Lathes are used in woodturning, metalworking, metal spinning, Thermal spraying parts reclamation, and glass-working. Lathes can be used to shape pottery, the best-known design being the potter’s wheel.

Most suitably equipped metalworking lathes can also be used to produce most solids of revolution, plane surfaces and screw threads or helices. Ornamental lathes can produce three-dimensional solids of incredible complexity.

The material can be held in place by either one or two centers, at least one of which can be moved horizontally to accommodate varying material lengths. Other work-holding methods include clamping the work about the axis of rotation using a chuck or collet, or to a faceplate, using clamps or dogs.

However, because of advanced technology,the lathe has allowed man to become an important asset in developing and machining many precision components needed to operate and function in many areas of our industrial complex.

Examples of objects that can be produced on a lathe include candlestick holders, gun barrels, cue sticks, table legs, bowls, baseball bats, musical instruments (especially woodwind instruments), crankshafts, and camshafts.