Lathe is a general-purpose machine used in the shaping of wood, metal, and other materials. This machine holds and rotates the object quickly about a horizontal axis, while pressing a fixed abrading or cutting tool on it to produce the desired shapes. Lathes, popularly known as engine lathes, generally feature a variable-speed, power-driven spindle on which a device is mounted for holding the object. The main components of the Lathe include the headstock, the tailstock, the cutting tool, and the power feed. Lathes have a long history dating back to the renaissance period, in France. These machines were adapted for cutting metal, and became widely used during the Industrial Revolution.

The Lathe is a versatile machine, and can be used for producing tapering or straight cylindrical forms, cutting out grooves, facing flat surfaces, etc. It can also perform the significant operations as countersinking, reaming, boring, threading, and drilling. The engine lathe using these above machining operations produces metal pieces for engines used in machines, vehicles, or boats. CNC and other advanced technologies are used in the operation of engine lathes.

Several manufacturers offer a wide variety of lathe machines and their parts online and in stores. These machines are manufactured in various shapes, sizes, and styles. The Midas 1220 is a lathe machine that provides high-quality, precise shaping of materials. The work area in this lathe is increased considerably due to the adjustability of the mill/drill-head height. This machine features a micro-feed handle and clutch for accurate milling operations. The offset tailstock provides better accuracy due to the shorter tapers. This versatile machine is suitable for a wide range of machining operations.