OPERATION
NORMAL OPERATION
Before starting a turning, always plan your work ahead of time. Create a drawing or plan with all of the dimensions
you desire for the workpiece. Make sure to have all the measuring tools you will need to double and triple check
your cuts. Ensure that the feed rate, depth of cut (DOC), and spindle speed (RPM; depends on material, cutting tool
material and profile, DOC, desired surface finish, workpiece geometry, etc.) are all proper for your operation. To
avoid stalling the motor, we recommend that the DOC never exceed 0.5mm (0.0196 in), and should be kept below
0.25mm (about 0.01 in) whenever possible. Reduce spindle speed when taking a deeper cut.
Place the work into the chuck or attach to the faceplate. If necessary, use the tailstock center to support the opposite
end. If the tailstock is not needed, it can be removed completely by removing the stop screw and sliding the tailstock
off the bed.
After you have the work planned out, select the necessary cutting tools for the feature you wish to create and mount
them to the tool post. Make sure the tool tips are aligned with the center line of the workpiece, or slightly below
them.
Mark the end point for the cut on the work piece using a scriber. Line up the cutting tool with the end point and feed
in the cross slide until it just touches the surface of the workpiece. Then turn the spindle by hand to make sure there
is no interference between the carriage, cross slide, tool post, cutting tool, or chuck. It may be necessary to adjust
the compound slide or the workpiece in the chuck to get the proper amount of clearance.
When you have assured there is adequate clearance, back the cross slide away from the work piece and move the
carriage away from the head stock. Next zero out the cross-slide:
1. Feed the cross slide and the cutting tool to the starting position of the cut.
2. Back the cross slide 0.015” away from the work piece.
3. Slowly feed the cross slide back to the starting point.
4. Hold the handle to move the cross slide in place with one hand, and turn the dial of the gauge to make the 0 and
the 0.000 marks line up. The cross slide and cutting tool are now zeroed out.
5. If you have to back feed the cross slide at all, repeat steps 1 through 4.
NOTE: Before each pass of the cutting tool, it is recommended to add cutting oil to the work piece to reduce heat
and friction. Make sure to periodically add oil to the work piece as needed while turning.
MANUAL FEED
Double check the following before you begin turning:
1. The auto-feed lever is in the UP position, so the carriage half nuts are disengaged from the lead screw.
2. The Auto Feed Direction Lever is in NEUTRAL.
3. You are in the appropriate speed selection of HIGH/LOW for the material you are turning.
To know the proper RPM will take some experience. Harder metals should use a slower RPM while softer can use
a little faster RPM. If you are unsure, it is better to go slower than risk damage to the work, the cutting tool or the
lathe by using too high of an RPM. Feed rate and DOC are also very important. A deeper DOC needs a slower feed
rate and slower RPM, and vice versa.
Once you are ready to begin, switch the machine ON and set the RPM to your desired level. Slowly feed the cutting
tool into the work piece using the carriage handle. Slowly feed the cutting tool across the work piece until you reach
the marked end point. Retract the cross slide and cutting tool at this point one or two full revolutions. Return the
carriage to the starting point, and then feed the tool back in the same number of revolutions plus a small additional
feed rate in. Repeat this process until you have the desired amount of material cut away.
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