Lathe
Turning troubleshooter
Pick what you see. Each page gives the likely causes and what to change, which way, with the fixes two makers agree on first. Change one thing at a time.
Chips
Finish
- Rough, torn or hairy finishThe finish misses the print: torn, smeared or scratched, or a feed pattern too coarse to pass.
- Built-up edgeWorkpiece material welds onto the edge, then tears off, taking coating with it. Common in soft steel, stainless and aluminum.
- BurrsA ragged lip where the tool enters or leaves the cut, or along the depth-of-cut line.
Vibration
Insert wear
- Inserts wear out fastEven wear land on the flank grows quickly; size drifts and finish fades well before the expected life.
- Edge chipping or breakingSmall chips missing along the edge, or a corner breaking off, often well before it is worn.
- Notch wear at the depth-of-cut lineA notch worn into the edge right where the part’s outer skin meets it. Typical in stainless, Inconel and other work-hardening alloys.
- Edge deforms or overheatsThe edge sags, bulges or glows: the corner looks pushed down or out. Size and finish go off fast.