Answer :
Final answer:
The size of a lathe is determined by the swing over the bed and the length of the bed. The swing is the diameter of the largest workpiece that can be turned, and the bed length sets the maximum workpiece length that can be accommodated.
Explanation:
The size of the lathe is determined by the swing over the bed and the length of the bed. The swing over the bed, which is the diameter of the largest workpiece that can be rotated on the lathe without hitting the bed, is a critical measurement when specifying a lathe. This dimension is typically given in inches or millimeters. The length of the bed defines the maximum length of the workpiece that can be accommodated between the lathe's headstock and tailstock.
Lathes are essential tools in machine shops for shaping and cutting materials, and selecting the appropriate size is important for the tasks at hand. For larger projects, a lathe with a larger swing and longer bed is necessary, whereas smaller lathes are sufficient for more precise or smaller-scale work.
