Learn/Lathe/Operations & tools
Turning operations and tools
At a glance
- Face and turn OD or ID profiles with rough, finish, chamfer, and profile-radius operations
- Cut OD, ID, and face grooves; part the work and choose which side remains
- Center drill, drill with full-retract or chip-break pecking, and ream on center
- Use shared turning inserts, holders, boring bars, groove/part tools, thread tools, drills, and reamers
Lathe operations run in the exact order shown beneath each setup in the browser. Every operation keeps its accepted source revision, resolved tool geometry, feeds, spindle settings, clearances, allowances, and generated path together.
External and internal turning
Use Face to establish the end of the part. OD Rough and ID Rough remove stock in bounded passes; OD Finish and ID Finish follow the prepared profile with the selected insert nose and control point. Chamfer and Profile Radius finish edge forms without asking you to redraw the part.
Grooves and parting
OD Groove, ID Groove, and Face Groove use the saved insert width and cutting edges to place narrow plunges or step across a wide groove. Enter the finished width, bottom diameter/radius or Z depth, peck, retract, allowances, and finish/spring passes.
Part consumes the real insert-width band and records both separated pieces. Choose the chuck-side or free-side piece as the one that continues downstream or transfers to the next setup.
Axial holemaking
Center Drill, Drill, and Ream work on the spindle centerline. Drill supports blind or through depth, drill-tip allowance, dwell, full-retract pecking, and chip-break pecking. Ream validates the prepared bore and uses its own feed and allowance.
Shared turning tool library
Lathe uses the same machine Tool Library system as Router and Mill. Turning entries add standard inserts and holders, boring bars, groove/part tools, OD/ID threading tools, axial drills, and reamers. Each operation receives its own resolved snapshot, so editing the library later marks the operation changed without altering an already prepared program.
The editor shows one compact tabbed dialog with the selected tool, geometry, passes, linking, speeds/feeds, and a live path preview. OK generates and saves atomically; Cancel removes the preview without changing the document.