Lathes are meant for use in woodworking, metalworking, metal spinning, shaping pottery, glassworking, bat making, table or desk leg making, and other activities. They are an age-old tool that was even used by the Egyptians. All employers, supervisors, and general contractors should train their employees on how to use the lathe safely and keep them well maintained. Get in touch with our lathe injury lawyers in Orange County for more information about your case.
Lathe Definition & Types
Today’s lathes can be led by computerized numerical control (CNC) or manually controlled. In the case of wood lathes, carpenters use clamps or dogs to attach the wood to the rotating center. Some types of lathes include metal lathes, stationary lathes, metalworking lathes, cue lathes, glassworking lathes, screw machines, Rose engine lathes, vertical boring machines, oil field lathes, combination lathes, metal spinning lathes, ornamental turning lathes, reducing lathes, rotary lathes, watchmaker’s lathes, and benchtop lathes. They can do many operations including sanding, cutting, knurling, drilling, and deformation. Other objects that can be made with a lathe that were not mentioned in the first paragraph include cue sticks, candlesticks, crankshafts, camshafts, bowls, and tops.
The basic parts of a lathe including the headstock, tailstock, spindle, bed, lock knob, tool rest, dead center, live center, faceplate, mandrel, jaw chuck, collet, spur drive, leadscrew, cutting tools, banjo, lathe carrier, cutting fluid, cutting frames, eccentric chuck, elliptical chuck, lathe dog, and cup center. Working with the piece fixed to both the headstock and the tailstock equals working between centers. Working with the piece only fixed to one end, like in the case of a bowl, equals doing face work. By adding different rotations, one can create eccentric turning and multi-axis turning.
Common Lathe Injuries
Many injuries that happen around a lathe are from the piece being worked on being flung into the air at fast speeds or the tools being used on the tool rest catching and being caught on the piece. Some other potential injuries from lathe or woodturning accidents include lacerations, lung injuries, eye injuries, scrapes, deep cuts that need stitches, inhaling too much saw dust, muscle strains, amputations, and much more. Remember to call for medical help if you are injured as the vast majority of injuries are better off the sooner they get treated.
Contact Our Orange County California Lathe Injury Lawyers Today
The Orange County personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo have helped people who have had lathe accidents since the late 1970s. To get an idea of what your legal options are and to discuss the merits of your case, just call us at (714) 783-2205 to set up a free initial consultation and case evaluation. We will always go for the maximum compensation that you legally deserve and we will not charge you until and unless you win your case.
This is true for workers’ compensation, third-party injury cases, product defect cases, or personal injury cases. No matter what your employer tells you, you have rights after any work accident or job injury that can potentially protect you. We are also willing to come to you if you cannot come to our office for any reason.
