During lathe parting off, which component should be secured to maintain straight cuts?

During lathe parting off, which component should be secured to maintain straight cuts?

• A. Carriage
• B. Cross-slide
• C. Tailstock
• D. Chuck jaws

Answer: (A)

Parting off puts a lot of cutting force into the tool, so keeping the tool path rigid is essential for a straight cut. Locking the carriage to the lathe bed eliminates any sideways movement of the tool as it engages the work, giving a stable, straight path along the cut. The cross-slide controls how deep the blade bites, but if the carriage isn’t secured, the tool can deflect and the cut won’t stay straight. The tailstock mainly supports long work to reduce deflection, and the chuck jaws hold the workpiece; neither directly guarantees a straight tool travel during the cut. So securing the carriage provides the necessary rigidity for a true, straight parting-off cut.

Parting off puts a lot of cutting force into the tool, so keeping the tool path rigid is essential for a straight cut. Locking the carriage to the lathe bed eliminates any sideways movement of the tool as it engages the work, giving a stable, straight path along the cut. The cross-slide controls how deep the blade bites, but if the carriage isn’t secured, the tool can deflect and the cut won’t stay straight. The tailstock mainly supports long work to reduce deflection, and the chuck jaws hold the workpiece; neither directly guarantees a straight tool travel during the cut. So securing the carriage provides the necessary rigidity for a true, straight parting-off cut.