Design of a Lathe for International Markets

Abstract

The need to export, and the high-quantity production capabilities of a new precision assembly line, stimulated the development of a new line of center lathes for world markets. A survey of international requirements established basic performance capabilities and features. The industrial designer, in conjunction with the manufacturer's engineering organization, developed an appearance design concept that was adaptable to machines of varying sizes and proportions, that was compatible with the unique manufacturing facilities, and that conveyed a strong, recognizable company style. The human factors specialist collaborated with the industrial designer in the design of the operator's workplace, controls and displays, and through a systematic analysis of operator tasks, devised a new, more effective display for translating maching instructions specified on an engineering drawing into control settings on the lathe. Results of the industrial design and ergonomic analyses are illustrated and discussed.