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Subjects · Leaving Cert Engineering

Leaving Cert Engineering: Lathe & milling machines

How often Lathe & milling machines comes up on the Engineering papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 2 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

OL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Engineering course. These come from the 2016–2025 papers, so read them as a guide.

Lathe & milling machines, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Lathe & milling machines.

(a)How is a short, steep taper usually cut on a lathe?
  1. Tailstock offset from the centre line
  2. Topslide set over to the half-angle
  3. Cross slide fed at an angle
(b)Why use a four-jaw independent chuck on a lathe?
  1. To hold work between centres
  2. It self-centres faster than a three-jaw
  3. To hold irregular work or set it off-centre
(c)A Ø25 mm bar is turned at 1200 rev/min. Cutting speed, to 1 decimal place? (V = πDN/1000)
  1. 94.2 m/min
  2. 94 248 m/min
  3. 30 m/min
Show the answers

(a) Topslide set over to the half-angle

(b) To hold irregular work or set it off-centre

(c) 94.2 m/min

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Lathe & milling machines.

Higher Level

Asked on 2 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1(j)
2024Q8
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Not asked
2016Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Lathe & milling machines questions

Lathe & milling machines, 3 marks

How is a long, gentle taper turned between centres?

  1. By swivelling the topslide
  2. By using a four-jaw chuck
  3. By offsetting the tailstock
Show the answer

By offsetting the tailstock

Offsetting the tailstock sets the work at a slight angle to the bed, so normal saddle feed cuts a long taper. The topslide has too little travel for a long taper.

Lathe & milling machines, 2 marks

Why use a live (revolving) centre in the tailstock?

  1. It centres the chuck jaws on the work before each cut begins
  2. It turns with the work, so the centre does not overheat
  3. It drives the work round from the tailstock end
Show the answer

It turns with the work, so the centre does not overheat

A live centre has bearings, so it spins with the work at high speed. A dead centre rubs and needs grease, or it will heat up and wear.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q6
2024Q1(h), Q1(j), Q6
2023Q6
2022Q6
2021Q1(i), Q6
2019Q1(i), Q1(m), Q6
2018Q1(i), Q1(l), Q6
2017Q1(d), Q6
2016Q1(i), Q6

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Lathe & milling machines questions

Lathe & milling machines, 3 marks

A Ø50 mm bar turns at 400 rev/min. Cutting speed, to 1 decimal place? (V = πDN/1000)

  1. 20 m/min
  2. 62 832 m/min
  3. 62.8 m/min
Show the answer

62.8 m/min

V = π × 50 × 400 ÷ 1000 = 62.8 m/min. Dividing by 1000 changes millimetres into metres.

Lathe & milling machines, 2 marks

Main use of the tailstock on a centre lathe?

  1. Drives the chuck round at the set speed
  2. Holds a centre or drill chuck at the free end
  3. Holds the cutting tool at the right height for turning
Show the answer

Holds a centre or drill chuck at the free end

The tailstock slides along the bed. Its barrel takes a centre to support long work, or a drill chuck for centre drilling and drilling.

Lathe & milling machines, 2 marks

Why is a three-jaw chuck used for round bar?

  1. Its jaws move together, so it self-centres
  2. Each jaw is set separately for exact centring
  3. It grips the work by magnetism, so no key is needed
Show the answer

Its jaws move together, so it self-centres

Turning the chuck key moves all three jaws at once through a scroll, so round or hexagonal bar is centred quickly. A four-jaw chuck has independent jaws.

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