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When was in college back in the early 70's, the manufacturing engineering department had a special lathe set up to test all kind of cutting tools. They were doing research on ceramics. It had massive ways, and head and tail stocks. It was coupled directly to a massive electric motor, something like 50 HP at 3600 rpm. I am thinking surface speed was something insane, like 7500 FPM for the piece on this day.
When I saw a demonstration, mounted in the machine was a hunk of steel that had to be about 8" dia, and 4 feet long. It was driven and supported at the head stock by 4 hardened pins in matching holes drilled in the "chuck" and work piece. On the tail stock end was a large bearing, supporting that end and pressing it against the headstock.
I do not recall the exact feed rate and depth of cut. Perhaps 0.030 feed and 0.250 or more depth of cut. When it was turned on it took a couple of seconds to get up to speed, like it may have had a VFD drive system. When the guy, the professor had his assistant do it, engaged the feed lever, the motor changed tone just a bit when the cutter hit the work piece. The silver chips flew in a nice arc, turning purple at about the apex then landing in the chip tray. The whole 4 foot long cut was over in a manner of seconds. You could feel the heat radiating from the chip pile from way back, but the work piece was not even warm to touch. The surface was like a mirror. I was totally amazed.
I wish I had a video of the monster.
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