Ingenuity is the name of the game with manual machine tools. You often have to get creative to use the tools you have to create the part you want. That’s exactly what happened when [John] needed to ...

This article was originally published with the title “A Talk About Bits, Cutting Keyways on a Lathe, and more” inScientific American Magazine Vol. 104 No. 7(February 1911), p.

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...

The basic engine lathe, one of the most widely used machine tools, is very versatile when used by a skilled machinist. However, it is not particularly efficient when many identical parts must be ...