The shaping process is done by removing the feathers, which is part of the metal, by means of different cutting pens, by rotating the workpiece around an axis with the cutting pen moving in a linear motion, often parallel or perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the workpiece.

The lathe is one of the most important machining machines because it is used in the production of cylindrical parts as well as in the production of rotating surfaces such as: nails, cylindrical columns, bushings, discs and conical parts.