Training for Lathes

Learn how to properly uses industrial lathes
By Terri Deno Lathes are a common tool in furniture making, but lathes can also be used in a variety of other industries. Training for lathes is vital when preparing employees to properly use the machine, and also for teaching them what safety precautions they must take every time they are near a lathe.
 

You can get this type of training in many different settings,  no matter what type of lathes you use. Whether they're wood lathes, metal lathes or mini lathes, you can find many training outlets, including:

1. Training courses that walk you through the steps of running a lathe.

2. Books that outline how to work with a lathe through text and pictures.

3. Online courses that are convenient and thorough.

Find wood and metal lathe training courses

The best way to learn how to work with a machine is through hands-on experience and live demonstrations. This is much more effective than just reading the instructions. While written instructions are often a great resource, watching an expert use the equipment and trying out the machine yourself is essential for learning how lathe tools really work.
Try: Lathe suppliers, like Ganesh Machinery, often offer free training on how to use their products. Haas Factory Outlet is another supplier that offers many courses in lathe and machine training.

Choose online training courses for lathes to save time

Online training courses cannot give you the same type of hands-on experience an in-person training course. However, there are many online courses out there that do a good job of simulating how a lathe runs, so you can try your hand at a virtual lathe before you move on to the real deal.
Try: Index Group offers an online training course that teaches the skills needed to run a Swiss-style lathe. This program uses a virtual lathe to teach all the basics. Smithy offers many training topics for metal lathes.

Use lathe training videos to supplement courses

If you can't get an expert lathe operator to perform a live demonstration, but still want a visual aid to show you the ins and outs of running a lathe, choose training videos. Most of these videos will outline safety procedures in addition to techniques for using the lathe.
Try: Centroid provides a list of videos for working with lathes. Coastal offers video training for lathes, the basics of the machine technology, and milling for those who are new to a factory environment.

• If you want the most in-depth training possible, choose training materials that focus on the specific kind of lathe you use, such as a metal or wood lathe. This will help you train employees to better know the machines they use, which translates into a better quality product.