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speed lathe
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speed lathe

machine tool
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Quick Summary

A speed lathe is a type of machine tool used for turning operations. In this process, unwanted material is removed from a workpiece as it rotates against a cutting tool. Speed lathes are characterized by their simple design, where the cutting tool is held on a tool rest and manipulated by hand. This contrasts with more complex lathes like engine lathes, where the tool is power-driven along precise paths. The lathe is a foundational machine tool, with wood lathes existing as early as 1569 and adaptations for metal cutting emerging during the Industrial Revolution.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. lathe
  2. machine tool - Turret lathes

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