A vertical lathe is a lathe where the axis of rotation is oriented vertically, unlike most conventional lathes which are oriented horizontally. Many of them are frontal lathes, meaning they do not have the option of mounting a tailstock, but vertical lathes can also be implemented as parallel lathes.
Vertical lathes can provide better surface finishes since gravity helps to load the workpiece and tool, and typically takes up less space in a workshop than a horizontal lathe. They can also be suitable for workpieces that are fragile, as gravity helps with holding the workpiece in place.
The fact that the headstock rotates in the horizontal plane makes vertical lathes particularly well suited for large and heavy workpieces, as it makes clamping easier and safer. In the industry, vertical lathes can vary considerably in size, with swing diameters from under 1 meter to over 20 meters.
