For mini-lathes for desktop use, this figure is 350 W.
Spindle rotation speed - this parameter largely depends on the accuracy of material processing and its hardness. The rotation speed of modern models of woodworking machines varies from 400 to 3500 rpm.
Along with the parameters listed above, the cost of turning equipment for domestic use is no less important. Currently, the market offers a large selection of machines for household use, so every home craftsman can choose equipment that is suitable for price and functionality. When choosing a lathe, you should consider not only the price, but also the quality of the equipment.
Review of modern manufacturers
official dealer in the Russian Federation of companies producing wood lathes. The central representative office is located in Moscow.
The Swedish company Logosol has been a global manufacturer and supplier of woodworking equipment around the world for more than half a century.
The products of this brand are rightfully appreciated by representatives of small and medium-sized businesses for their excellent quality combined with an affordable price. They produce high-precision industrial machines:
The Chinese company WoodTec exports equipment to the foreign market. Since 2003, the machines have been used at factories in the Russian Federation. It specializes in complex and expensive equipment. It supplies them to large enterprises and entrepreneurs working in the production of furniture and decorative wood products. Machines of 3 types:
The company is based on the Belarusian Machine-Building Plant , a young holding. Develops, produces, and sells high-quality multifunctional machines. Of these, more than 10 modifications of desktop and household lathes for the home workshop.
The manufacturer supplies products at reasonable prices. Now the company operates as a distributed holding throughout the Russian Federation, with production in the Republic of Belarus, the city of Mogilev.
Design and principle of operation
Like any industrial lathe, the main element of equipment for domestic use is the bed. components of this equipment are attached to it . The most important ones include:
- a headstock equipped with a rotating spindle;
- rear locking headstock;
- movable thrust bearing.
The headstock, or, as it is often called, the driving chuck, is designed to rotate the workpiece. To securely fix the parts, use a tailstock. By means of the thrust bearing, the optimal choice of distance to the workpiece is ensured.
Methods for securing the workpiece
Two methods can be used to secure a part on turning equipment.
- Between the centers of the headstock and tailstock.
- Using a faceplate.
The first method of fastening is the most common. Most often it is used for processing short bars without the need for end processing. With this method of fastening, the accuracy of fastening is of great importance. It is important that when the workpiece rotates, there is no situation of part runout. To eliminate this, use an angular center finder.
The second method is more reliable, which is used in cases where processing of the ends of the workpiece is necessary. It differs from the first fastening method in that it is fixed using bolts or chuck teeth. This fastening ensures reliable retention of the part when performing comprehensive turning of the workpiece.
A lathe designed for processing wooden blanks differs from a metal lathe by the presence of a manual feed of the cutter, which is a chisel or other cutting tool for wood. It is secured only if a copier is used . In all other cases, when processing a workpiece, the chisel is held by the master. He also controls it manually, relying on the thrust bearing when performing the operation. The only thing that is done automatically is the spindle rotation speed.
The whole process takes place in two stages. First, roughing is performed, which is performed at an angle of 15-30 degrees. Upon completion, finishing is carried out at an angle of 45 degrees. When performing both operations, the chip thickness should be no more than 1 mm.
Types of woodworking units
Lathes perform 5 tasks for processing a wooden workpiece:
The ability to process a raw wooden piece in a plane and along a profile makes a product with a smooth surface. The resulting boards, panels, and bars are of good quality, ideal in shape and smooth in surface cleanliness. Thicknessing devices plane the workpiece to size and thickness.
Planing of a wooden part is done:
Special profiled parts with processing of the front side of panels, frames along the contour, and decoration work can be performed by milling machines. They are 3 types:
Drilling holes and making recesses in a wooden part is performed by drilling and filler machines. They make a tongue and groove connection. Slotting machines are used to produce recesses in the form of nests in a product.
Drilling machines are available in 3 types:
Processing of workpieces by turning to obtain a cylindrical shape is performed by lathes. They are of 1 type. They have various modifications depending on the complexity of obtaining a finished part or workpiece.
Removing waves, irregularities, burrs, smoothing sharp edges, calibration. With their help, perfectly smooth surfaces are obtained.
Tabletop for home and household
Tabletop devices are also available with CNC. These machines are considered high precision machines. They are classified as a group of universal equipment. It performs a variety of wood processing operations.
Manufacturers produce 3 types:
Low-power home type. They are placed on workbenches and small tables. Frequent production of wooden parts is more profitable to do with a unit with a power of 0.8–1.2 kW; the selection indicator is the size of the wooden blank being produced.
On a home machine, the distance from the product to the bed is 250-405 mm. Center-to-center distance 330-1100 mm. Spindle speed 400-3500 rpm. Rapid rotation of the workpiece allows you to process the part more accurately and accurately.
Small-sized series are universal in operation of the device. They allow you to sharpen cylindrical and cone-shaped products.
Small-sized devices are used at home. With their help, small, jewelry-precise parts are made. The weight of such machines is up to 10 kg.
There are 2 types of tabletop type lathe: devices that create a wooden part, a product with a zigzag appearance, or a carved-type design. This is done with a cutter.
Depending on the method of processing the product, devices are divided into: lathe and milling machine. They drill a through hole, make a recess, chamfer, trim the part; turning screw-cutting device and designs.
They are used for cutting threaded ornaments and turning blanks; universal machine, complex type of devices. Allows you to process workpieces of various shapes.
It is easy to select the minimum size turning device. They are characterized by low power and compact size. Their power of 0.15-1.8 kW is enough to produce any type and shape of product. The rotation speed and operating time are sufficient for such a device.
Home-type devices do not require high power. Not economical. There are no large or lengthy jobs. The width of the workpiece is 25-175 cm. Determined by the permissible overall length of the workpiece. The cross section of the wooden part is 10-38 cm, which makes it easy to process it.
The size of the part is determined by the overall dimensions of the installation. The device has a large number of speeds, 10 switchings. This is a good indicator. Speeds make it possible to select the desired rotation of the part for processing and grinding. Carefully make cuts that are accurate in size and zigzag.
There are many modifications of wood processing machines on sale. The home workshop can be replenished with models of small-sized devices. Their purpose is to process wooden products in small spaces.
School
The STD-120M model is used in school labor training classes. They are compact, have an optimal number of operations depending on operating conditions and workpiece sizes. They combine technical capabilities and price.
Difference: spindle rotation speed. The installation operates at spindle speeds: 1100 and 2150 rpm; presence of a push-button start and stop unit; complete with spare and replacement spindles.
Industrial
The turning and copying machine is common in the industrial production of furniture and household products. They are used to make figured racks and structures for decorative flights of stairs. The installation is distinguished by reliability, power, productivity, and production of parts according to the pattern.
They read the exact configuration of the templates and make a copy of them with exact dimensions. What is important for the production of high quality furniture. Products are made serially and in large quantities.
Record Power DML 250 is a small device designed for highly professional professionals. The device allows you to make any product configuration. Blanks fit dimensions 45.7 cm, F up to 25.4 cm.
The bed is extended to 57 cm. Wooden blanks up to 100 cm are processed on the machine. The machine drive allows you to change speeds from 1 to 5. 390W motor for a lathe of this size. The engine is equipped with aluminum cooling fins.
Minimum machine sizes:
The JET series is more compact. They are in high demand among professionals and amateurs. An increase in the machining part up to 90 cm is achieved by lengthening the bed.
Features of JET JWL-1015:
Review of mini-lathe models
If you are faced with the task of purchasing a wood lathe for domestic use, then when searching for equipment, the choice should be made in favor of imported models.
And the point here is not only that the machines of domestic companies are of lower quality in comparison with foreign analogues. Imported models of wood lathes have a higher power class. They can be used for industrial purposes. The choice of such equipment is quite large. Regardless of the country of origin, most models are assembled in China. Therefore, when choosing such equipment for your workshop, you need to pay attention to parameters such as price, quality and functionality. The best choice would be a machine that has the optimal ratio of these parameters.
Proma DSO-1000
If we talk about the most affordable model of an imported wood lathe, then this is the Czech unit Proma DSO-1000. Its minimum cost is 6,500 rubles. It has a power of 400 W. It has the ability to adjust the spindle speed in the range from 850 to 2500 rpm. The weight of this machine is 35 kg. It has fairly compact dimensions: 1450x250x370 mm.
HolzStar DB450
If you are looking for a machine with an optimal price-quality ratio, then you should pay attention to the HolzStar DB450 model. This Chinese-made machine has a minimum price tag of 12,000 rubles. This mini-lathe is equipped with a frame made of cast iron, due to which vibration is minimal when using it. This means that when performing operations, small parts will be processed with high precision.
However, the main advantage of this equipment over its competitors is the high spindle speed. This parameter can be changed in the range from 500 to 3150 rpm. As for the power of the equipment, this machine has this parameter of 370 W. The weight of the machine is 38 kg, and its dimensions are small - 820x300x430 mm .
JET JWL-1220
Another model worth mentioning is the Chinese JET JWL-1220 lathe.
It differs from the models presented above in its high price. The minimum cost of this equipment is 18,500 rubles. However, by paying that kind of money, you get equipment with a large power of 750 W. The main element of this equipment (bed) is made of gray cast iron. A number of important elements of this machine are made from it. Thanks to the choice of such material, vibrations are eliminated when performing operations on this equipment. The engine with which this machine is equipped has 6 speeds and two modes .
When using the first mode, the rotation speed varies from 400 to 3300 rpm. The second has smooth adjustment from 500 to 3900 rpm. This lathe can be easily locked using the quick release lever. The machine is equipped with rubber feet, thanks to which it cannot move during operations. Additionally, with the equipment set, the manufacturer offers a bed extension 710 mm long. As for the weight of this equipment, it is 45 kg.
Do-it-yourself machine assembly
If buying a wood lathe for your home seems too simple, then you can try to make such a device yourself. To do this, you will need to use a drill drive with a power of no more than 150 W. For the frame, you can use a wooden base or light alloys. The main requirement for the design is that the headstocks must be at the same level and their centers coincide.
Depending on the selected body material, guides are selected. There are many options, from slats machined from wood to self-mounted aluminum rails.
Safety precautions when using lathes
If you purchased a lathe and installed it correctly, then there is no need to rush to use it right away. First you need to learn about the rules for operating this equipment. Operating safety requires compliance with all requirements and recommendations contained in the operating instructions for this equipment.
Before turning on the machine, it is necessary to check the serviceability of the devices that provide user protection. If during its inspection any defects in the equipment or protective devices with which it is equipped were identified, then in this case the malfunctions that have arisen should be eliminated. To do this, you must first disconnect the equipment from the electrical network, and then perform all the necessary manipulations. The workplace must be free of workpieces and objects that could interfere with the implementation of necessary activities.
Another important point in safety precautions is that the machine must be in a stable position. To do this, place it on a flat and hard surface . The wiring must be routed in such a way that it does not interfere with the work process. The room in which the lathe is used must have good lighting conditions. The equipment must be installed in such a way that there is sufficient space for its maintenance during operation.
Under no circumstances should the machine be left running unattended. If you need to leave the workshop, you should turn it off. When processing a workpiece, you should carefully inspect it before securing it in the machine and remove nails and foreign objects, if any, in it.
Turning operations on equipment should only be performed using well-sharpened cutting tools. Before processing the workpiece, you should make sure that it is securely fastened. Before turning on the lathe , you should make sure that the workpiece is clamped securely. If the workpiece is curved or large in size, then it must be processed on turning equipment at minimum speed.
