In simple terms, machine tools include lathes, milling machines, drilling machines, grinding machines, boring machines, planers, punching machines, and so on. Lathes are a part of machine tools. Machine tools is a general term, and lathes are a classification within it.

A lathe is a machine tool primarily used for turning rotating workpieces with a cutting tool. On a lathe, corresponding machining can also be performed using drills, reamers, reamers, taps, dies, and knurling tools. Lathes are mainly used for machining shafts, discs, sleeves, and other workpieces with rotating surfaces, and are a widely used type of machine tool in mechanical manufacturing and repair factories.

A machine tool (English name: machine tool) refers to a machine that manufactures other machines, also known as a work machine or tool machine, commonly referred to simply as a machine tool. It is generally divided into metal cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machine tools, woodworking machine tools, etc. In modern mechanical manufacturing, there are many methods for processing mechanical parts: besides cutting, there are also casting, forging, welding, stamping, extrusion, etc. However, for parts with high precision requirements and fine surface roughness requirements, they are generally processed by cutting on a machine tool. Machine tools play a significant role in the modernization of the national economy.