SQA National 5 Practical Metalworking: the Machine Work area - the centre lathe, machine drilling and off-hand grinding
A deep-dive SQA National 5 Practical Metalworking guide to the Machine Work area. Covers the centre lathe (its main parts and the operations of facing, parallel turning, parting, chamfering and knurling), machine drilling on a pillar drill, and using an off-hand grinder, all with safe machine practice.
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What the Machine Work area actually demands
Machine Work is the area that uses machine tools to shape metal more accurately and quickly than by hand. It centres on the centre lathe, and also covers machine drilling on the pillar drill and off-hand grinding. Above all it demands safe machine practice, because rotating machines are the biggest hazard in the workshop. The practical activity and its case study sample these skills. Each topic has its own dot-point page with worked questions; this guide ties them together.
The centre lathe
The centre lathe spins the work in a chuck while a cutting tool removes metal. Its main parts are the headstock, chuck, tailstock, carriage (saddle), cross-slide and tool post. The operations are facing (end flat and square, cross-slide feed), parallel turning (reduce the diameter, carriage feed), parting (cut the piece off), chamfering (bevel an edge) and knurling (roll on a grip). Light cuts at the correct speed with cutting fluid give a clean, accurate finish.
Machine drilling
A pillar (bench) drill holds a twist drill in a chuck and feeds it straight down into clamped work. Centre punch first, remove the chuck key, and choose the correct speed: a larger drill runs slower than a small one. Steel is drilled with cutting fluid, and swarf is cleared with a brush after the machine stops.
Off-hand grinding
An off-hand (bench) grinder spins an abrasive grinding wheel used to shape, deburr and sharpen. The wheel guard must be fitted and the tool rest set close to the wheel. The operator wears safety glasses, presses the work lightly against the wheel, and keeps it moving so it does not overheat.
Safe machine practice
Every machine shares the same rules: clamp the work, remove the chuck key, keep guards in place, tie back hair and remove loose clothing, wear safety glasses, and let the machine stop before clearing swarf. Gloves are not worn near rotating machines, because they can be caught and pull the hand in.
How the Machine Work area is examined
Through the practical activity and case study, the Machine Work area is sampled by:
- Naming parts and operations. Knowing the lathe parts and which slide feeds the tool for facing and turning.
- Describing safe set-up. Clamping, chuck key, speed and cutting fluid for drilling.
- Reasoning about safety. Explaining why a control (clamping, slower speed, guard) removes a hazard.
Check your knowledge
A mix of recall and reasoning questions covering the Machine Work area. Attempt them, then check against the solutions.
- Name the part of the lathe that grips and spins the workpiece. (1 mark)
- State which lathe operation cuts the end of a bar flat and square. (1 mark)
- Name the slide that feeds the tool along the work for parallel turning. (1 mark)
- State why a larger drill is run at a slower speed than a small one. (1 mark)
- Name two jobs an off-hand grinder is used for. (1 mark)