What type of machine tool is primarily used for turning cylindrical forms?

A lathe is specifically designed for the purpose of turning cylindrical forms. The fundamental operation of a lathe involves rotating the workpiece around its axis while a cutting tool is applied to remove material, shaping the object into a cylindrical or conical form. This makes the lathe an essential machine tool in machining processes where precise shaping of materials, such as metal or wood, is required.

In contrast, other machine tools serve different purposes. A drilling machine is primarily aimed at creating holes in a workpiece and lacks the capability of shaping cylindrical forms. A milling machine is used for removing material from a workpiece to create flat or contoured surfaces, not specifically for producing cylindrical shapes. Lastly, a grinding machine focuses on surface finishing through abrasive processes, which also does not pertain to shaping cylindrical forms directly. Therefore, the lathe stands out as the most appropriate and specialized machine for turning cylindrical forms.