Metal lathes spin a workpiece so it can be crafted by tools into a finished product. Here are some key terms those interested in lathes need to know.


  • 3-in-1 machine. Another name for a combination lathe.
  • Apron. The apron is a part of the lathe carriage and is clamped to the saddle. It holds the components that propel the cross slide, such as gears and levers.
  • Bed. The bed is the long, sturdy, horizontal base section of a lathe to which all other parts attach. The bed allows the carriage and tailstock to move parallel with the axis of the spindle. Knowing the distance from the main spindle to the bed is a determining factor on what the maximum diameter of a workpiece can be.
  • Bedways. Also known as just “ways,” the bedways are the precision machined linear tracks on which the carriage and the tailstock travel.
  • Bench lathe. A bench lathe is a name for a fully functioning engine lathe that is small enough to be mounted on a bench.
  • Boring. Boring is a lathe function that enlarges an existing hole in a workpiece or creates a completely different shape.
  • Brake lathe. A brake lathe is a specialized lathe used in automotive shops to resurface brake discs and drums.
  • Capstan lathe. Similar in style to a turret lathe, a capstan lathe is a lightweight lathe that features a hexagonal turret tool head in place of the tailstock.
  • Carriage. The carriage of a lathe holds the tool bit and guides it into position to cut or otherwise manipulate the workpiece. It moves between the headstock and the tailstock and includes several components, such as the apron, the compound rest, the saddle, and the toolpost.
  • Center. A center, or lathe center, is a tool that has a sharp point on one end to position a workpiece accurately on the axis of the lathe’s main spindle.
  • Center lathe. Another name for an engine lathe.
  • Centering lathe. A centering lathe is a dual head machine that drills a hole in the center of each end of a workpiece to be used in later operations.
  • Chamfering. Chamfering or chamfer turning is a lathe function that creates a diagonal transition between two surfaces with different diameters. It is like step turning, but with an angle instead of a square 90° transition between the surfaces.
  • Chip pan. Chip pans collect chips and waste fluids from a lathe for disposal.
  • Chuck. Chucks are attachments for the main spindle that hold the workpiece in position.
  • Chuckers. Chuckers, automatic chuckers, and automatic chucking machines are names for large capacity multi-spindle lathes.
  • CNC lathe. A CNC lathe, often called a CNC turning center, uses a computer numerical control to program toolpaths for highly accurate and repeatable operations.
  • Combination lathe. Sometimes called a 3-in-1 machine, a combination lathe combines a lathe with a mill and/or a drill press in a single machine tool and is designed for hobbyists.
  • Compound rest. The compound rest, also called the top slide, is the uppermost part of the lathe carriage and is usually where the tool post is mounted. It is attached to the cross-slide and provides a limited amount of movement for precise angle positioning of the tool.
  • Contour turning. Contouring or contour turning is a lathe function that creates curving contours of a predefined geometry in a spinning workpiece, usually over multiple passes.
  • Cross-slide. The cross-slide is part of a lathe carriage at the top of the lathe and allows the tool bit to move back and forth towards the workpiece.
  • Cutting. Cutting is a lathe function, involving positioning a tool bit against a rotating cylindrical workpiece to remove a significant amount of material.
  • Deformation. Deformation is a lathe function where the shapes of workpieces are changed by the removal of material.
  • Drilling. Drilling is a lathe function usually performed by mounting a drill bit in a drill chuck attachment in the tailstock of a lathe, allowing the workpiece rather than the drill bit to spin for the operation.
  • Engine lathe. An engine lathe is the standard lathe used from the late 19th century through the 20th and into the 21st. The term “engine” as used here simply means that it is a mechanical device, not an indication of a power source. It is distinguished from the lathes that came before with their hand-held tools by its use of a mounted cutting tool with an automatic feed.
  • Faceplate. A faceplate is a circular metal plate that can be attached to the main spindle to hold a workpiece in place.
  • Facing. Facing is a lathe function that removes material from the end or shoulder of a workpiece, usually to slightly shorten the workpiece to its final part length.
  • Feed. The term feed refers to the movement of a cutting tool into a workpiece.
  • Feed rod. The feed rod runs parallel to the leadscrew down the length of the lathe and transmits power from the headstock to provide movement to the carriage and the cross-slide for turning operations.
  • Follower rest. A follower rest is like a steady rest but is mounted to the carriage instead of the bed, allowing it to literally “follow” the tool bit. It provides support to the section of the workpiece where the tool bit is working to keep it centered with the axis of the spindle.
  • Forming. Forming is a lathe function that produces irregular profiles on a workpiece, such as convex and concave shapes.
  • Gang-tool lathe. A gang-tool lathe has a row of tools set up on its cross-slide that can be switched for one another during an operation to perform different functions.
  • Grinding. Grinding is a lathe function used as a finishing operation. It is often accomplished with the use of a cylindrical grinding attachment mounted to the lathe.
  • Grooving. Grooving is a lathe function involving forming a narrow cavity or groove of a certain depth in a workpiece.
  • Handwheel. Handwheels on a lathe are used to manually position or feed components, such as the carriage in the Z-axis or the compound rest in the X-axis.
  • Headstock. The headstock of a lathe is the powered end of the machine that houses the main spindle and the controls and gears for changing speed.
  • Knurling. Knurling is a lathe function that creates a pattern texture (such as a diamond pattern) into the surface of a workpiece using a roller with many raised spikes. Such textures are useful in creating a handle-type area directly into the workpiece.
  • Leadscrew. The leadscrew runs parallel to the feed rod down the length of the lathe and transmits power from the headstock to the carriage for accurate thread cutting operations.
  • Main spindle. The main spindle of a lathe is the revolving shaft that holds and drives the workpiece or the cutting tool.
  • Metal lathe. A metal lathe is simply a lathe that is intended for metalworking as opposed to woodworking. Metal lathes, however, can also be used successfully with many plastics and other composite.
  • Micro lathe. Another name for a mini lathe.
  • Mini lathe. A mini lathe is a small and affordable lathe designed for home workshops and small maintenance shops.
  • Multi-spindle lathe. A multi-spindle lathe is one that, as its name implies, has multiple spindles that are controlled automatically through cams or CNC. It is used for high-volume production.
  • Oil country lathe. An oil country lathe is a large, specialized lathe for machining long workpieces such as segments of drill strings that are used in oil field work. Oil country lathes have large-bore hollow spindles to allow large parts to fit easily through them.
  • Parting. Parting is a lathe function that cuts off a section or part from the end of the overall workpiece.
  • Pit lathe. A pit lathe is a lathe built for short, large diameter work, intended to sit in a pit in a shop floor so that the toolrest will be waist high to the operator.
  • Power screw. Another term for leadscrew.
  • Reaming. Reaming is a lathe function that expands an existing hole.
  • Saddle. A saddle is part of a lathe carriage and is located at the top of a lathe. It supports cross-slide movements.
  • Sanding. Sanding is a finishing lathe function that involves using a tool bit equipped with an abrasive material such as sandpaper and positioning it against the rotating workpiece to create a smooth and uniform surface. Lathes can also be used for polishing.
  • Screw machine. A screw machine is a small capacity multi-spindle lathe.
  • Spindle. The main spindle of a lathe is often referred to as just the spindle.
  • Steady rest. A steady rest is a bracing tool that will often be used with long workpieces to support them in the middle, halfway between the main spindle and the tailstock. It helps keep the workpiece centered with the axis of the spindle despite the pressure from the cutting tools pushing against it.
  • Step turning. Step turning is a lathe function that creates two surfaces with an abrupt change in diameters between them that resembles a step.
  • Swiss-style lathe. A Swiss-style lathe is a very precise lathe used for extreme accuracy.
  • Tailstock. The tailstock of a lathe is at the opposite end of the bed from the headstock and can be used to support the workpiece or perform different functions. Its spindle does not rotate and includes a taper to hold various pieces of tooling. The tailstock can be repositioned along the bed and clamped in place to accommodate the workpiece.
  • Tapering. Tapering or taper turning is a lathe function that produces a diagonal transition between two surfaces with different diameters, such as creating a cone.
  • Tapping. Tapping is a lathe function that cuts threads into an existing hole, such as creating a thread on a nut.
  • Threading. Threading is a lathe function where a tool moves along the side of the spinning workpiece to cut a uniform helical groove or thread of a specific length and pitch in the part.
  • Toolpost. The toolpost is part of a lathe carriage and holds the tool bit in place.
  • Toolroom lathe. A toolroom lathe is a high-quality lathe that has been optimized for heavy-duty work, such as in a toolroom. It is like an engine lathe, but is larger, more accurate, and runs smoother.
  • Top slide. Another name for a compound rest.
  • Translation screw. Another name for a leadscrew.
  • Turning. Turning is perhaps the most common lathe function, the removal of material from the outer diameter of a rotating workpiece by holding a cutting tool against it.
  • Turret lathe. A turret lathe is equipped with a turret—an indexable tool holder—that can exchange different tools throughout a single operation to quickly perform different functions on the same part.
  • Vertical lathe. A vertical lathe is essentially a turntable on which a very large workpiece can be positioned for turning when a typical horizontal lathe would not be able to support it.
  • Ways. Another name for bedways.
  • Wheel lathe. A wheel lathe is used to manufacture and resurface the wheels used by trains.