All intentional. Or this would be in accident category.

Future unemployed

anyone know what was done wrong here or was it a fault in the machine? Either was looked a little expensive. I bet Rod will need to change his name now.

Rod should be fired.

#3 This is a long rod. Gravity is slightly bending it, making it slightly out of balance (with respect to its axis of rotation).
This slight weight variation is amplified because the rod is rotating fast, which bends it more, which makes it more out of balance, which bends it even more...
You usually prevent this by providing support to the rod using rolling elements (to keep it perfectly aligned with its axis).

#3 I'm an amateur machinist.
The guy had a work rest out by the end of the rod, but it appears he forgot to use it.
Even if he did use it, it would be really marginal, as it could still get nudged aside by the spinning/vibrating rod. Lathes can use 'follower rests' and 'steady rests' right on the lathe bed.
I forget what you call the freestanding ones, other than a 'work rest'. The spinning metal rod is the 'work' piece. He should be using a rest that has 3 wheels which completely surround the work.
Bottom line: that is a VERY long unsupported/surrounded work piece. Needs to be cut in half, at half that length it would probably be ok.
Every machinist will have an occasional accident. If you screw up a lot, they might let you go, but if you're no worse than the rest of the guys you just had a bad day and maybe you'll get some ribbing. About your rod. Concerning machine shop accidents, I have quite a few horror stories and quite a few close calls.... don't get me started!

#3 he got too complacent and didn't double check his set-up. He should have used a support for this length and it appears the rpm is pretty high as well. I would have started slowly and ramped up if everything looked OK.

I know nothing about machine work, but to my mind unless that tripod rest thingy was attached to the floor I can't see how it would have stopped this accident, if anything it would probably have been propelled around the room causing more damage. They should have gotten a couple of Rods mates like Big Billy and Fat Fred to hold it steady. #6 Lets here some of your horror stories Dennis can't be any worse than some of Austins ramblings.