The lathe machine operations are classified into three main categories and are as follows.

Following are the Lathe machine operations done either by holding the workpiece between
centres or by a chuck:

1. Turning Operation is the most common lathe machining operation. During the turning
process, a cutting tool removes material from the outer diameter of a rotating
workpiece. The main objective of turning is to reduce the workpiece diameter to the
desired dimension.

• Straight Turning: The workpiece is held on the chuck, and it is made to rotate about the
axis, and the tool is fed parallel to the lathe axis. The straight turning produces a
cylindrical surface by removing excess metal from the workpiece.
• Rough Turning: It is the process of removal of excess material from the workpiece in
minimum time by applying high-rate feed and heavy depth of cut. in rough turning the
average depth of cut is 2mm to 4mm can be given and feed is from 0.3 to 1.5mm per
revolution of the work.

• Shoulder Turning: When a workpiece has different diameters and is to be turned, the
surface forming steps from one diameter to the other is called the shoulder, and
machining this part of the workpiece is called shoulder turning.

• Eccentric turning: When a cylindrical surface has two separate axes of rotation, with the
first axis, is offset to the other axis then such a workpiece is machined by the operation
called eccentric turning. Here three sets of centre holes are drilled. By holding the
workpiece at these three centres the machining operation for each surface can be
completed.

• Taper Turning: A ”taper” is the uniform increase or decrease in the diameter of the
workpiece and measured along with its length. Taper turning means producing a conical
shape by a gradual reduction in diameter from a cylindrical workpiece.
2. Facing Operation on the lathe uses a facing tool to cut a flat surface perpendicular to
the work piece's rotational axis. A facing tool is mounted into a tool holder that rests on
the carriage of the lathe. The tool will then feed perpendicularly across the part's
rotational axis as it spins in the jaws of the chuck.

3. Chamfering Operation is the operation of beveling the end of the workpiece. The form
tool used for taper turning may be used for this purpose. Chamfering is an essential
operation after thread cutting so that the nut may pass freely on the threaded
workpiece.

4. Knurling Operation is a process of impressing a diamond-shaped or straight-line pattern

into the surface of a workpiece by using specially shaped hardened metal wheels to
improve its appearance and to provide a better gripping surface.
5. Thread cutting Operation on the lathe is a process that produces a helical ridge of the
uniform section on the workpiece. This is performed by taking successive cuts with a
threading tool bit the same shape as the thread form required.

6. Lathe filing Operation is a technique used for shaping, finishing, and polishing cylindrical
objects such as table or chair legs. A lathe is a machine for shaping that spins a piece of
material around to allow consistent cutting around its circumference.
7. A Polishing operation is performed after filing to improve the surface quality of the
workpiece. Polishing with successively finer grades of emery cloth after filing results in a
very smooth, bright surface. The lathe is run at high speeds from 1500 to 1800m per
min, and oil is used on the emery cloth.

8. Grooving Operation is a type of specific turning option that cut grooves or forms a
narrow cavity of a certain depth on external, internal surfaces, cylinders, cones, or a
face of the part (face grooving or trepanning.

9. Spinning Operation is a type of metalworking process that involves the use of a rotating
machine — typically a CNC lathe — to deform metal over a pre-shaped mold. Unlike
other metal turning processes, however, it doesn't strip away or otherwise remove any
of the metal material.
 10. Spring winding operation is the process of making a coiled spring by passing a wire
around a mandrel which is revolved on a chuck or between centers. A small hole is
provided on the steel bar, which is supported by Tool Post and the wire is allowed to
pass through it.

11. Forming Operation is a process in which a convex, concave, or irregular surface is

formed on the workpiece with the help of a forming tool. Forming tool having the
required shape is used to perform forming operations.

Lathe machine operations that are performed by holding the work by a chuck or a faceplate or
an angle plate are:
1. Drilling Operation is the operation of producing a cylindrical hole in a workpiece. It is
done by a rotating tool, the rotating side of the cutter, known as a drilling drill. In this
operation, The workpiece is revolving in a chuck or a faceplate and the drill is held in the
tailstock drill holder or drill chuck.
2. Reaming Operation is a process of enlarging the previously drilled holes in the
workpiece. The purpose of reaming is for widening the opening of the hole, to produce
a circular hole with the right diameter, accurate size, and smooth sides.

3. A Boring Operation is a cutting operation that uses a single point cutting tool or a boring
head to produce conical or cylindrical surfaces by enlarging an existing opening in a
workpiece. For nontapered holes, the cutting tool moves parallel to the axis of rotation.

4. Counter boring is the operation of enlarging one end of an existing hole concentric with
the original hole with square bottom. It is done to accommodate the heads of bolts,
 studs, and pins. The cutting edges of the counter-bore (a tool used for counterboring)
may have straight or spiral teeth.

5. Taper Boring Operation is the principle of turning a tapered hole is similar to the
external taper turning operation and is completed by rotating the work on a chuck or a
faceplate. The feeding tool is at an angle to the axis of rotation of the workpiece.

6. Tapping Operation is a machining process for producing internal threads. A tap is a

cylindrical or conical thread-cutting tool having threads of a desired form on the
periphery. Combining rotary motion with axial motion, the tap cuts or forms the internal
thread.

7. Undercutting Operation is similar to a grooving operation when performed inside a

hole. It is the process of boring a groove or a large hole at a fixed distance from the end
of a hole. This is similar to the boring operation, except that a square nose parting is
used.
 8. Internal threads cutting are cut by serial taps or by nut taps. Serial taps: They consist of
two or three tools the distinguishing feature being the design of the cutting part. The
entering tap (1st pass) has a long chamfer and trapeziform cutting edges; it does
approximately 60 % of the cutting work. On the lathe, internal and
external threads are cut either with the help of a threading tool or with the help of a tap
and die respectively.

9. Parting-off Operation is the process whereby a part that has been made or is wanted
for another operation, on the end of a bar is cut off from the rest of the bar, which is,
usually, being held in the chuck.

The operation which is performed by using special attachments are:

1. Grinding Operation is the operation of removing the metal in the form of minute chips
by feeding the work against a rotating abrasive wheel known as the grinding wheel. It
is used to finish workpieces that must show high surface quality (e.g., low surface
roughness) and high accuracy of shape and dimension. The grinding process is truly a
chip-producing machining process. The rough surface of the abrasive wheel spreads into
small portions of the workpiece as required.

2. Milling operations is the operation of removing metal by feeding the work against a
rotating cutter having multiple cutting edges. It involves using multi-point rotary cutters
to remove material from a workpiece. There are two main types of milling operations:
face milling and peripheral milling. Face milling cuts flat surfaces into the workpiece and
flat-bottomed cavities. The feed can be either horizontal or vertical.