Why buy a used metal lathe? Is it a profitable long-term investment? This type of machine tool delivers strong performance in machining, and if you buy it second-hand you can gain a great deal for your workshop or factory.
Benefits of a used metal lathe
New metal lathes are generally fairly inexpensive machine tools, as there are other, more complex and advanced types of lathe. Metalworking lathes are very simple machines used for specific jobs and in small workshops where they are used occasionally or for the dedicated production of certain parts. This is why the metal lathe, also known as the centre lathe, is known for being quite affordable.
Is a used metal lathe worth the investment? If you are thinking of buying this machine for your workshop, a second-hand lathe can prove highly cost-effective. The investment is not as large as buying new equipment, and the performance in terms of work is the same. You can find used metal lathes at very affordable prices that vary depending on the age of the machine.
Second-hand lathes, like all machine tools, depreciate. A new machine loses value over time, whereas used machinery has already depreciated when you buy it. This depreciation is purely financial and does not affect the machine's performance or the work it can do.
Quality checks
Before it is sold, a used metal lathe must pass a series of rigorous quality checks. Every machine is tested and verified to be fully functional. If it is not, faults are repaired and any defective parts are replaced. Replacing parts with new or better ones can even increase the value of the machine.
Technical support
When you buy a second-hand lathe from a leading company in the sector, you are not only getting affordable, functional equipment; you also gain access to service support. Used metal lathes, like all machine tools, need preventive maintenance at regular intervals to avoid breakdowns and accidents. When you buy a second-hand lathe, you can also take out a service contract for the machine's maintenance; the technicians can show you how to use it or install it if necessary.
What is a metal lathe?
The lathe was the first machine tool ever invented, believed to date back thousands of years. The metal lathe as we know it today was developed from those early models. Metal lathes work on a basic operating principle: they shape parts with a geometry of revolution.
On a lathe, the workpiece is held in a chuck and rotates at high speed about its own axis. As it rotates, the cutting tool approaches with a controlled feed movement. The cutting tool removes the excess material from the surface of the workpiece in the form of small metal chips. But these machines do more than remove chips: they can also perform operations such as threading, drilling, cylindrical turning, roughing, grooving, sanding and polishing. Each of these jobs requires the right cutting tools.
Metal lathes, or centre lathes, can work different types of geometric parts in a variety of materials. A lathe machines steel, cast iron, copper, bronze and brass.
Parts of the lathe
A metal lathe consists of the following basic parts:
- Bed. This is the machine's structure, supporting all the other parts and components. It is usually made of cast iron.
- Main spindle and chuck. This is where the workpiece is held. At the opposite end is the tailstock, used to machine certain types of parts, such as bars.
- Tool carriage. Moves the cutting tool.
- Longitudinal carriage. Provides the longitudinal feed movement.
- Cross slide. Used to set the depth of cut.
- Toolpost or compound slide. Not fitted on every machine, but it has a base that swivels through 360 degrees. The cutting tools are clamped on it.
- Norton gearbox. This device is very important, as it is used to set the machine's speeds. This is done with a series of levers or handwheels that move the gears inside the box.