How to Diagnose a Chatter When Machining a Part on a Lathe
- 1). Examine the wood or metal object and make sure is properly secured on the lathe spindle. Lathe models have different ways of securing the object, but usually use a chuck or collet near the spindle. Remove the object from the lathe and reinsert it making sure it is not off center on the spindle.
- 2). Examine the lathe to see whether a boring bar or boring rod is installed. This bar extends through the object you are cutting to create a hole in the center of the object. These bars frequently cause chatter because they do not support the object very well.
- 3). Examine the rotation speed of the spindle to see whether it is too fast. Different types of metal and wood will chatter at different speeds. Reduce the spindle speed by turning the knob counterclockwise one notch at a time until the chatter stops.
- 4). Increase the feed rate at which the object is pressed against the blade by turning the lathe on and then slowly turning the feedscrew wheel clockwise until it starts to chatter. When you hear chatter, turn the wheel clockwise one or two more turns until no noise is heard.
Source...