A lathe operation in which a narrow parting tool feeds straight in until the part drops off the stock. The tool is thin and deep, so it must be exactly on center, square to the work and stuck out no further than needed, with steady feed and plenty of coolant. Parting is notorious for chatter, jams and broken blades, especially on light manual lathes.
When you're parting off, set the blade dead on center and feed it like you mean it, hesitate and it'll grab and snap.
Parting usually behaves better with steady, firm feed; creeping in timidly is what makes it chatter and dig in.
Also heard as
- parting
- cutoff
- cutting off
Related terms
Chatter
Self-sustaining vibration between tool and work that screams, leaves a wavy pattern and kills tools.
Insert
A small replaceable carbide or ceramic cutting tip clamped in a holder, indexed to a fresh edge when worn.
Bird's nest
A tangled wad of long, stringy chips wrapped around the tool, chuck or part on a lathe.
Single-point
To cut a thread on a lathe with a single-point tool over several passes, rather than with a die or tap.