You fire up your lathe. Load your workpiece. Make the cut. And it looks like someone dragged a jackhammer across the surface. Welcome to chatter marks. The universal sign that your gibs are shot. Most machinists don't think about gibs until it's too late. They blame...
Tips
5 Tips to Manage Tool Overhang in Lathe Metalworking
Complex machined parts often require multiple steps for turning, boring, facing and finishing for final part production or assembly. Thankfully, lathes can handle many of the different cutting processes from start to finish.
The Servo Shift Design Flaw Nobody Talks About
LeBlond engineers made one catastrophic material choice in the 1960s. Nylon seemed perfect for servo shift components. They were dead wrong. Every machine owner has been paying for it ever since. That clicking sound coming from your Regal? It's nylon disintegrating at...
Keep Your K.O. Lee Tool & Cutter Grinder Running Like a Beast
Your K.O. Lee tool and cutter grinder is a precise monster of a machine. It's built to sharpen end mills, cut gears and handle demanding tooling work day after day. But like any workhorse, it needs the right parts to keep performing. When critical components...
Lathes Get Machining Done
Complex machined parts often require multiple steps for turning, boring, facing and finishing for final part production or assembly. Thankfully, lathes can handle many of the different cutting processes from start to finish.
7 Essential Lathe Maintenance Tips for Smooth, Accurate Machining
A well-maintained lathe doesn’t just run better—it lasts longer, performs more accurately, and reduces downtime. Whether you’re operating a manual machine or a CNC lathe, implementing a structured maintenance routine is critical.
Lathe for Beginners
The manufacturing world is facing a crisis. As veteran manual machinists retire, companies are struggling to replace them. Schools eliminated manual machining from curricula for years, and now companies are paying the price. But there's a resurgence...
Your Vintage K.O. Lee Surface Grinder Just Lit $50k on Fire
That's what happens when you ignore surface grinder maintenance until it's too late. You have to buy new equipment in the neighborhood of five figures. I dunno — maybe you should just burn stacks of money instead. LeBlond Service Manager Christopher Smith has seen it...
Tips for a Smooth Industrial Lathe Installation
So, you’ve taken the first steps in preparing for a lathe installation—you’ve identified the equipment weight, contacted a rigging company, and confirmed that disassembly and fluid drainage are (mostly) optional. Great! But the process doesn’t stop there. A successful...


















