Doug Miller wrote:

Again -- the velocity of a falling object is completely independent of its
mass.

Not at all - the velocity of _freely_ falling objects is independent of
mass, but lathe turnings aren't usually freely falling -- they're
spinning objects in passing contact with some fixed point that can
impart a force to them. If they're balanced and they fall free from the
chuck then it's no problem - if they catch on the way down, it can get
hairy.

(PS Toller - if you're going to post trivial equations, at least get a
schoolkid to check them first)