Understanding the operation of the Lathe

[Saman Salike]

During the operation of a lathe, why does the work-piece revolve anticlockwise as seen from the tailstock?

 

[Nidum]

With a conventional design manually operated lathe having the headstock on the left that rotation puts the cutting slides and the point of cutting at the front where you can see see what is happening and operate the controls .

 

[Baluncore]

why does the work-piece revolve anticlockwise as seen from the tailstock?

Lathe chucks were often attached to the spindle with a RH threaded screw. That was tightened by tool force during normal cutting. If you suddenly put the lathe into reverse, the chuck could spin off the spindle.

That normal rotation also results in a downward force on the cutter. That will tend to press the cross and saddle slides down which reduces play and closes any gaps, so it holds the tool more rigidly during heavy cutting.