Lathes are one of the most important metalworking tools, and for this reason, metalworkers tend to be very picky about the lathe they choose. Big bore lathes are some of the most impressive examples of lathes available.
In the past, big bore lathes, also called ‘giant lathes’, were powered by steam engines and weighed hundreds of tons. Today, modern technology has brought a more accessible version of this lathe to the market.
A big lathe or big bore lathe is any lathe of which the bed of the machine extends at least two meters from front to back of the machine tool.
Big bore lathes generally require slightly less skill to use than conventional lathes, thanks to the fixed center which holds the rotating stock for you, meaning you do not need to carefully control its movement as you would a conventional machine. Big Bore lathes are heavy-duty metalworking machines with a similar design to smaller lathes but are larger in size in order to house larger pieces of metal which would be impossible to work with on smaller lathes.
Big bore lathes are a popular option for mass production. They can machine large parts of metal into smaller components which can then be used on smaller machines.
Summit Machine Tools currently offers a range of big-bore lathes for a variety of uses. The newly redesigned 42″Series Oil Country Lathes have the power to machine heavy-duty jobs with precision. This lathe is ideal for turning heavy-duty workpieces in the oil field industry. Our Oil Country Lathe series is available in center distances from 80″ to 360″, to cover a wide range of workpieces, each machine has a spindle bore diameter ranging from 6.1″ to 14.1″. The large swing can be applied to big steel rollers or large diameter flanges.
Our big swing gear headed and variable speed metal lathes set the new standard for large machining tools. They have a clutched headstock for more precise control and longer-lasting reliability. These lathes are available in stepped speed and variable speed models in center distances from 60″ to 240″. Summit Big Swing precision lathes have a 35″ to 52″ swing over the bed and a 19.3″ to 37″ swing over the cross slide. Our range is crafted from cast iron with forged chrome alloy spindle with a big 6″ thru-hole for maximum workpiece flexibility.
Our Summit Big Swing Series is built with rugged reliability, ideal for the demand of today’s demanding applications. The range has recently been redesigned and is available in sizes of 70″, 80″ and 100″. The big swing lathes are available in center distances from 80″ to 600″ with an 8″ spindle bore to cover a wide range of workpieces and feature castings that are heavily ribbed for rigidity and vibration dampening.
Our entire Big Lathe range is ideal for those looking to machine large pieces of material in demanding work conditions. Summit Lathes are built to last and are known for consistent performance and durability even under the most challenging environments.
