Lathe Design
Lathe Design
Lathe Design
LATHE PRACTICE
A NEW, COMPLETE AND PRACTICAL WORK ON
THE "KING OF MACHINE SHOP TOOLS," THE AMERICAN LATHE.
GIVING ITS ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT. ITS DESIGN. ITS VARI-
OUS TYPES AS MANUFACTURED BY DIFFERENT BUILDERS, INCLUD-
ING ENGINE LATHES, HEAVY LATHES, HIGH-SPEED LATHES,
SPECIAL LATHES, TURRET LATHES, ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN
LATHES, AND MANY OTHERS. LATHE ATTACHMENTS, LATHE
WORK, LATHE TOOLS, RAPID CHANGE GEAR MECHANISMS, SPEEDS
AND FEEDS, POWER FOR CUTTING TOOLS, LATHE TESTING, ETC.
BY
OSCAR E. PERRIGO, M.E.
Author of " Modern Machine Shop Construction, Equipment and Manage-
" "
ment," Change Gear Devices," The Milling Machine and its Work,"
"
Gear Cutting," " Pattern Making and Molding," etc.
NEW YORK
THE NORMAN W. HENLEY PUBLISHING CO.
132 NASSAU STREET
1907
COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY
THE NORMAN W. HENLEY PUBLISHING CO.
from early times to the present day; to briefly discuss its effects
design, construction, and use are pointed out and briefly com-
mented upon.
It is a matter of much
pride to every true American mechanic
that this country produces so many really good and meritorious
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CLASSIFICATION OF LATHES
PAGE
The essential elements of a lathe. The bed. The head-stock.
The tail-stock. The carriage. The apron. The turning and
supporting rests. The countershaft. Taper attachments.
Change gears. Classification
applied to materials, labor ac-
counts, and the handling of parts in the manufacture of lathes.
- The four The eighteen sub-divisions
general classes of lathes.
of these classes. The first class : hand lathes, polishing lathes,
pattern lathes, spinning lathes, and chucking lathes. The sec-
ond class: engine lathes without thread-cutting mechanism, Fox
brass lathes, forge lathes, and roughing lathes. The third class:
complete engine lathes with thread-cutting mechanism, precision
lathes, rapid reduction lathesand gap lathes. The fourth class :
CHAPTER IV
LATHE DESIGN: THE BED AND ITS SUPPORTS
The designer of lathes. The manufacturer's view of a lathe. The
proper medium. Causes of failure. The visionary designer.
Conscientious efforts to improve in design. Design of the lathe
bed. Elementary design. Professor Sweet's observations.
The parabolic form of lathe beds. The Author's design.
Form of the tracks. Bed of the old chain lathe. The English
method of stating lathe capacity. Method of increasing the
swing of the lathe. The Lodge & Shipley lathe bed. Uniform
thickness of metal in beds. Ideal form of bed. Cross-ties,
or bars. Four Vs. Flat surfaces. Lathe bed supports.
Height of lathe centers. Wooden legs for lathe beds. An
early form of braced, cast iron legs. Cabinets or cupboard
bases. Old style cast iron leg still in use. Form of cabinets.
Principles of the design of cabinets. Cabinets for small lathes.
The Lodge & Shipley cabinet. The Hendey-Norton cabinet . 69
CONTENTS
CHAPTER V
LATHE DESIGN: THE HEAD-STOCK CASTING, THE SPINDLE AND
THE SPINDLE CONE
PAGE
Design of head-stock for wooden bed lathes. Early design for use
on a cast iron bed. An old New Haven head-stock. The arch
form of the bottom plate. The
Providing for reversing gears.
Hendey-Norton The
head-stock. Schumacher & Boye head-
stock. The Le Blond head-stock. The New Haven head-
stock. The arch tie brace of the new Hendey-Norton design.
Generalities in describing a lathe spindle. Designing a spindle.
Governing conditions. The nose of the spindle. Spindle
collars. Proper proportions for lathe spindles. Large versus
long bearings. Design of the spindle cone . 93
CHAPTER VI
LATHE DESIGN: THE SPINDLE BEARINGS, THE BACK GEARS
AND THE TRIPLE GEAR MECHANISM
CHAPTER VII
LATHE DESIGN: THE TAIL-STOCK, THE CARRIAGE, THE
APRON, ETC.
PAGE
Functions of the tail-stock. Requisites in its construction. The
Pratt & Whitney The Reed tail-stock.
tail-stock. The Lodge
& Shipley tail-stock. The Blaisdell tail-stock. The Hendey-
Norton tail-stock. The New Haven tail-stock. The Prentice
tail-stock. The Schumacher & Boye tail-stock. The Davis
tail-stock. The American Watch Tool tail-stock. The Niles
tail-stock for heavy lathes. New Haven tail-stock for heavy
lathes. The Schumacher & Boye tail-stock for heavy lathes.
The Bridgford tail-stock for heavy lathes. The Le Blond tail-
stock. The lever tail-stock. The lathe carriage. Requisites
for a good design. Description of a proper form. A New
Haven carriage for a 24-inch lathe. The Hendey-Norton car-
riage. The Blaisdell carriage. The New Haven carriage for
a 60-inch lathe. Criticisms of a practical machinist on carriage
and compound rest construction. Turning tapers. The taper
attachment. Failures of taper attachments. The Reed taper
attachment. The Le Blond attachment taper. The Lodge &
Shipley taper attachment. The Hamilton taper attachment.
The Hendey-Norton taper attachment. The New Haven taper
attachment. The Bradford taper attachment 135
CHAPTER VIII
LATHE DESIGN: TURNING RESTS, SUPPORTING RESTS, SHAFT
STRAIGHTENERS, ETC.
PAGE
The Reeves' variable speed countershaft. Design of geared coun-
tershafts. Another form of variable speed countershafts . . 157
CHAPTER IX
LATHE ATTACHMENTS
CHAPTER X
RAPID CHANGE GEAR MECHANISMS
What a rapid change gear device is. The old pin wheel and lantern
pinion device. The first patent for a rapid change gear device.
The inventors' claims. Classification of rapid change gear
devices. The inventors of rapid change gear devices. Paulson's
" Le Blond's
originality. Change gear devices" by the Author.
quick change gear device. The Springfield rapid change gear
attachment. The Bradford rapid change gear device. Judd's
quick change gear device. Newton's quick change gear device.
Flather quick change gear device 194
CHAPTER XI
LATHE TOOLS, HIGH-SPEED STEEL, SPEEDS AND FEEDS, POWER
FOR CUTTING-TOOLS, ETC.
Lathe tools in general. A set of regular tools. Tool angles.
Materials and their characteristics. Their relation to the proper
form of tools. Behavior of metals when being machined.
The four requisites for a tool. The strength of the tool. The
form of the tool. Degree of angles. Roughing and finishing
tools. Spring tools. Tool-holders. Grinding tools for tool
holders. Dimensions of tools for tool-holders. The Armstrong
tool-holders. Economy of the use of tool-holders. High speed
steel. Apractical machinist's views on high-speed steel tools.
Conditions of its use. Preparing the tool. Testing the tool.
10 CONTEiNTS
PAGE
Speeds and feeds. Much difference of opinion. Grinding
the tools. Amount of work accomplished by high-speed steel
tools. Average speed for lathes of different swing. Speeds of
high-speed steel drills. Mr. Walter Brown's observations on
high-speed steel. Its brittleness. Its treatment. The secret
of its successful treatment. Method of hardening and tempering.
Method of packing. Making successful taps. Speeds for the use
of high-speed steel tools. Economy in the use of high-speed steel
tools. Old speeds for carbon
steel tools. Modern speeds.
Relative speeds and feeds. Modern feeds for different materials.
Lubrication of tools. The kind of lubricant. Applying the
lubricant. Lubricating oils. Soapy mixtures. Formula for
lubricating compound. Improper lubricants. Various methods
of applying lubricants. The gravity feed. Tank for lubricant.
Pump for lubricant. Power for driving machine tools.
Calculating the power of a driving belt. Impracticability of
constructing power tables. Collecting data relating to these sub-
"
jects. Flather's Dynamometers and the Transmission of
Power." Pressure on the tool. Method of calculating it.
CHAPTER XII
TESTING A LATHE
CHAPTER XIII
LATHE WORK
The use of hand
tools. Simple lathe work. Lathe centers. Care
in reaming center holes. Locating the center. Use of the
center square. Angle of centers. Lubrication of centers.
PAGE
The clamp dog. The die dog. The two-tailed dog. Lathe
drivers. Using dogs on finished work. Clamp dog for taper work.
Bolt dog. Methods of holding work that cannot be centered.
Center rest work. Chuck work. Use of face-plate jaws.
Lathe chucks. The Horton chuck. The Sweetland chuck. -
The Universal chuck. Face-plate jaws. A Horton four-jaw
chuck. A Horton two-jaw chuck. A Cushman two-jaw chuck.
Chucking cylindrical work. Inside chucking. Chucking
work supported in a center rest. Pipe centers. Mortimer
Parker's improved forms of pipe centers. Spider centers. Ball-
CHAPTER XIV
LATHE WORK CONTINUED
CHAPTER XV
ENGINE LATHES
PAGE
Definition of the word engine. What ismeant by an engine lathe.
The plan of this chapter. The Reed lathes. Reed 18-inch
engine lathe. The Pratt & Whitney lathes. Their 14-inch
engine lathe. Flather lathes. Flather 18-inch quick change
gear lathe. Prentice Brother's Company and their 16-inch engine
lathe. The Blaisdell 18-inch engine lathe. The New Haven
21-inch engine lathe. Two lathe patents by the Author. The
Hendey-Norton lathes. Who were the pioneers in quick change
gear devices? The Hendey-Norton 24-inch engine lathe. The
Lodge & Shipley 20-inch engine lathe 286
CHAPTER XVI
ENGINE LATHES CONTINUED
Schumacher & Boye's 20-inch instantaneous change-gear engine lathe.
Emmes change-gear device. 32-inch swing engine lathe.
Le Blond engine 24-inch swing lathe.
lathes. The Le Blond
lathe apron. Complete drawing of a front elevation. The
Bradford Machine Tool Company's 16-inch swing engine lathe.
The American Tool Works Company's 20-inch engine lathe.
The Springfield Machine Tool Company's 16-inch engine lathe.
- The Hamilton Machine Tool
Company's 18-inch engine lathe.
The W. P. Davis Machine Company's 18-inch engine lathe.
The Fosdick Machine Tool Company's 16-inch engine lathe . . 307
CHAPTER XVII
HEAVY LATHES
The Bradford Tool Company's 42-inch triple-geared engine lathes.
The American Tool Works Company's 42-inch triple-geared engine
lathe. The New Haven Manufacturing Company's 50-inch triple-
geared engine lathe. The Niles Tool Works 72-inch triple-geared
engine lathe. The Pond Machine Tool Company's 84-inch engine
lathe 327
CHAPTER XVIII
HIGH-SPEED LATHES
Prentice Brothers Company's new high-speed, geared head lathe. A
detailed description of its special features. R. K. Le Blond
roughing lathe. Lodge & Shipley's patent head lathe. The
CONTENTS 13
PAGE
prime requisites of a good lathe head. Description ot the lathe
in detail. The capacity of the lathe. A 24-inch special turning
lathe built F. E. Reed Company.
by the A two-part head-stock.
The special rest. Its two methods of operation. Its special
CHAPTER XIX
SPECIAL LATHES
CHAPTER XX
REGULAR TURRET LATHES
Importance of the turret lathe. Its sphere of usefulness. Classi-
fication of turret lathes. Special turret lathes. The monitor
lathes. The Jones & Lamson flat turret lathe.
Its general
CHAPTER XXI
SPECIAL TURRET LATHES
CHAPTER XXII
ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN LATHES
ing enterprises.
When the early settlers, the Puritans of New England, labored
under the restrictive and harassing laws of the mother-country,
and under their administration were goaded and exasperated
beyond endurance in many ways, not the least of which was being
duce, they little realized that they were thus laying the founda-
tions of the greatest manufacturing country in the world.
adapted to the uses for which they were made. The primitive
successes of these early efforts led to greater endeavors, and the
"
ingenuity displayed where necessity was the mother of inven-
tion" was naturally developed into a still broader usefulness when
the time came that necessities having been reasonably provided
for, luxuries were thought necessary in the higher plane of living
to which the people in due course had advanced.
And so it came about that the rude and crude beginnings in
which the early mechanic performed his work in his own house
outgrew these homely facilities and he built small shops, frequently
in the gardens or back yards of the dwellings. These gradually
enlarged; then came the necessity for still greater facilities, and
buildings were erected quite independent of the home surround-
ings and two or more men were associated as manufacturers, and
these became in due course of time the machine shops and the
factories, which have multiplied many hundreds of times, not only
in numbers and in value, but in influence and in importance, until
produced was "a small iron pot holding about a quart" shows
that the foundry was of very moderate capacity, and it is very
likely that the blast used in melting the iron was produced by a
hand bellows, as the blacksmith forge had preceded the foundry
here, as it did, probably, in all other countries. The quart pot was
cast from iron "made from native ore," although we do not know
where they obtained it; probably from some place in the vicinity
where it was found in small quantities. From this small begin-
ning there was very little progress made for a considerable time
in enlarging either the original scope of the work or in increasing
its facilities, so far as we have any record. In 1735, nearly one
hundred years later, we know that an iron foundry was built in the
little town of Carver, Mass., and that a second one was put up in
the same town in 1760, although we do not know the reason for
this second one coming into existence in the same town unless it
was that the first one had been destroyed by fire. However, it
was in this second foundry that the historic "Massachusetts Tea-
kettle" was cast. We do know that still another foundry was
built in this town in 1793 and that this was burned down in 1841.
Thus early did the custom begin, which is still in vogue in eastern
Massachusetts, of devoting the energy of a town to one line of
manufacture.
While these events and evidences of mechanical progress were
taking place, the active minds of ingenious workmen were busily
engaged in solving the practical problems of the growing demands
made upon the shops and embryo manufactories engaged in supply-
ing the wants of the people. New methods of manufacture, by
which the quality as well as the quantity turned out could be im-
proved, were demanded. This led to the demand for more machin-
ery, which in turn led to the demand for better machines for the
use of the mechanic, or for what we have come to know as machine
tools. In the meantime the main reliance had been upon the an-
cient foot lathe, and with it much of their mechanical work had
been accomplished. It had been improved in various ways, both
in its design and in the materials of which it was constructed, and
with the use of water-power for driving the machinery for manu-
facturing operations the lathe had become of greater usefulness
by being driven in the same manner. Yet from the first it main-
INTRODUCTION 19
tained its prominence as the first of the machine tools and the one
which made all of the others that came after it possible of con-
struction and useful in their several and respective spheres.
In the great scheme of manufacturing and the immense indus-
trialproblem of supplying the wants of the people in this respect
by modern manufacturing plants equipped with all that is latest
and best in machinery, it should be said that at the very basis and
foundation of the whole stand the modern machine tools; that
it is to the great and important development of these that we owe,
primarily, our industrial prosperity as a nation. And to them
may be easily traced the gradual upward tendency of the mechanic
from the hard physical toil and laborious work of early days to
the immeasurably lighter exertions made possible by the highly
developed condition of the automatic machines of the present day.
It has been, as was said in the outset, a victory of mind over matter,
wherein brains have won where the hands made little advance;
ideas developed wonderful mechanisms that have revolutionized
the earlier methods manufacturing, raised the standard of
of
mechanical excellence beyond what was thought possible years
ago, and at the same time reduced the cost to a fraction of its
former amount. But to attain these marvelous results many
machines have been required. All conceivable types and styles,
and for an almost endless variety of purposes, have been de-
signed, built, and perfected until hardly a possible mechanical
machinist, and the student who would know from whence our
modern machine tools were derived, that he may perhaps, in due
time, become one of those who shall aid in their further develop-
ment and perfection, as well as to the elder mechanic who uses
these machines, and the mechanical engineer who is busy with their
Tracing early history. The lathe was the first machine tool. The origin
of the lathe. An old definition of turning. The first record of turn-
ing operations. Another old-time definition of turning. English
classification of lathes.The earliest form of the lathe proper, or the
old "Tree Lathe." The Asiatic wood turner. The " Springpole "
"
lathe. The Fiddle-bow " lathe. The essential features of a lathe.
The balance-wheel applied to a lathe. The crank, connecting rod and
treadle applied to a lathe. Origin of the term "Pitman." Afoot
by the Author. Its detailed construction. A foot lathe
lathe built
with the balance-wheel located over-head. The friction clutch for
foot-power machines.
THE subject of the present work being thelathe and its work,
and more particularly its design, construction, and develop-
ment in our own country and in recent years, and as briefly com-
prised in our title of Modern American Lathe Practice, our
efforts will be directed, first, to a brief notice of its origin and early
been the machine tool. From it, in one way or another, all
first
other machine tools have been developed; as they are, practically
considered, but modifications of it, or special tools for doing quicker
and better, the several operations which may be, and formerly were,
performed upon the lathe, as we shall later on have occasion to
describe and illustrate.
At present we will look into the origin of the lathe and then
trace its gradual evolution and development up to comparatively
recent years, say an hundred years or so ago, as their development
into anything like mechanical importance has been confined to
the last century which has been so remarkable in this respect.
two pivots are the poles, and holding a chisel or other cutting-tool
so as to meet it during its revolution, taking care that the cutting-
tool be held firmly and steadily, and moved about to different parts
of the work the required shape is obtained."
till
grace, says the Wood Worker. Two trees are selected which stand
the proper distance apart near a springy sapling. With his ax
the turner cuts out his centers and drives them opposite each
other into the trees, which serve as standards. From one tree
to the other he places a stick of wood for a tool-rest. With his
ax he trims the branches from the sapling, fastens his hair rope
to the little tree, gives the rope a turn around one end of the
block of wood he desires to turn into shape, and fastens the free
" "
FIG. 2. The Spring-Pole Lathe.
was made by an older brother for the use of the author when he
was nine years old, and in the use of which he became quite a
boyish expert in turning wood and metals. The head-stock B,
and rest C, were formed of bent pieces of wrought iron, and the
"spur center" was formed upon the main spindle, the point being
used as a center for metal work.
Lathes driven in this manner are still in use by watchmakers
and jewelers and a great deal of very fine hand work is performed
with them.
The main features in all these lathes were, first, to suspend
the work to be done, or the piece to be operated upon, between
two fixed pivots or centers; second, to revolve it by means of a
cord wrapped around it, or some part of the machine fixed to it,
and kept tightly strained by means of some kind of a spring, as
an elastic piece of wood; and third, to reduce the piece to be oper-
ated upon by means of a tool having a cutting edge which was
held tightly against the material to be operated upon, thus reduc-
ing it to the circular form required; fourth, that to accomplish
this it was necessary to revolve the piece to be operated upon,
first towards the cutting tool for a certain number of revolutions,
then by a reverse motion of the taut cord to reverse the circular
motion, at the same time withdrawing the cutting-tool for an
equal number of revolutions. By this method one half the time
was lost, as no cutting could be done while the work was running
backward.
was later found that if the flexible pole or "lath" was rather
It
weak and the piece of work to be operated upon was quite heavy,
acting as a balance-wheel, its forward revolution was not wholly
arrested, but only checked as the foot was raised, provided the
cutting-tool was withdrawn from contact with the work a moment
before the upward motion of the foot began.
By was seen that great advantages might be gained
this it if
present day; that is, the wheel journaled upon a fixed stud and
the previous long handle reduced to a wrist-pin for the attach-
ment of a connecting rod, or in the older phrase a " pitman," which
term was given to one of the men handling the vertical saw used
in sawing up logs into timber and planks in the olden times (and
even now in oriental countries), wherein the log was supported
over a trench or pit, the upper end of the saw being handled by
"
the "topman" and the lower end by the pitman" or man in the
a strip of wood was hinged to the front leg of the lathe at the tail-
stock end and its opposite end to the front end of the treadle. This
was of considerable use, its principaldrawback being that while
at the treadle end its vertical the same as the latter,
movement was
this movement was gradually lessened until at the tail-stock end
of the lathe it was nothing. Hence, much more power was required
to drive the lathe at its center than at the head-stock, and this was
rapidly increased as the work was nearer the tail-stock end of the
lathe.
To remedy this defect the large driving-wheel was mounted
upon and upon which was formed two
fixed to a revolving shaft
cranks, one near the wheel and the other at the tail-stock end of
the lathe. This shaft was properly journaled in boxes formed
day after day, treading one of these foot lathes and turning out
a much larger quantity of work than these crude facilities would
seem to render possible.
In Fig. 5 is shown this form was in use for
of foot lathe that
except that beneath the screw forming the tail center was a wooden
30 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
key g, for keeping this screw always tight, as there was a tendency,
from strain and vibration, for the screw to work loose.
The tool-rest was of the usual form, except that instead of a
wedge, in connection with the binder H, to hold it in position, or
the use of a wrench on the holding-down bolt, an eccentric of hard
wood with a handle formed upon it, as shown at J, was used. This
was the first occasion where the author saw an eccentric used for
a similar purpose. It worked so well that he fitted similar eccentrics
to the stops of the three windows in his little workshop to hold
the sashes in any desired position when they were raised, and by
led to the iron connecting rods with the hooked ends whereby the
worst that could happen was the connecting rods becoming un-
hooked. The shaft N wooden boxes, the lower half being
rested in
formed in the cross-bars and a wooden cap held down by two
C, C,
wood screws forming the top half. The bearings of the shaft and
the cranks were filed as nearly round as they could be made by
hand with the means and ability available.
The pattern for the head-stock was made as shown in side ele-
vation in Fig. 5, with the housings for the spindle boxes as shown
in Fig. 6. The boxes were made in halves, of babbitt metal and
cast in place in the head-stock in this manner.
The head spindle was located in place and held
by a thin piece of wood clamped on the inside
and outside of the housing and having semicir-
cular notches in their upper edges and a slight
recess on their inner sides so as to provide for
slightly above the top of the iron casting and was held down by
an iron cap having two holes drilled in it which fitted on the
threaded studs R, R, which had been cast into the head-stock
for this purpose. The spindle had been turned up in an old-style
chain-feed lathe, of which more will be said later on. The cone
face-plate work.
It will be noticed that the lathe had been arranged for two
speeds proper for turning wood and the softer metals, and one speed
considerably slower for iron. A piece of bel ting \ was provided
which could be easily removed to shorten the belt the proper
amount for this purpose.
The lathe would swing eight inches and take in between centers
four feet. It was found that the round belt did not give sufficient
driving power and a new spindle cone of only two steps was put
on, the iron balance-wheel lagged up for a flat belt, and the pulley
M turned down for the same purpose. This permitted the use
of a belt an inch and three-quarters wide, and as no regular belting
was available when the job was done an old trace from a harness
suffering from general debility was ripped open and a single thick-
ness of the leather soaked up in water, dried out, treated with
neat's-foot oil and used with such good results that it was never
replaced.
To this lathe was a small circular saw provided with an
fitted
adjustable, tilting table upon which not only wood but sheet brass
could be cut. Another attachment was a small jig-saw that would
cut offwood up to half an inch thick.
One of the disadvantages of the usual form of foot-power
lathewas the short connecting rod or pitman which thereby formed
too great an angle to the center line from the wheel center to the
Origin of the screw thread. Ancient boring tools. Suggestions of the screw
form. The "Worm Gimlet." Making the first nuts. An old device
for cutting threads in wood. Archimedes and his helical device for
very hard wood, having one end turned down to a diameter equal
to that at the bottom of the thread, while the opposite end was
made much larger and contained a hole for passing a bar or lever
by means of which it was rotated. At the termination of the thread
and beginning of the smaller straight portion the thread was cut
away, leaving an abrupt termination, and at this point was inserted
a tooth of steel formed in a rough manner to the shape of the
thread.
In a wooden nut A a thread had already been cut, by some
manner unknown, and through this the screw D was fitted. The
piece B, to be tapped or threaded, was clamped to this by means
of the steel clamps E, E, binding the two firmly together. To all
appearances the tooth or cutter d could be set in or out so as to
cut merely a trace of the thread the first time through, then an-
other deeper cut, and finally finished to the full depth. The author
had no means of ascertaining the origin of the device, but the wood
of which was composed was black with age and the man who
it
possessed could not tell how many years his father had owned
it
the inventor had some idea of the slide rest as it was known at a
later day by its invention in a practical form by John Maudsley
in England, in the year 1794. Whether Maudsley had seen or
heard of the invention shown in the French encyclopedia or not,
it would seem fair to assume that he must have seen that or some-
thing akin to it, as the twenty-two years elapsing between the one
date and the other must have served to make the earlier invention
comparatively well known in the two nearby countries, both of
which contained, even at this early day, many mechanics. It is
interesting to observe that the slide rest invented by Maudsley
over a hundred years ago has been so little changed by all the
improvements since made in this class of machinery.
There seems to have been an early rivalry between the French
and English mechanics in the development of machines and methods
for advancing the mechanic arts. The next development of the
screw-cutting idea seems to have been of French origin. In this
lathe there was an arbor upon which threads of different pitches
had been cut. These threads were on short sections of the arbor
and by its use the different pitches required could be cut. While
the exact manner of using this arbor was not described, its
probable method of use will readily suggest itself to the mechanic,
and was, no doubt, used at an earlier period, and in fact was what
led up to the use of a lead screw or arbor with a multiplicity of
different pitches. The principle is analogous to that used in the
"Fox" brass finishing lathe so well known and extensively used,
not only in finishing plain surfaces but in " chasing threads."
This machine is shown which is a perspective view
in Fig. 10,
E, and served the same purpose as the lead screw nut of the present
day. Evidently the operation was that by revolving the piece D
"
the master screw" E was also rotated, and this rotation of the
threaded screw, acting upon the " leader" K, forced the carriage
H forward, causing the thread-cutting tool J to cut a thread upon
the piece D, of a pitch equal to that upon the "master screw" E.
It is probable thatno better means of adjusting the thread-cutting
tool J was provided than setting it in by light blows of the hammer.
While the threads thus cut were probably rather poor specimens
of mechanical work, they answered the requirements of the times,
and as usual better means were devised for making them as the
need of better and more accurate work created new demands and
a higher standard of workmanship.
As will be seen in the above example the idea of the slide-rest
is used. In this case some such device was a necessity. Doubtless
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LATHE 41
"
threads had been cut with some sort of a chaser," or tool with
notches shaped to the form and pitch of the thread. These were
very extensively used later and for many years in brass work, and
the old-time machinist was very expert in their use. The slide-
rest, as we know it, while it workman from the fatigue
relieved the
of holding the tool firmly in his hands and depending entirely
upon them for the position of the tool, with the exception of such
ready cold chisel, hammer, and file, which with a straight-edge en-
abled him to make many a flat surface of remarkable nicety con-
deep and were about 15 feet long. The lathe would swing about
32 inches over the bed. The patterns were made by Mr. Rea, the
castings made in his foundry, and the machine work done in the
nearby village of Plattsburgh.
The "ways" or V's of the lathe were of wrought iron about
"
f x3 rabbit" cut on the inside edges of the
inches let into a
timbers forming the bed, and fastened by large wood screws.
The top edges of these iron strips were chipped and filed to an angle
of about 45 degrees to the sides, thus making the V an angle of
about 90 degrees. The head-stock had cast in it square pockets
in which the boxes for the main spindle were fitted by filing, and
were held down by a rough wrought iron cap through which passed
two threaded iron studs which had been cast into the metal. Upon
44 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
these were two nuts as shown. The main spindle was of wrought
iron and carried a wooden cone pulley built up on cast iron flanges
keyed to the spindle. There were no back gears.
The carriage was of the roughest description and had a hand
cross feed for the tool block, which carried the old-fashioned tool-
^
front of the bed by wood
screws. The longitudinal
^
g power feed was by means
g of an ordinary iron chain
(hence the common name of
"
chain lathe" given to a
lathe having this method of
leverwas pivoted upon the front side of the lathe bed, one end
connected with the sliding box of the worm-gear shaft and the
other hooked under a pin driven into the front of the lathe bed, as
shown in the engraving.
This worm-shaft was driven by a round leather belt working
in one of the grooves of a three-step cone pulley fixed upon it,
and extending up to a similar three-step cone pulley fixed upon the
rear end of the main spindle. These pulleys were of hard wood and
attached to cast iron flanges fixed in place. The belt was a "home-
made" production but very much resembling the best twisted
round leather belts of the present day, and was about three quarters
of an inch in diameter.
The belt on the cone pulley upon the main spindle was about
three and a half inches wide, the large step on the cone being about
twenty inches in diameter.
It will be noticed that no provisions was made in this lathe for
The lead screw was placed at the back of the lathe and had
46 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
fitted upon it a curved forging, carrying a solid nut and capable
of being attached to the carriage by two bolts when it was desired
"
to cut threads. This forging was frequently called a goose neck,"
from its peculiar curved shape. The thread of the lead screws was
square and four threads to the inch. It was, of course, made of
wrought iron, the use of steel for this purpose being of much later
date.
The method of driving the lead screws was characteristic
and peculiar and is one of the main reasons for introducing this
lathe to the attention of the readers of this book, as it marks one
of the first known methods of changing the ratio of speed between
the main spindle and the lead screw by means of gears of a varying
number of teeth, which is here done in a very crude but compara-
tively effective .manner. This method was as follows Upon the :
rear end of the main spindle was fixed a flange having in its face a
series of pins which formed the teeth of a "crown gear" and which
upon the shaft and having pins running through the heads in a line
parallel with the axis of the shaft, similar to the method seen
in a
brass clock.
pinion was of much greater length than that on the upper end would
seem to indicate that the designer or builder of the lathe had in-
tended to use different sized wheels on the end of the lead screw
for the purpose of producing different ratios between the speed
of the lead screw and that of the -main spindle, and therefore to
cut threads of differing pitches. This seems to have been the
earliest of producing this result by a change of gearing, and
method
probably antedated the method of using differing diameters of
spur gears, as it is well known that the crown wheel or pin gear
and lantern pinion were the oldest form of gearing, and in use in
Egypt at a very early date, and that an imitation of our spur gear
was made in a similar manner by inserting the pins in the periphery
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LATHE 47
of the wheel instead of its face. The builder of the lathe in ques-
tion probably borrowed his idea from some lathes very much older
and which he had seen in his native country, as regular spur gearing
for the same purpose had been used at a considerably earlier date
than the building of his lathe, and as he was a man past middle life
at that time. The lathe was built about 1830 and was in active
service as late as 1875, although the lantern pinions and pin gears
had been discarded and hung up on the walls of the old shop, and
in their place were the usual spur gears, and a stud plate had been
added for the purpose of carrying an idle gear so as to accommodate
There was no rack and pinion arrangement for lateral hand feed
for the carriage, the lead screw being used for purpose by this
CLASSIFICATION OF LATHES
The essential elements of a lathe. The bed. The head-stock. The tail-
stock. The carriage. The apron. The turning and supporting rests.
The countershaft. Taper attachments. Change-gears. Classification
applied to materials, labor accounts, and the handling of parts in the
manufacture of lathes. The four general classes of lathes. The eighteen
sub-divisions of these classes. The first class: hand lathes, polishing
lathes, pattern lathes, spinning lathes and chucking lathes. The second
class: engine lathes without thread-cutting mechanism, Fox brass lathes,
forge lathes, and roughing lathes. The third class: complete engine
lathes with thread-cutting mechanism, precision lathes, rapid reduction
and gap lathes. The fourth class forming lathes, pulley lathes,
lathes, :
shafting lathes, turret lathes and multiple spindle lathes. Rapid change
gear devices. Bancroft and Sellers device. The Norton device. Lathe
bed supports. The precision lathe. The rapid production lathe. The
gap lathe. Special lathes. Forming lathes. Pulley lathes. Shafting
lathes. Turret lathes. Screw machines. Multiple spindle lathes.
Variety of special lathes.
holding the work upon centers; proper mechanism for rotating the
work; and a cutting- tool properly held and supported upon a
traveling device actuated by suitable mechanism.
The these essentials comprise the bed, head-stock, and
first of
supports for the bed. The second essential comprises the driving
parts for transmitting power for that purpose from the main
spindle of the lathe.
This classification of the essential elements of the lathe naturally
suggests certain groups of related parts which compose a complete
lathe,and correspond with the experience and practice of the
author in the designing and construction of the various types of
lathes. They are as follows :
binders, and, when the lathe is large enough to require it, the mover
bracket, gears, shafts and crank; and if the tail-spindle is handled
by a hand-wheel in front, the brackets, shafts, spur and bevel
gears, etc.
4. Carriage and appendages, including gibs and a solid tool
block if one is used, but not a compound rest where these are
furnished at the order of the purchaser. If the lathes are habitually
built with compound rests they may be classed with the carriage.
5. Apron and appendages, including the apron in its complete
assembled form ready to attach to the carriage, together with the
screws for making such attachment.
6. Rests, including the compound rest (when not classed
with the carriage, the full swing, pulley or wing rest (as it is vari-
similar parts are deemed extras and not included in regular lists.
Forming Lathes.
Pulley Lathes.
FOURTH
Shafting Lathes.
SPECIAL LATHES.
Multiple Spindle Lathes.
Turret Lathes.
CLASSIFICATION OF LATHES 53
brass finisher. These lathes are usually made without back gears.
They are run at very high speeds and in the hands of an expert
brass finisher do the work very rapidly, both as to turning and
ing, and that all the chips thus removed may be worked into
other forgings by which this waste is economically recovered. It
is therefore their practice to forge the work (cylindrical work,
of course) to dimensions much over the forge sizes, and by the use
"
of the heavy forge lathe to finish them to customers rough
"
turned" to within reasonable limits of finish sizes."
" "
By the term roughing lathe we understand that the design
is heavy and massive with a very powerful driving mechanism,
lateral and cross feeds and a very rigid tool holding device. Such
a lathe is seen in Fig. 21. While it is somewhat analogous to the
carriage on the left-hand side for turning the full swing of the lathe.
The larger lathes, particularly those that are triple geared, should
have a tail-stock arranged with two sets of holding-down bolts, by
means of which one set may be loosened and the tail-stock set over
for turning tapers without removing the work from the lathe, as
the other set of bolts still holds the tail-stock to its place on the
bed. There should also be a tail-stock moving device consisting
of a rack attached to the bed, with which is engaged a pinion
fixed to a shaft journaled in a bracket attached to the tail-stock
base. By means of a crank on this shaft the tail-stock can be
parallel to the spindle and extending to the rear end of the tail-
stock where passes through another bracket and has fixed upon
it
that it may not only rapidly reduce the stock to near the finishing
dimensions, but finish ordinary work to the given sizes, or to
all
holding it in achuck and forming one end of the pieces, then cutting
them off, leaving the remainder of the work on the opposite end
part and of such a length that it will exactly fit in the space form-
62 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
ing the "gap." The other method is to have that portion of the
bed upon which the head-stock is attached, of the full height, while
the remainder of the bed is lowered sufficiently to furnish a support
for a sliding supplemental bed whose depth is equal to the depth
of the gap. This supplemental bed when closed up to the face of
the head-stock completes the bed by filling the entire cut-away
that when dull they may be sharpened by grinding the top face
and not changing the form. Forming lathes should have hollow
CLASSIFICATION OF LATHES 63
tively slower and is done in another machine. Thus one machine for
boring and reaming may furnish work enough for several turning
machines.
In the pulley-turning lathes there must be a strong driv-
(those at the back being bottom side up) In some machines the
.
tools commence the operation in the center of the face of the pulley,
and each tool or pair of tools (one roughing and one finishing),
are fed away from the center, and with the slide upon which the
tool block travels set in a slightly inclined position with reference
6-1 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
"
to the axis of the lathe so as to produce the properly crowned
face" of the pulley. With four tools thus arranged, the pulley
is completely turned during the time necessary for a tool to travel
across one half of the face of the pulley plus the distance apart
of the roughing and the finishing tool, say from an inch to an inch
and a half.
steps of a cone pulley, is the extent of their lateral feed in any case.
may easily run one boring and reaming machine and two surface
turning machines.
Shafting lathes or shaft-turning lathes may be arranged from
any good engine lathe provided the bed is long enough for the
purpose, by adding to it a three-tool shafting rest and a shaft
straightener. Still is especially designed as a shaft-
a lathe that
turning lathe will be better adapted for the purpose and will turn
out more good shafting with the same expenditure of capital and
labor than the engine lathe arranged with attachments for the
is a
purpose. In the properly designed shaft-turning lathe there
CLASSIFICATION OF LATHES 65
heavy shaft running the length of the lathe bed and arranged to
communicate power to a face gear and driver journaled on the
front end of the tail-stock, by means of which the shaft to be
turned may be driven from this end as well as from the head-stock
end. This is very useful in turning long shafts in which the tor-
sional strain would be great, as thepower may be applied at the
tail-stock to turn one half of the shaft and then applied direct from
the head-stock, or it may be applied both ends continuously and
at
simultaneously.
There should be a force pump to keep the cutting-tools constantly
supplied with a stream of whatever lubricant is being used. This
pump may be driven from the shaft above mentioned, which is
located at the center of the bed and below the bridge of the car-
riage. The three-tool rest carries its own center rest, but it is
customary to support the shaft being turned by easily removable
restsused between the carriage and the head-stock or tail-stock,
as the operator finds necessary. These are generally composed
of two wooden blocks resting on the V's of the lathe and somewhat
lower than the lathe centers. The upper block has a V-shaped
groove for the shaft to rest in and is raised up and held in place by
a wooden wedge inserted just far enough to give proper support
to the shaft so as not to permit it to sag during the process of turn-
ing. There are three turning tools usually employed. The first
isa roughing tool; the second cuts the shaft very closely to size,
while the third takes an extremely light cut, completing the
work, so that by running once over the shaft from end to end it is
completely finished. Two tools are placed at the left of the center
rest fixed to the tool block, and one, the final finishing tool, at the
right. As these three tools and the center rest occupy considerable
length upon the shaft the lathe is provided with extra long centers
so as to reach the work. The center rest is provided with split
collars bored to the size that the second tool leaves the shaft.
The turret lathe, shown now so well and favorably
in Fig. 24,
known, a
is
comparatively recent invention and doubtless origi-
nated in the use of a multiple tail-stock which was formerly used on
small work where more than one tool was desirable. Our English
friends recognize its value and usefulness, and one author speaks
of it as "the common In this much
capstan tool-rest." country
66 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
has been done to develop and bring into popular form the turret
lathe by such builders as Jones & Lamson, Warner & Swasey,
Potter & Johnson, Bullard and others.
While the turret lathein its perfected form is now a complete
machine, the turret idea was first applied to engine lathes, and turret
7
FIG. 24. A Turret Lathe.
ing principally for their success upon the turret with its multiplicity
of tools. And this idea of a turret carrying from four to eight tools
is applied in a great variety of ways and to a large variety of
machines on account of the ease with which any desired tool may
be brought into a working position.
The head-stock of a turret lathe is made in several ways, from
that of a plain head without back gears to one with a large variety
of speeds, controlled by handles operating clutches, or friction
pieces and brings them out with excellent finish and with surprising
accuracy. Internal and external threads are readily cut very true
to size and with rapidity.
The screw machine is very closely allied to the turret lathe,
so called, and the smaller sizes are fitted with what is called a "wire
feed," which will automatically feed in the bar against the turret
stop as soon as
it is released by opening the chuck. This is in the
hand screw machine. In the automatic screw machine all these
movements are made automatically when once the machine is set
up, the tools properly adjusted, the bar of stock once introduced
and the machine started, and, barring accidents, the machine con-
tinues to run, dropping its work into a pan as it is completed and
cut off, until the bar of stock is almost entirely used
up.
68 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
the same lathe; the larger swing being frequently used for boring
or similar work. Notably of this type of lathe is that put in the
market by J. J. McCabe.
While the general and well-marked types of lathes have been
specified in this classification it must not be understood that the
list is many special lathes, each of excellent
complete, as there are
mechanism and well adapted to the special work for which it is
To
the experienced and conscientious designer of machine tools
the condition is frequently forced upon him that it is often easier,
and usually far more agreeable, to design machines as he really
believes they should be, than to design such machines as will meet
the popular requirements of the market. He may be sure that a
certain plan would make really a better and more efficient machine,
yet he must, from the outset, consider the kind of a machine the
customers want and will buy and pay for, since they are, as has been
often said, "the court of final resort" in the matter, and machine-
tool builders manufacture machines to sell, and not for the pur-
quently have parts of, or attachments to, the regular line of ma-
chines that are made to the order of a particular customer and that
he feels perfectly sure of being well suited to the work that it
is expected to perform; yet in these cases considerable caution is
necessary.
The one fruitful source of difficulty, disappointment, and failure
to be most avoided in the production of new devices is the mania
often manifested by designers to produce something absolutely
new, decidedly novel, the like of which no one has ever seen or
dreamed of, and that will startle the mechanical world, revolu-
tionize the business, and prove its author a veritable Napoleon of
mechanical science.
When confronted with such a man or such a condition, the
LATHE DESIGN: THE BED AND ITS SUPPORTS 71
something that will surely bring the proper financial return and
be a credit to the shop. It is always well to remember, when
tempted to go off on a tangent after something new and mar-
velous, that "a good adaptation is better than a poor original,"
"
and that when Solomon said that there is no new thing under the
sun," he did not come far from the truth, since many of the things
we think are new may be found in almost the identical form, that
have been invented, used, and discarded years ago, as the records
of many mechanical libraries as well as the United States Patent
Office will furnish abundant evidence.
ported at each end and in its turn supporting at one end the head-
stock, at the other end the tail-stock, and in the center the carriage,
as represented in Fig. 25.
\
f
FIG. 25. Elementary Form of Lathe Bed.
This being the problem, and as the head-stock and the tail-
stock stand directly over the legs or supports, we might consider
the problem as that of a beam loaded at the center, which would
naturally suggest that the under side of the bed instead of being
straight should be a parabolic curve. This would result in the
form shown in Fig. 26, which would, if the carriage was stationary,
of the lathe bed, the extensions at each end being in the form of a
beam supported at one end. Theoretically, then, this would seem
to be the proper form of a lathe bed in order that it might conform
to the necessary requirements as to form and its ability to sustain
the usual weights and strains to which it will be subjected, and
at the same time not be of excessive weight, which would entail
unnecessary expense.
This is substantially the view taken by Prof. John E. Sweet in
reference to machine beds. He says:
"Noreasoning can make it out that the place for the support
of an ordinary sized lathe bed at the tail-stock end of the lathe is at
the end. If placed a considerable distance from the end, and the
tail-stock is at the end, it is better supported than when in the
other; and when the iron in the legs and the work to fit them are
taken into account, if they were all put into the casting the bed
74 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
could be brought down to the floor as in Fig. 30, greatly improv-
TJ.
FIG. 28. Prof. Sweet's Form of Bed, supported at Two Points only.
girts which do not stiffen the bed in any way to any great extent
and use it in bottom and top webs, making the thing a four-
sided box, which is from four to a dozen times stiffer in all direc-
tions, and then rest the whole thing on three points, one under the
back of each housing and one under the middle toward the other
end. The whole thing, including patterns and setting, will cost
no (or very little) more and be four times better than present
practice.
LATHE DESIGN: THE BED AND ITS SUPPORTS 75
get the supports and still retain the condition of rigidity the less
we shall have to depend upon the correctness of the foundations,
76 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
and this a matter of very important consideration, since
of itself is
insome popular forms of machines their truth and correct-
of the
ness depends to a very considerable extent upon the accuracy and
continued stability of the foundations upon which they rest.
Itwas from such considerations and conditions as has just
been illustrated and described that the author designed and built
the 21-inch swing engine lathe shown in Fig. 33. This lathe met
with exceptional success in the market both in a mechanical and
financial way and a large number of them were built and sold,
shop in the country was running full time, and many of them but
eight hours a day for three days only in a week. After a couple of
years these beds were changed to the rectangular form in order to
satisfy the demands of customers, the depth being nearly as great
as the one here shown is and the weight much
in its deepest part,
increased. The ends were made square and the rear box leg
made a regular cabinet similar to the front cabinet. The lathe is
still built with very little change in its general design except as
above specified, although it was originally designed over a dozen
years ago.
be noticed in the design shown in Fig. 33 that the front
It will
end of the front cabinet is in a vertical line with the front end of the
head-stock, as suggested by Professor Sweet, and about twelve
LATHE DESIGN: THE BED AND ITS SUPPORTS 77
ter, or the radius, and let him have the trouble of the mental cal-
culation of multiplying this dimension by two every time it is
mentioned. mayItseem all right when one is accustomed to it,
but, like the English monetary system of pounds, shillings, and
pence, it seems unnecessarily cumbersome when compared with
the directness of the American expression.
In order to increase the swing
of the lathe without raising the
head spindle in relation to the
bed, some builders prefer to omit
the inside V's, as shown in Fig.
35,by which means the arc C, as
given in Fig. 34, and here shown
as a dotted line, is increased to
the arc D, and the swing of the
lathe increased by twice this dif-
ference. In this case the head-
stock and the tail-stock are both
fitted to the flat top of the bed
and also have a projecting rib or
its equivalent built down and
fitted to the inside of the inwardly
FIG. 35. The English Form of Bed
with only Two V's. projecting flange of the top of the
bed. This method of construc-
tion is that in use in English and continental lathes and in recent
36. This by lowering the inside V's, upon which the head-
is
stock and tail-stock rest, and leaving the outer V's supporting the
FIG. 36. Bed with Depressed Inside FIG. 37. The Lodge & Shipley
V's, giving Increased Swing. Form of Bed.
while the vertical wear will be considerably less than that of the
head spindle in the boxes, which should be vertically adjustable
to compensate for this wear and so a proper and perfect alignment
of the two be maintained.
The bed shown in Fig. 37 is considerably deeper than the former
80 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
engravings.
In Fig. 38 is shown an
FIG. 38. Ideal Form of Bed to Resist ideal form of bed combin-
Torsional Strains.
ing great strength and
stiffness with a minimum amount of material when its rigidity
is considered. Much is said in machine tool design of the "box
form," and while in some instances its merits may have been over-
rated it certainly is a form possessing most excellent qualities of
strength, stiffness, and power to withstand torsional strains as
well as to rigidly support heavy loads. It is for these reasons that
this bed is designed as it is,and for these reasons it seems fair to
LATHE DESIGN: THE BED AND ITS SUPPORTS 81
being "poured."
A further reference to the form and disposition of the cross-
braces or cross-ties is made a little further on in describing these
members of the casting.
Thus far the cross section of the bed, and its component parts
of the side plates, the track or top portion and the V's, have been
making the I-beam section shown at B. This was for many years
considered quite sufficient for the purpose until the desire for more
strength and stiffness led to the adoption of the "box form" shown
at C. Later on this form was still further strengthened by the
addition of outwardly projecting ribs or flanges at the bottom
82 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
since been added the top shown at E, and the question has,
ribs as
for the time at least, been solved, of making as strong and rigid a
cross-bar as is possible.
It will be noticed that wherever these forms are with double
walls the internal space is closed at the top. This occurs, first, as
the bed is cast bottom side up, and it is more convenient to pour
the molten iron into this form and have a solid casting; it gives a
better appearance to the top of the cross-bar in the finished lathe;
and a cross-bar open at the top would furnish a receptacle for dirt,
chips, and small articles that would occasionally drop into it.
These cross-bars were located at right angles to the length
of the bed as shown in plan in Fig. 40, their distances apart in
the earlier forms of beds being two or three times the width of the
center of the bed. This distance was gradually reduced as the
beds were made heavier and stronger, until ten or fifteen years
ago it was frequently the case that the cross-braces were spaced con-
siderably less distance apart than the width of the bed, particularly
in the wider beds used for heavy lathes, say from 36-inch swing
and larger. This method of locating them prevailed in the use
of the forms shown in cross section at A, B, and C, Fig. 39.
As still stronger and more rigid beds were called for, the braces
and also the proper spacing from the head end of the bed. It
will be readily seen that such a form of casting insures great stiff-
ness and rigidity and guarantees the casting against torsional
"
The form of the track" or upper portion of the lathe bed has
much to do with the form and strength of the carriage which it
supports. In the early form of wooden beds, with two V's formed
from wrought iron bars set upon edge and chipped and filed to
the inverted V form, with the head-stock, tail-stock, and carriage
all resting upon
them, the carriage had, of necessity, to be made
84 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
with scant bearing on the V's, that is, very narrow, measured
along the length of the bed, as it could not pass the head-stock and
"
the tail-stock as the wings" of the carriage do in the later forms
of bed with four V's, or their equivalent. Consequently, the head
"
center of the lathe had considerably more overhang" than it has
at present, in order to permit the tool to be worked up near the
lathe center; and the same was true of working up closely to the
tail-stock center.
With the advent of cast iron beds four V's were usually pro-
vided for. Whether the idea of four V's came in with the cast
iron bed is not certain, as it is entirely possible that some ingenious
machinist fitted the wrought iron strips, not only to the inside but
to the outside of the two wooden beams composing the bed, and so
from itsbeing a movable part and frequently run back and forth,
will in time wear sufficiently to throw its center out of line with
the center of the head spindle. This disadvantage may be obvi-
ated by making these vertical surfaces B, B, slightly inclined.
This inclination to the inner surfaces of the track of the bed is
on the spindle, probably built about 1840. The legs were quite
light, the different members being about f inch thick and 2 inches
wide. The braces were of the same dimensions and secured at the
ends by i-mch "tap bolts" of the old square-head style, the ends of
the braces being thickened somewhat to accommodate them.
How this lathe happened to endure the wear and tear of shop
use for so many years without the legs being broken is a mystery.
Their and slender appearance beside the modern deep bed,
frail
VJ1
"
support at all. This necessitated center legs" and, in a long lathe,
two or three of them. Under these conditions it was a difficult
matter to so set up a lathe that these center legs should all sit
at the front journal where the heaviest weight comes has no sup-
port whatever from the leg. The same may be said in a lesser
degree of the rear end, where the tail-stock has only partial support
in a similar manner. And when the tail-stock is moved out of its
extreme rear position the case is much worse and identical with
that of the head-stock. This condition will, of course, necessitate
the use of a center leg, which if not supported upon the floor or
LATHE DESIGN: THE BED AND ITS SUPPORTS 89
bed may sink under the weight, and strain of the work upon the
the length of the head-stock, hence the front bearing of the head
which has equal projections on all four sides and at the top and
Company, differing from the last one in having the inner end cut
away. This cabinet does not, of course, admit of the introduction
92 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
of shelves. In the larger lathe, say from 30 to 40-inch swing, inclu-
sive, doors are not usually provided, as the height does not admit
of it. Above 40-inch swing the bed usually rests directly upon the
foundation.
The cabinets here shown are given simply as examples, but
they give a good idea of the forms used by most of the modern
lathe builders at the present time, and the reasons for their con-
tinued and enlarged use. It is altogether probable that the future
will witness an increase rather than a decrease in the use of the
cabinet for supporting machines of all kinds where it is possible
to introduce them, on account of their great rigidity in proportion
to the weight of cast iron used, as well as the fact that they furnish
a safe and convenient re ^eptacle for tools.
CHAPTER V
LATHE DESIGN; THE HEAD-STOCK CASTING, THE SPINDLE AND THE
SPINDLE CONE
Design of head-stock for wooden bed lathes. Early design for use on a cast
iron bed. An old New Haven head-stock. The arch form of the bottom
plate. Providing for reversing gears. The Hendey-Norton head-stock.
The Schumacher & Boye head-stock. The Le Blond head-stock. The
New Haven head-stock. The arch tie brace of the new Hendey-Norton
design. Generalities in describing a lathe spindle. Designing a spindle.
Governing conditions. The nose of the spindle. Spindle collars. Proper
proportions for lathe spindles. Large versus long bearings. Design
of the spindle cone.
been poured around the lathe spindle after it was finished, set in
place, and lined up as well as might be with the crude appliances
93
94 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
at hand. The top portion of the boxes were held down by a straight
bar cap with two holes which fitted over fixed threaded studs
that had been cast into the head-stock for this purpose.
The lathe of a back gear and the spindle carried a
was devoid
three-step cone, the largest part of which was as large as was possible
to get into the head, and a belt quite wide, considering the power
then thought necessary to drive a lathe carrying the diminutive
chip which was considered proper for a lathe to take at the time this
lathe was in use.
Later on, when the cast iron bed was adopted and when back
gears were added to the lathe, the requirements of additional
strength were recognized and not only the base plate, but the up-
rights or housings at the front and rear end, were made thicker and
heavier. One of these head-stocks is shown in Fig. 54, which
gives a good general idea of the form of the casting and shows also
a strengthening brace A. While it would seem at first thought
more necessary to brace the housing of the front box than that
carrying the rear journal, it should be remembered that the latter
"
must withstand the strain of the thrust" or endwise pressure of
the spindle due to holding work upon centers, and the pressure of
drilling work, one end of which is held in a chuck and the other in
each side of the rear box and on a horizontal line with it, and across
these to fix a strong bar carrying an adjustable thrust screw for
taking the end thrust of the spindle. The details and design of
this important device will be taken up further on.
were located outside the housings, except in the case of that shown
"
in Fig. 55. As the change came to be made of locating tumbler
gears," or reversing gears, inside of the housing,
it naturally fol-
lowed that the metal of the head-stock base must be cut away
under that part of the main spindle upon which was fixed the
spindle gear or feed gear from which the feed mechanism was
driven. This was the case for perhaps fifty years, and at the present
time, now that reversing devices are constructed as a part of the
apron mechanism, the feed gears may be placed outside of the
housing, although some good builders still keep it inside and con-
nected in practically "the same old way/' even if the "yoke gears"
or reversing gears are omitted.
shop men a "pig trough" shape. This latter form enables the
metal to be carried higher up at the front and back while the center
isdepressed to give proper clearance for the larger steps of the cone
and the face gear. At the lowest part of this depression there is
usually an opening through which oil may drip so as not to collect
inconveniently at this point. The arch-like form near the rear
housing adds very much to the strength and rigidity of the casting.
It will be noticed that in this design the main spindle boxes are
not "capped in," that is, held down by removable caps. More
will be said of this peculiarity in describing boxes and spindles.
The cores beneath the base are carried up into the housings in
many of the modern head-stocks as far as possible, and still leave
ample support for the boxes and spindles. The advisability of
While the above form of design carries a reversed curve for the
top of the base, the form used by Shumacher and Boye, shown
in Fig. 60, is of a single curve from rear to front housing and the
inverted arch in its transverse sectional form. In this design the
front and back is carried high up near the rear housing and com-
paratively low down near the front housing.
the weight of the casting, the metal being well distributed to resist
a
f i
this case the inverted arch is used all the way through, but it is
tically the same as that shown in Fig. 58, except for the arched
brace C, from the front to the rear housing, effectually tying
them together and thus adding considerably to the rigidity of the
spindle-bearing boxes, which is always an excellent point to be
considered.
The fact that these housings are solid, that is, not held by separ-
ate caps, permits the addition of this very strong brace, which could
LATHE DESIGN: THE HEAD-STOCK CASTING, ETC. 101
A B
v//////////
-a
feeding mechanism which derives its motion from the rear end of
the spindle.
If we
are to consider principally the weight of the face-plate
and the material to be turned, which falls almost entirely upon the
front journal, we should have the form of the lathe spindle as repre-
sented in Fig. 65. In this case the front bearing would necessarily
be very large and strong and with ample support. The rear bear-
ing need not be a matter of serious consideration, as it is quite a
LATHE DESIGN: THE HEAD-STOCK CASTING, ETC. 103
distance from the front bearing, while the weight of the face-plate
or chuck carrying the work, or the center which supports one end
of the work, if supported by this means, carries nearly all the strain.
Therefore the rear bearing may be small and short as shown.
Again, if the weight of the cone and its parts are to be prin-
cipally considered, we should have a spindle more nearly conform-
ing to the outline shown in Fig. 66, the rear bearing being larger
and the front bearing smaller than is shown in Fig. 65. This would
also be the case if the upward pull of the belt were a governing
factor in determining the form and proportion of the spindle. But
the fact is that the cone and its action upon the spindle, so far as
its weight or the belt pull upon the spindle, while in reality a factor
form of journal oiling devices, the thrust bearing for the rear end
and the special form of the nose of the spindle, which will next
receive attention.
As to the nose of the spindle. It is customary by many builders
to cut the thread on the nose of the spindle nearly up to the collar,
LATHE DESIGN: THE HEAD-STOCK CASTING, ETC. 105
may be very much reduced without in any way reducing its capac-
ity to securely hold the plate in place. It is also quite as evident
that we can hold the plate perfectly true in its place and exactly
concentric with the front bearing if we grind a portion of the nose
of the spindle to a truly cylindrical form when we grind the front
bearing and then fit a sufficient portion of the bore in the plate to
this ground surface. This may be accomplished by threading the
nose of the spindle through only one third of its length, and grind-
ing the remaining two thirds to which the chuck-plate or face-plate is
fitted. This centers the plate accurately with the axis of the spindle.
If the face of the collar is accurately ground, and the hub of the
chuck-plate or face-plate fits fairly against it, there will be no diffi-
culty when removing the plate of always being able to replace it in
exactly its former position, perfectly true in the running of its face
and perfectly concentric with the ground bearings of the spindle.
Even the wearing of the thread will not effect its true running,
since the only office of the thread is to hold it on, while the ground
surfaces insure its trueness. This is
what smaller than the front bearing, against which the face-plate
or chuck-plate rests, and assuming that its close fit upon the ground
surface between this shoulder and the threaded portion will be
quite sufficient for all purposes. This would seem to be an errone-
ous view of the question as this comparatively small shoulder can-
not possibly afford the support and rigidity that may be obtained
by a collar or thrust surface of two or three times the area. It is
true that as a matter of economy in furnishing the stock for these
esting. Using the full swing of the lathe in inches as a unit, repre-
sented by A, the proportions of the spindle will be as follows :
better when large facing work is to be done and the cut is carried
out near the periphery of the largest diameter that can be handled.
It does not follow, however, that the proportions of the en-
larged diameter of the front bearing need be carried all the way
through, by which a spindle of unnecessary weight would be pro-
duced, as practically all important advantages may be gained if its
dimensions are as shown in dotted lines in the engraving.
In Fig. 71 is shown the opposite method of designing a lathe
spindle, thatis, by making the bearings of the usual diameter, but
.
-]
LATHE DESIGN: THE HEAD-STOCK CASTING, ETC. 109
high speeds, to be turned up, the corners where the belt is joined to
be distorted or worn away, and in a short time the belt well-nigh
ruined.
In purchasing lathes or other machines provided with speed
cones, the purchaser should insist that the faces of the cones should
be made as shown, as it is a matter of much importance in belt
LATHE DESIGN THE SPINDLE BEARINGS, THE BACK GEARS, AND THE
I
Designing spindle bearings and boxes. Thrust bearings. The Lodge &
Shipley form. Ball bearings. Proper metal for boxes. The cast iron
box. Early form of boxes. The cylindrical form. Thrust bearings for
a light lathe. Experiments with different metals on high speeds. Curved
journals. The involute curve. The Schiele curve. Conical bearings.
Adjustments to take up wear. Split boxes. Line-reaming boxes. Lu-
brication of spindle bearings. The plain brass oil cup. The use of a
wick. Oil reservoirs. Loose ring oilers. Chain oilers. Lodge &
Shipley oil rings. Neglect of proper lubrication. Back gearing. Vary-
ing the spindle speeds. Triple gearing. Theory of back gearing. Back
gear calculations. Triple gear calculations. Diagram of spindle speeds.
Faulty designing of back gears and triple gears. Four examples. A 14-
inch swing lathe. A 19-inch swing lathe. A 17-inch swing lathe. A
30-inch swing triple-geared lathe. Explanation of the back gear dia-
"
grams. Essential parts of the triple gear mechanism. Guesswork"
in lathe designing. Wasted opportunities. Designing the head-stock.
Cone diameters. A
homely proportion. The modern tendency in cone
design. Proportions of back gears. Driving the feeding mechanism.
Reversing the feed. Variable feed devices. Rapid change gear devices.
tically worthless.
Mention has been made of the thrust bearing at the rear box.
It isimportant that this should be well designed and constructed,
as the quality of the lathe's work, particularly face-plate and chuck
work, depends upon its proper performance.
One form is shown in Fig. 73,which is a style used for a number
no
LATHE DESIGN: THE SPINDLE BEARINGS, ETC. Ill
EDO
FIG. 73. New Haven Lathe FIG. 74. Lodge & Shipley
Thrust Bearing. Thrust Bearing.
The form of thrust bearing used on the Lodge & Shipley lathes
isshown in Fig. 74, and is constructed as follows Upon the spindle :
tage of occupying some space inside the rear box and consequently
increasing the distance between the front and rear boxes, increasing
the length of the head-stock by just its own width, or the
space
occupied by the cast iron collar and the three friction washers.
Unless covered by a projecting portion of the
casting, or by a
special guard over it, there will be more or less trouble on account
of dirt working in between the washers. is
This, however, easy
to prevent by a proper design and construction.
112 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
The popularity and its successful application
of the ball bearing
to many no doubt suggested it as a proper device for
different uses
the thrust bearing of a lathe. It has been objected to in a lathe
against the form shown in Fig. 74, namely, the space it occupies on
the lathe spindle.
It is entirely feasible, however, to place this device, or the one
shown in Fig. 74, near the rear end, or even at the center of the rear
box if so desired. In this location it would have the added advan-
tage of position for ample lubrication and absolute protection from
dirt.
per pound.
It is an old and a true saying that with a good, true, and well
finished journal, and the bearing kept free from dirt, always clean
and well lubricated with good oil, a cast iron box is as good as
anything that can be made. Every practical shop man of even
moderate experience can cite instances of the excellent record of
the old-time cast iron box, and the fact that it is still used by some
of the oldest and best lathe manufacturers is certainly a strong
LATHE DESIGN: THE SPINDLE BEARINGS, ETC. 113
itmust be kept clean and free from dirt. It will not stand dirt.
Under adverse conditions many bronze boxes withstand success-
fully dirt, grit, and poor lubrication that would put the cast iron
box out of business in a few hours.
Of course it is assumed in all these remarks that the lathe
spindles are made of 50 to 60-point crucible steel, and that they
have been accurately ground, as this is the only method by which
we can insure the perfect cylindrical form of the bearing that is so
necessary to the successful operation of a lathe.
The older form of designing the housing of the head-stock for
the reception of the boxes was to have the opening at the head and
rear end form and covered by a straight bar of cast iron
of square
or machine steel, secured at the ends by hexagonal headed cap
screws. Later on it was found more economical to make these
spaces circular and to have them bored out with a boring bar, the
boxes being fitted to the circular opening and capped down, when
the inner surface of the box itself was bored out and hand reamed.
For small lathes, such as bench lathes and precision lathes, it is
very glossy, and this was retained during over a year's wear to the
author's personal knowledge, and probably much longer. In this
series of experiments a steel shaft and steel box was ruined in less
than an hour's run.
Hitherto attention has been
directed to straight or cylindri-
cal bearings, that is, those of
the same diameter at both
ends. Where a very accurate
bearing is required, and one
that will stand a great amount
of wear and still maintain its
correct alignment, the involute
FIG. 77. Involute Front Bearing. i i TV m-r i~
bearing shown in Fig. 77 is the
proper form. About one half the length of this bearing may be a
LATHE DESIGN: THE SPINDLE BEARINGS, ETC. 115
straight line, but conical, inclined two degrees from the axis. The
remainder of the length has either an involute or elliptic form to a
diameter 60 per cent larger than the small end of the bearing. The
involute form is preferable, while the "Schiele curve" is, of course,
the ideal contour. The spindle is held in place by the collars B, B,
threaded upon the spindle A, and a bronze washer C, interposed to
eliminate friction. While this is theoretically correct and entirely
practicable, an expensive bearing to make and to fit up in
it is
small numbers, and when special tools are made for it they are ex-
pensive to maintain.
For these reasons there was designed a sort of compromise
form which is shown in Fig. 78,
and which is not subject to
but it will generally be found in practice that the reamer will scrape
a little harder in one place than in another, showing the practical
necessity for its use.
In the drawings illustrating the different forms of bearings and
spindles the devices by which the journals are lubricated have been
omitted so as not to confuse the question. The matter of lubrica-
tion is, however, an important one, and will next claim our atten-
tion.
many cases, for the automatic closing of the oil tube or reservoir
for the purpose of excluding dirt.
An improvement upon the plain brass oil cup is shown in Fig. 80.
This improvement consists in the intro-
duction of a vertical tube A, whose
lower end opens into the hole leading
to the journal bearing. This tube is
This plan has the advantages of keeping the journal and its
lubricant free from dirt; of straining the oil so that any dirt it may
contain will not reach the bearing; of providing for a quantity of
oil so as to make frequent additions to the supply of oil unnecessary;
bearing and is placed in the center of it, the box or box lining ma-
terialbeing grooved out for this purpose.
In Fig. 83 is shown a similar
device to the above, except that a
flat linked chain is used instead of
a circular ring. It is obvious that
by lengthening the chain it will
supply of oil. The oil reservoirs are said to hold about a pint
and the supply is introduced through the oil hole D, which is pro-
vided with the glass tube F, closed by the stopper E, and through
which the height of the oil in the reservoir may be observed
through the opening cut in the metal surrounding the glass tube
as shown in the engraving.
The practical utility of such a means of lubrication is at once
apparent, as the neglect of workmen to attend to the proper lubri-
cation of lathe spindles, as well as many other parts of the machine
where oil is necessary, is one of the most fruitful sources of lathe
difficulties that occur. And a spindle that has been allowed to
"run dry" and its finely ground and polished surface to become
cut and "roughed up" is very difficult to ever get in as good working
condition again as before this kind of abuse happened.
The author has known of instances where the designer had pro-
vided an oil which had been filled when the lathe was being
reservoir
tested and which had operated well and lubricated abundantly.
The lathe was shipped to a customer, set up and run, and in a few
months the parts returned completely destroyed from lack of lubri-
cation, the fact being evident that no oil had ever been placed in
the reservoir when the supply first introduced, as above stated, was
exhausted. Such neglect of the most ordinary precautions is a
good illustration the very poor shop conditions which
of still
"
triple gear." This is by some manufacturers of lathes called the
'
double back gear."
In Fig. 85 is shown a diagram of the driving mechanism of a
changing of speeds. The spindle cone B runs loose upon the lathe
spindle and is fixed to it at will by a lock bolt passing through the
face gear C, which is permanently keyed to the spindle. Upon the
122 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
small end of the cone is fixed the cone pinion D, which meshes into
the back gear E, which is fixed at one end of the back gear quill, or
sleeve G, which carries at its opposite end the quill pinion F. This
quill runs freely upon a shaft called the back gear shaft, which is
engaged with it, will rotate the latter at a speed proportional to the
number of teeth in the two gears. In this case the cone pinion
D having 32 teeth, and the back gear E having 88 teeth, the ratio
of their respective revolutions will be as 2f to 1 ; therefore, if the
cone were running at 275 r.p.m. (revolutions per minute), the back-
gear quill would run at 100. This speed is still further reduced by
the quill pinion F and the face gear C. These two have respectively
24 and 96 teeth and consequently a ratio of 4 to 1, so that the
spindle speed, by the introduction of the back gears and the with-
drawal of the lock bolt attaching the cone B and the face gear C to
each other, will be reduced to 25 revolutions.
2.5; 17 to 11
= These ratios multiplied or divided (accord-
1.545.
per minute of the countershaft will give the various cone speeds.
Figure 86 is a diagram of the driving mechanism of a triple
geared lathe. So far as the countershaft cone, spindle cone, and
the back gearing are concerned it is identical with the mechanism
124 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
shown in Fig. 85, except that the quill pinion E is so constructed
as to slide out of engagement with the face gear, and also that
there is a third gear on the back gear quill G, namely the pinion
Triple gear ratio, including first back gear ratio, and as is usually
given, 82.5.
The spindle speeds, with the countershaft running at 140 r.p.m.,
are given in the following table:
LATHE DESIGN: THE SPINDLE BEARINGS, ETC. 125
6 7
FIG. 87.
89 10
Speed Curves
11 12
of a Triple
13 14
Geared Lathe.
fastest speed of the back gear and the slowest of the cone speed.
This amounts to a difference of 47 revolutions, as the former is
48.9, and the latter 96. The entire range of speeds is :
LATHE DESIGN: THE SPINDLE BEARINGS, ETC. 127
395 48.9
234 29.
Cone Speeds Back Gear Speeds
149 18.4
96 11.9
eight speeds. The lathe is a small one, the swing being 14 inches
and intended for light work and a comparatively fast range of
130 R.P.M.
130 R.P.M.
-WUT-
8
and back gears having a much wider face, in fact 50 per cent, while
the pitch of the teeth is in about the same proportion.
gear speed and the slowest cone speed is 23.7, while the next speed
below varies only 10 revolutions, which is a palpable fault in the
caclulation of the speed progression. The following are the spindle
speeds :
343.0 25.50
206.0 15.30
Cone Speeds 130.0 Back Gear Speeds 9.65
82.2 6.10
49.2 3.65
For this size of lathe the highest and lowest speeds are as they
should be, but the proper progression is at fault.
Figure 90 is a diagram from a lathe of 17-inch swing and having
a five-step cone, a back-gear ratio of 12 to 1, and a countershaft
speed of 150 revolutions per minute. The same fault of too great
a difference between the fastest back gear speed and the slowest
cone speed is observed.
The spindle speeds are as follows :
371.0 30.90
231.0 19.25
Cone Speeds 150.0 Back Gear Speeds 12.50
97.5 8.10
60.6 5.05
ing, Fig 91, that the countershaft cone is considerably larger than
the spindle cone, which is entirely unnecessary since the same object
The back gear ratio is 15.23 and the triple gear ratio 57.74 to 1.
speed of 6.44 exceeds both the back gear speeds of 3.45 and 5.82,
which renders them comparatively useless, or which makes the two
110 R.P.M.
159 R.P.M.
X
*
* U T^S^
60 50
40 40
20
10 10
1 2 3 5 G 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
j4
comparing this diagram with the two curves shown in the diagram
given in Fig. 87, being careful to note that the upper curve repre-
LATHE DESIGN: THE SPINDLE BEARINGS, ETC. 131
sen ting the triple gear speeds is drawn to a scale ten times larger
than the curve for the back gear speeds and the cone speeds. The
object of this was to show more clearly the progressive increase of
the triple gear speeds, whose continued upward tendency would
properly join with those of the back gear if the latter were drawn to
the same scale, which the dimensions of the page would not admit.
The figures for these speeds are given on a previous page, to
which the reader is referred, and a comparison with the speeds
given in the last example is suggested.
In the diagrams of driving mechanisms in Figs. 85, 86, 88, 89, 90,
and 91, the countershaft cone is shown above the spindle cone and
the back gear and triple gear mechanisms below. This is so
gear shaft and the triple gear shaft serves to handle the pinions on
both so as to be moved into and out of engagement at one and the
same time, thereby running the lathe as a back geared or a triple
geared lathe, by a very simple and convenient change. The design
is of a lathe built by Lodge & Shipley.
large step on the cone should fill the remaining space with the
exception of a sufficient clearance for the belt. The large diameter
of the cone having been thus fixed the diameters of the other steps
are a question of proportion, according to how many steps there are
and what is to be the smallest diameter. It is common practice
to make the steps of the spindle cone and the countershaft cone
identical. This, on a give a spindle speed
five-step cone, will
(without back gears) equal to the countershaft speed when the
belt is on the middle step. The spindle speed will be correspond-
ingly faster or slower according as the belt is on the smaller or larger
steps of the spindle cone, and in the same proportion as the cone
Ordinarily, the width of the face gear should not be less than
eight tenths of the width of the cone steps, and the width of the
back gear not less than six tenths. Of course, the pitch of the
teeth should be in proper proportion to the width of the face, and
in the larger lathes the pitch of the teeth of the face gear should be
one number coarser than that of the back gear.
Usually the face gear has an outside diameter about equal to
that of the largest step of the cone, but should not be larger. The
outside diameter of the cone pinion should not be much smaller
than the smallest cone step. These dimensions thus coming with-
in rather narrow limits, the diameter of the back gears and that of
the quill pinion will be governed by the ascertained or the arbi-
spindle to carry the tail center; and be capable of being "set over"
in a direction at right angles to the center line of the lathe, for the
ticular feature is the overhang at the front end for giving extra
stock."
Figure 97 is an excellent
view of the Lodge & Shipley type
of tail-stock for small lathes, and
shows their device for clamping
the spindle, and the mechanism
of the tail-spindle screw. The
contour of the casting might be FIG. 96. Rear View of the Reed
porting parts. The cap at the rear end is of such form and dimen-
sions as to increase this top-heavy appearance.
The Hendey-Norton tail-stock for 20-inchswing lathes is shown
in Fig. 99. It is a clean, symmetrical, and well-designed piece of
work and a considerable improvement
on the one just before it. It is se-
cured to the bed by a lever and eccen-
tric arrangement similar to that shown
in Fig. 94.
able in design except that there are two ribs and grooves, one
its
FIG. 99. 20-inch Lathe Tail-Stock, FIG. 100. 24-inch Lathe Tail-Stock,
by the
built Hendey Machine built by the NewHaven Manufactu-
Company. ring Company.
FIG. 101. 22-inch Lathe Tail-Stock, FIG. 102. 18-inch Lathe Tail-Stock,
built by the Prentice Bros. Company. built by Schumacher & Boye.
FIG. 105. 42-inch Lathe Tail-Stock, ion on a shaft in front. Upon the
built by theNiles Company.
front end of this shaft is a miter
LATHE DESIGN; THE TAIL-STOCK, ETC. 141
nearly a ton.
The establishment of Schu-
macher & Boye make a some-
what similar tail-stock for their
48-inch swing lathe. It is
FIG. 106. 60-inch Lathe Tail-Stock,
shown in Fig. 107. It is pro- builtby the New Haven Manufac-
turing Company.
vided with the same features
as the one just considered, but has the hand wheel set at an angle,
with the intention, probably, of rendering its position more con-
design.
There are a few points in the design of a good lathe carriage
that it will be well to call attention to, since they are those that are
part, which is properly supported by the two ribs, thick and deep
in the center. The only opening through it is one of moderate
dimensions for permitting the chips to pass through.
The entire top is on one level so that large work to be bored
may be bolted down upon it when the compound rest is removed
for that purpose. Some lathe carriages have the dovetail, upon
which the compound rest shoe runs, raised above the general
level of the carriage. When work is to be bored it must rest upon
144 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
this in the center while the sides are supported upon parallels with
attendant inconvenience in bolting down rigidly. In this design
there are four T-slots in front and two in the rear for the accom-
modation of bolts, while others may be passed through the chip
opening in the center if necessary.
-f
LATHE DESIGN: THE TAIL-STOCK, ETC. 145
surfaces for the carriage inside of the V's, the inner V's being
Figure 112 shows the carriage, apron front, and compound rest of
a New Haven 24-inch swing lathe.
The T-slots in the rear wings of the
be done.
Figure 114 shows the carriage, apron, and compound rest
of
Haven lathe. The top of the carriage is level and has three T-slots
on each side, in the front wings. carriage The
very massive, is
heavy steel clamping bars held up under the nuts by large spiral
springs so that the tool may be readily introduced. These clamp-
ing bars project, at the ends, beyond the holding-down studs so
that the tool may be placed outside the studs when the nature of
the work requires that position.
148 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
The entire device is very strong and rigid and capable of with-
standing very heavy cuts. There is a power cross and angular feed
in addition to the facilities for hand feeding in all directions.
Further illustrations and comments upon the various features
of this class on the lathes built by different makers will be found in
later chapters of this work, describing the entire lathes, and to
which the reader is referred for further information.
A
practical machinist has recently made the following criti-
cisms upon one of the popular lathes which shows the standpoint
from which the practical men look at some of the lathe features.
It is so eminently commendable as to be well worth preserving.
First. The tool block will not travel beyond the line of centers
to permit holding small boring tools directly in the tool-post by
means of any of the holders so often described which
use V-block clamps and make a handy tool-holder. This distance
9
is short 6 inch. It is often convenient to get beyond the centers,
and to my mind, at least, an inch is a great advantage.
Second. The stock in the tool-post impos- is so short that it is
Woodruff style, and falls out every time a gear is taken off. Of
course this gear does not require changing often if it did this nuisance ;
key, and so it drops and must be hunted for nearly every time a
gear is changed.
Fifth. The
centers are of No. 2 Morse taper, but the holes are
reamed just enough larger or deeper so that no tool of that taper
as fitted to the regular Morse socket can be held without a sleeve
LATHE DESIGN: THE TAIL-STOCK, ETC. 149
too common use of such tools in the center holes, but is sometimes
a great aggravation in a tool-room lathe, where every convenience
would be duly appreciated.
Sixth. The face-plate fit, so far as the screw thread is con-
cerned, right, but the part chambered out next the shoulder
is all
particularly against any strain that would tend to throw them out
of the predetermined line of inclination.
plate B, which slides upon the bar which is attached to the lathe
carriage. The bar A, and plate B, are secured against longitudinal
movement by means of the rod D, secured to the bracket E,
dog. When attached for taper work the sliding shoe connects
directly with the tool-rest and not with the screw, making its opera-
tion instantaneous. The nut is made to release and slide in a
groove. The stud for the sliding shoe also engages into a groove,
and to attach or detach requires nothing more or less than the
releasing of one screw and tightening another, or vice versa.
The cross-feed nut cannot fall over as in ordinary taper attach-
ment when in use, because it is never disconnected. The bolt
V, loosening the post screw at the end of the carriage arm which
releases the cross-feed screw connecting block, and clamping the con-
necting link onto the taper-bar slide by means of the binding handle.
The top link and the binding bolt, which is fitted to a reamed
hole in the head of the block, furnish a double connection (and one
that is absolutely rigid) between the two slides, preventing any
back-lash.
work the compound rest forward and back to form the taper as
the cut proceeds.
fering with the handle, the end of the screw telescoping into the
sleeve on which isthe pinion governing the power feed. Where
it telescopes it is splined, and so the screw is under control of the
operator, irrespective of the position of the tool due to the taper
bar. When turning tapers the lower slide of the compound rest
should be tightly clamped to the bar by the square head screw,
shown in cut. Consequently there is no disconnecting of any of
the parts when engaging
or disengaging the attachment. Simply
tightening the dog to the ways brings the attachment into service,
and loosening the same disengages the attachment, leaving the lathe
in proper shape for straight work; and in neither case does the use
of the attachment interfere in the slightest degree with the full and
Holding a lathe tool. The old slide-rest. The Reed compound rest. The
Lodge & Shipley compound rest. The Hamilton compound rest. The
Hendey-Norton open side tool-posts. Quick-elevating tool-rest.
The Homan patent tool-rest. The Le Blond elevating tool-rest. The
Lipe elevating tool-rest. Revolving tool holder. The full swing rest.
The Le Blond three-tool rest. The New Haven three-tool shafting
rest. The Hendey cone pulley turning rest. Steady rests. Follow rests.
The usual center rest. The New Haven follow rest. The Hendey
follow rest. The Reed follow rest. The Lodge & Shipley follow rest.
Their friction roll follow rest. Shaft straighteners. The Springfield
shaft straightener. New Haven shaft straightener. Lathe counter-
shafts. The two-speed countershaft. Geared countershafts. The Reed
countershaft. Friction pulleys. Tight and loose pulleys. Self-oiling
boxes. The Reeves' variable speed countershaft. Design of geared
countershafts. Another form of variable speed countershafts.
for ordinary work. It would not seem quite so well adapted, how-
ever, for very heavy cuts on account of the fact that a heavy verti-
cal strain would be rather severe on the inclined screw which holds
the tool block up to its position.
FIG. 131. The Homan Patent FIG. 132. Elevating Rest with Thread
Tool-Rest made by the Hen- Chasing Stop, made by the R. K. Le
dey Machine Company. Blond Machine Tool Company.
cutting edge or point of the tool and holding the work up to its
original position and alignment as before the tool commenced
cutting.
Ordinarily there are two classes of these rests which may in a
" "
general way be called center rests and "back rests." The center
rests usually have jaws bearing upon the work at three points
spaced equally around the circle, while a back rest bears upon the
work generally at the back and on top only. Sometimes such a rest
LATHE DESIGN: TURNING RESTS, ETC. 165
given the work as near the tool as possible. These are often called
"follow rests." They may be made with two or three adjustable
jaws resting against the work, or they
may carry a bushing having a hole
reamed just large enough to admit of
Company. This rest has but two jaws, one at the rear and one
over the work. Its peculiar feature is that the jaws may be re-
moved and a special piece substituted, which is bored out to receive
bushings which may be bored
and reamed to fit the different
sizes of work to be machined.
This feature will prove advanta-
geous, particularly when a large
number of parts, say shafts, are
to be turned.
the rest to a screw which telescopes the regular cross-feed screw and
is operated by the same hand wheel which sets the tool-rest. The
position of the rollers issuch that in approaching a shoulder
they support the shaft upon the smaller diameter until the cutting-
tool has turned a portion of the next larger diameter, when the
position of the rest is changed to bear on that portion.
Those having quantities of shafts,
with a number of shoulders to turn,
will recognize in this rest an attach-
ment entirely new in principle and
of the greatest importance in the sav-
ing of time.
One of the indispensable acces-
sories or attachments, if it may be so
marring the shaft. The centering heads are clamped in any desir-
able position on the shaft, by the binding screw shown. The top
of the arm which supports the shaft forms a pocket for chalk or
other material used in marking.
The center at the right is pressed forward by a spring and has
a knurled head for drawing it back, both centers being provided
with small oil wells. The body of the machine has three lugs
cast upon it, by means of which it is bolted to the bench. The block
LATHE DESIGN: TURNING RESTS, ETC. 169
which is on the end of the screw is of cast steel, case hardened, and
the centers of tool steel tempered the whole machine being so
down upon the round shaft, which is laid into two other loose V-
blocks E, E. To insure great rigidity when handling large work
the forged stay rod F is provided, its head being held in a T-slot
in the base casting and its upper end in a slot cast in the head and in
front of the compression screw C, and secured by a heavy nut.
At each corner is bolted a leg G, G, G, G,
of the base casting
popular.
Figure 147 shows a good example of the regular type of lathe
countershafts. It is made by the F. E. Reed Company, and con-
the cone pulley, a counterpart of the spindle cone part, and
sists of
the pulley proper A, which is turned on the inside of the rim for the
Sliding upon the shaft between the pulleys is the clutch collar
power.
The clutch collar or sleeve E is provided with a square groove
at its center to accommodate the shipper fork, by means of which
172 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
it is moved and fro on the shaft, according as one or the other
to
clutch is thrown into an active position and the lathe to be
to be
driven by the belt on the one or the other pulley. One of the pulleys
carries an open belt and the other a cross belt.
There are various forms of friction pulleys and friction clutches
used on countershafts, but are designed with analogous parts to
all
belts are so located that each is on one of the loose pulleys when
duct the back to the oil reservoir. The design and arrangement
oil
is very simple and at the same time very effective. It is used with
cones placed side by side but in reverse positions so that their ad-
jacent sides were parallel. They were mounted upon parallel shafts,
one being the driven and the other the driver. Motion was trans-
mitted from one to the other by means of a short endless belt running
between the surfaces, with the slack end hanging below them. This
belt was controlled by a sliding belt guide by means of which it
could be moved from end to end of the cones, whose varying diam-
eters at the point of contact determined the speed transmitted
from one shaft to the other.
While this device was entirely operative and, with light loads,
reasonably successful, it was not well adapted to transmitting any
considerable amount of power, owing to the very small area of
contact surface between the cones and the belt, the pressure upon
which had to be excessive in order to transmit the power required
even for light work.
Unusually large cones would no doubt have added materially
to its transmitting power, but as a practical mechanism it was not
the success that its admirers hoped it would be.
CHAPTER IX
LATHE ATTACHMENTS
proportion, for forming concave and convex surfaces for ball and
socket joints, for turning large spherical surfaces, and for forming
semicircular grooves in rolls for rolling iron and steel bars.
The construction and application of this device, as arranged on
an ordinary lathe, is as follows. A machine steel ring A
is forged,
turned up, bored to a force fit to the circular portion of the com-
riage as shown. Upon the front end of the shaft C is the gear E,
produced.
convex work is to be done the compound rest tool block must
If
be drawn back far enough past the center to give the required
radius of the convex curve.
C, which engages with the idle pinion, D, which in turn engages the
gear E, which is fixed to the central stem of the compound rest
tool block F.
When in use the cross-feed is connected and started, and in-
by the screw F. Fixed to the rear end of the compound rest shoe
182 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
C is a bracket G, in which is pivoted the small friction roller H,
which bears against the edge of the curved former bar D. Attached
also to the compound rest is the weight K, by means of a cord
which runs over a sleeve L, attached to the lathe carriage.
In the use of this device the clamp screw F is tightened up so
as to fix the cross-feed screw nut E in its place and the rough forging
for the roll turned down nearly to the finish size and form in the
usual manner. The clamp screw F is then loosened and the fric-
i
I
operated, the compound rest must swing upon its center according
to the radius of the bar A, and be governed by it.
It is necessary for its practical working that all fits and adjust-
ments must be nicely made and accurately set in order to have this
attachment operative. Also, that unless the parts are all com-
paratively heavy and rigid, the cuts made would of necessity be
light ones, otherwise the tool would be likely to have considerable
vibration and leave " chatter marks" in the work.
It should also be remembered that for a large radius the tool
184 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
must project out farther from the center of the compound rest as
in other attachments of the kind, since the radius bar has
nothing
to do with determining or governing the radius of the curve
machined.
Figure 160 is a front elevation and Fig. 161 a plan of a similar
attachment to the above, and of like origin, having for its object
the machining of convex surfaces. a more complex matter,
This is
work, the slide F is carried along with the carriage cross-slide. The
resultant effect of the A
movement of the bar is to move the block
K along the lathe bed, and this movement is transmitted to the
carriage by means of the connecting bar L, this compound move-
ment causing the point of the tool to describe an arc of which the
length of the bar A is the radius.
In this device, also, it is necessary to have all the parts strong
and rigid, with bars, studs, bolts, etc., much larger and of better
mechanical construction than those shown in the engraving, in
order to insure accurate and well finished work as well that which
willbe economical in point of the time required to perform it.
In making cutters for use in milling machines, gear cutters and
the like, it is not sufficient that the correct form be given to the
face or cutting edge of the teeth only. This form must be carried
on to the back of the teeth so that in grinding the face of the teeth,
when they have become dulled from use, they will still maintain
their originaland correct form.
This would be a simple matter and might be readily accom-
plished in forming up the blank in the lathe previous to cutting
the teeth, if it were not for the fact that there must be some "side
clearance" allowed to the teeth. In other words, the teeth must
be widest and the diameter of the cutter the largest across the
cutting edge and the points of the teeth respectively, and the "form "
carried back from this in a decreasing radius.
This form produced by the process known by the technical
is
"
term ofbacking off."
There are various attachments in the market for performing
this operation. The conditions of the case require that for each
tooth of the cutter the forming tool must commence to cut
at the cutting edge of the cutter, quickly move in toward the center
until the cutting edge of the next tooth approaches, then fly back
to the original position ready for cutting the next tooth. This
motion is repeated for each tooth, and the
tool-holding device must
be likewise capable of being constantly adjusted to the depth of
the cut as the metal is cut away so as to reduce it until the cut
comes quite near the cutting edge.
From these conditions it will be seen that there must be a quick
advance and an instantaneous return of the forming tool for each
186 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
tooth of the cutter. To produce this movement is the function
" " "
of the backing-off relieving" attachment.
or
An ingenious device of this kind is illustrated in Figs. 162, 163,
and 164, of which Fig. 162 is a plan of the attachment, Fig. 163
Gj P
shows one of the actuating cams, and Fig. 164 shows the bracket
and friction roller that rests against the actuating cam shown
in Fig. 163.
The construction of the device is as follows: Upon the small
-
FIG. 163.
Ratchet Cam FIG. 164. Brac-
"
for Backing- ket for Cam Rol-
' ' '
off Attach- ler of 'Backing-
ment. off" Attachment.
roller E, which bears against the actuating cam B. The swivel bar
ispivoted at F, as usual, and when used for the purposes of this
attachment the clamping screws at either end (not shown) are left
slightly loose so as to permit it to swivel slightly, and the friction
The operation of the device is this. The swivel bar of the taper
any grinding job was expected to be, since the round belt must
needs travel to and fro upon itas the lathe carriage carried the
ing grinding devices was much increased and the old overhead
wooden drum is fastbecoming a thing of the past.
In Fig. 167 is given a view of one of the electrically driven lathe
grinder attachments made by the Cincinnati Electrical Tool Com-
pany. It may be held in the tool-post or tool-clamping device, and
190 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
is entirely self-contained, the emery wheel being attached to the
shaft of the small electric motor within the metallic case. It is
driven by the current coming through an ordinary incandescent
lamp cord.Its movements are regulated by the crank seen in
front of the case, as well as by the cross and lateral feeding
mechanism of the lathe.
Its compact form, portability, and the convenience of attach-
motor, they may be used for grinding the inside of cylindrical work,
the longitudinal feed of the lathe being made use of to give the
Being electrically driven the device may be set with its shaft at
right angles to the center line of the lathe, and face grinding may
be conveniently performed.
In fact there are hardly any of the ordinary grinding operations
that are required to be done on centers that may not be performed
by one of these grinders, even to cutters, reamers, and the like, by a
little ingenuity in arranging for them.
These points make such grinders of a great deal of value in
ordinary machine shops and manufactories and almost indispen-
,"
form of the thread. However, the full form of the thread is only
given by the last one used in cutting the thread, the others being
gradually cut away,so that the first one hardly more than marks
the location of the cut, the design being to cut the full thread at
ten cuts, each successive tooth of the cutter cutting a little deeper
until the tenth tooth shall have but a trifle to cut to finish the
thread.
It will be noticed that the tooth marked- in the engraving
rests a
upon projection E, which supports it in its cutting 'position
to act upon the piece F which is being cut. The cutter having
made one cut is withdrawn from contact with the work by the
LATHE ATTACHMENTS 193
completed.
The important point accomplished by this device is that as
What a rapid change gear device is. The old pin wheel and lantern pinion
device. The first patent for a rapid change gear device. The inven-
tors' claims.
Classification of rapid change gear devices. The
inventors of
rapid change gear devices. Paulson's originality.
"Change gear devices" by the author. Le Blond's quick change gear
device. The Springfield rapid change gear attachment. Criticism of
the device. The Bradford rapid change gear device. Judd's quick
change gear device. Newton's quick change gear device. The Flather
quick change gear device.
exchanging one gear for another or one set of gears for another,
that is, without removing a gear.
These gears were formerly called "change-gears" because they
were subject to change for each new operation of the lathe in which
their use was essential.
In the old-fashioned " chain lathe," having a lead screw driven
by "pin wheels" and "lantern pinions," which is illustrated and
described in Chapter II, it will be seen that the builder had pro-
vided for changing the pitch of the thread to be cut by changing
only one gear. This was about the year 1830. In 1882, George A.
Gray, obtained a patent, No. 252,760, for a change gear arrange-
Jr.,
ment whose principal feature was that only one gear need be re-
moved and changed to cut any of the usual threads.
The first effort in the direction of devising a rapid change gear
mechanism was, so far as the United States Patent Office is con-
cerned, made by Edward Bancroft and William Sellers, who on
February 7, 1854, obtained Patent No. 10,491, for a device con-
194
RAPID CHANGE GEAR MECHANISMS 195
inventors, since one of them, Isler, used no less than six cones of
gears. Usually these cones of gears were located under the head
or in front of it, but sometimes within the bed. But Johnson,
apparently being determined to have a cone of gears somewhere,
places them on a
loose sleeve running on the main spindle. It
remained for Wheeler to find a new location for his cone of gears by
placing them in the apron.
effort, the inventors produced mechanisms ranging all the way from
"good and bad, to indifferent."
Of the second class, that is, those who located the gears on short
shafts arranged in a circle, the first to devise this arrangement was
Edward Flather, who obtained patent No. 536,615, on April 2,
1895, and was later followed by Benj. F. Burdick, William L.
Shellenback, Edward A. Muller, and Herman R. Isler, in the order
named, the latter's last patent having been granted in 1902.
Of the exceptional examples, included in class third, the most
notable one is who adopted
the invention of Carl J. Paulson,
the very original method
makingof a series of rings fitting inside
each other, cutting gear teeth on a portion of the face of each and
arranging the proper mechanism to thrust out from its fellows, the
gear having the desired number of teeth that might be needed.
This was probably the most original of all the methods employed
up to the present time.
While this device was not a commercial success, it had a counter-
part and was the prototype of a quite similar arrangement consist-
ing of two sets of sleeves in line with each other and having teeth
cut on their outer surfaces precisely as Paulson had done, and
arranging them and their connecting gears in a more practical and
operative combination.
An interesting review might be written and illustrated of the
various patented change gear mechanisms that have been invented
since the days of Bancroft and Sellers, but it is hardly within the
"
entitled Change Gear Devices," wherein all this data is presented
in detail.
For the purposes of this work it will be sufficient to present a few
of the more recent examples in this chapter and to call attention to
the engravings of a number of others in other chapters wherein the
lathes of prominent builders are illustrated and the change gear
devices shown. Among these are the lathes built by Hamilton
Machine Tool Company, Bradford Machine Tool Company, Hendey
Machine Tool Company, Prentice Brothers Company, Springfield
Machine Company, etc.
with gear G. Gears D and F and the pinion Ej all rotate with the
stud, which is journaled in a bearing in the head-stock casting.
The introduction of the telescopic gear F makes a change in the
feed ratio of 4 to 1.
intomesh with one of the gears in the cone by giving the bushing E
a combined sliding and rotary motion on the barrel D.
The portion of the barrel D which is toward the cone of gears is
EXTERIOR VIEW
FIG. 173. Details ofLe Blond's Quick Change
Gear Device.
casing, and shows the modifications that have been made in the
device to adapt it to the engine lathe. The cone shaft carries be-
sides the eight gears of the cone, an additional gear, K, and below
this shaft, which is marked B, is the shaft L, which is connected
directly to the feed rod R, and carries a sliding sleeve S, on which
are two pinions, M and N.
200 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
In the position shown in this view power is transmitted from
the cone shaft B to the gear N
by means of the auxiliary pinion K,
and as the sleeve S is splined to shaft L the motion is transmitted
to this shaft and thence to the feed rod. By sliding the sleeve to
the right, gear N no longer meshes with pinion K, but instead pinion
M meshes with one of the gears of the cone, causing the feed rod
to rotate at a faster speed. The lead screw T is driven from the
feed rod by a slip gear W, in the usual manner.
Fromthe above description it will be seen that with the gear
box eight changes of feed are obtained. The slip gear on the
itself
generally adopted on this style of lathe is done away with, and that
wherever there are coarse feeds or heavy threads the increase comes
directly from the 4 to 1 gear on the stud t
D
speeding up the ,
that is, those which have their change-gears mounted upon studs
or short shafts arranged in a circle.
The change-gears are mounted in a gear box, shown at the left-
hand side of the engraving, Fig. 175, the intermediate and head-
stock spindle gears being those ordinarily used. The cover of the
gear is opposite the center of the lead screw extension, when the
small clutch is thrown. All of the eight change-gears are protected
by the case except the top of the one which is in mesh with the
intermediate gear.
To give a sufficient range of pitches, a set of three pairs of gears is
provided in the head-stock to vary the speed of the intermediate
gear. These are housed in the gear cases shown at the extreme
end of the head-stock. These are clutched to their spindles by
slippingthem on until their clutches engage the spindles, which
have clutches with their end sections reduced, as in the case of the
by a sliding key to the shaft. The three gears are rotated by gears
FIG. 178. Front Elevation of the Bradford Rapid Change Gear Device.
in the pinion, and as the bracket turns with the quadrant it sup-
ports the pinion no matter which one of the three gears the inter-
mediate may be in mesh with.
Figure 180 shows the quick change gear cut entirely out, and
ordinary change-gears used. It shows also on an enlarged scale the
plunger and sliding key
whereby one of the three
trolling handle.
The screws can be raised and lowered to allow the gear in the
frame to mesh correctly with the gears of the case, thereby enabling
the operator to use gears other than those ordinarily used, simply
by adjusting the screws until the gears mesh properly. The rela-
206 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
live positions of the eight screws will be seen in the front view near
A, Fig. 178
The threads cut with this gear range from 3 to 46 per inch, the
screw-cutting feeds being 4} times the feeds for turning.
The quick change gear device shown in section in Fig. 182, and
in front elevation in Fig. 181, is the invention of Joseph Judd, a
draftsman employed by the New Haven Manufacturing Com-
pany.
It is unique in that in all other efforts at devising a quick change
gear mechanism the shafts have been located parallel to each other.
SECTIONAL VIEW
FIG. 180. Sectional View of Bradford Rapid Change Gear Device.
After much study of the subject in conjunction with the author, and
after all former devices known in the patent office had been thor-
devices, and Mr. Judd hit upon the idea of making the faces of
very slight when applied to a full-sized gear, and the device operates
much more smoothly than many would suppose.
The device includes a cone of gears composed of seven members
L, and mounted upon the lead screw shaft P, to which they are
fixed. Above this cone of gears is a pinion B, with an equally
inclined face, and mounted upon the quill G so that it can be moved
-
._.|_^--|--|--p|-1|-]- -j-
This gives a range from 1 to 15 threads per inch and feeds from
4 to 60 per inch inclusive. By changing gear A, the other changes,
of course/are readily obtained.
It will be noticed that the device is very compact and very simple,
requiring a less number of
lows :
the parts of the forked lever G. The end of this lever is turned
either member isin use the other is idle. The arrangement of the
countershaft E and the shaft F allows them and their gearing to be
assembled on the bench.
The lead screw and the feed rod can be applied to the machine
by bolting the brackets which support the lathe to the bed. Then
the supporting bracket is put in position so that the triple gears will
come in the same plane with their mates, and that the countershaft
E will be in line for the engagement of the slip pinion K with either
gears M or N.
Figure 185 gives a front elevation and Fig. 186 a rear elevation
of the Flather quick change gear device, which is a simple and
212 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
form a long pinion, and on this portion slides the lever E. The
shaft B carries the cone of gears usual in
arrangements of this
kind, and pivoted in the lever E, but not shown in any of these cuts,
is the usual intermediate
gear, which meshes with the teeth cut in
the shaft A, and can be brought into mesh with any of the series
of gearson the shaft B.
The locking pin F locates the lever in each of its different po-
sitions by entering into the appropriate hole drilled in the face of the
gear box. G is a steel plate fastened to the lower edge of the box,
and provided with a notch to match each locking pin hole. A pro-
jection on the inside of the lever E enters one of these notches, and
prevents the lever from being shifted along the shaft until the inter-
mediate gear has been dropped clear of the gears on the shaft B.
A new feature in this device is the fact that means are provided
in the gear box for giving three different speeds to the feed rod or
lead screw for each position of lever F. The shaft C has turning
loosely upon it two gears, H and J, whose hubs are cut to the form
RAPID CHANGE GEAR MECHANISMS 213
gear in the series on the shaft B. The gear I may be thrown either
to the right or left, and thus be disengaged from its mate, but con-
nected by the clutch teeth on its hub with -either of the gears H or J.
As these are run by their corresponding drivers at different rates of
right to engage the clutch on the lead screw, or moved to the left
to mesh with the gear on the feed-shaft.
The 27 feeds and threads mentioned are further increased to
54 by means of a sliding gear which meshes with the wide-faced
gear D and is moved in or out by the projecting hub seen at M.
Suitable gearing in the case N alters the ratio of rotation for these
pitches, etc., since the gear D may be removed and one of any
suitable number of teeth inserted in its place.
CHAPTER XI
LATHE TOOLS, HIGH-SPEED STEEL, SPEEDS AND FEEDS, POWER FOR
CUTTING-TOOLS, ETC.
Lathe toolsin general. A set of regular tools. Tool angles. Materials and
Their relation to the proper form of tools.
their characteristics. Be-
havior of metals when being machined. The four requisites for a tool.
The strength of the tool. The form of the tool. Degree of angles.
Roughing and finishing tools. Spring tools. Tool-holders. Grinding
tools for tool-holders. Dimensions of tools for tool-holders. The Arm-
strong tool-holders. Economy of the use of tool-holders. High-speed
steel. A
practical machinist's views on high-speed steel tools. Condi-
tions of its use. Preparing the tool. Testing the tool. Speeds and
feeds. Much difference of opinion. Grinding the tools. Amount of
work accomplished by high-speed steel tools. Average speed for lathes
ofdifferent swing. Speeds of high-speed steel drills. Mr. Walter
Brown's observations on high-speed steel. Its brittleness. Its treat-
ment. The secret of its successful treatment. Method of hardening
and tempering. Method of packing. Making successful taps. Speeds
for the use of high-speed steel tools. Economy in the use of high-
speed steel tools. Old speeds for carbon steel tools. Modern speeds.
Relative speeds and feeds. Modern feeds for different materials.
Lubrication of tools. The kind of lubricant. Applying the lubri-
cant. Lubricating oils. Soapy mixtures. Formula for lubricating
compound. Improper lubricants. Various methods of applying lubri-
cants. The gravity feed. Tank for lubricant. Pump for lubricant.
Power for driving machine tools. Calculating the power of a driving-
belt. Impracticability of constructing power tables. Collecting data
relating to these subjects. Flather's "Dynamometers and the Trans-
mission of Power." Pressure on the tool. Method of calculating it.
Flather's formula. Manchester Technology data. Pressure on tools.
i.
216 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
In nearly all these tools their names indicate their uses, which
is quite apparent also from their form.
The question
of the proper angles to which lathe tools should be
formed an important one and there are a good many theories in
is
seen if we analyze
the question a moment. Cutting capacity is the
tendency to dig into the work, to bury itself in the metal. This
is directly opposed by the greater or less angle of clearance or relief.
"
The tendency to bury itself in work
due to the "rake and the
the is
top angle, but principally to the rake in a slide tool and the top
angle in a cutting-down tool.
These points will be clear upon reference to the engraving, in
which Fig. 188 show the angles for a slide tool, and Fig. 189 those
for a cutting-down tool.
As to the proper strength. The tool will be much stronger with
more obtuse angles, yet more obtuse angles will be to the injury
of its other qualities. Again, if the point or the edge is too keen,
that is, at too acute an angle, its strength and durability are both
jeopardized.
218 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
Hence we are forced to the conclusion that the form of the tool
isnot only largely governed by the kind and quality of the material
to be acted upon, but is in itself, by reason of the conditions of its
construction and use, very largely a question of compromises on the
one side or the other, and frequently on both.
Referring again to Fig.
188 showing a side tool, and
Fig. 189 showing a cutting-
down tool, both of which
are types of nearly all the
various forms, attention is
called to the various angles
FIG. 188. The Proper Angles for a
Side Tool.
and their designations, which
will apply equally well to
all cut ting- tools.
It will be seen that the clearance angle may be anywhere be-
tween a vertical line and 10 degrees from it. The face angle may
have a like variation although we frequently see tools having an
the workmen get their tools from the tool-room ready ground, the
tool angles are the same for both metals and of all degrees of hard-
ness, unless the foreman has special work do requiring a special
to
form of tool. Another set of tool angles are used for brass and
bronze.
When bronze is very tough as well as hard, a special form of
tool will be required, and this will sometimes very nearly approach
the form of a tool for turning steel, including considerable rake and
feeds, and shallow cuts. Fine feeds are not, however, always used,
as it is a common condition to use very light, scraping cuts, with a
broad tool and a coarse feed. This is notably the case in finishing
the inside of engine cylinders. The author has seen such a cut of
nearly an inch feed, the tool being very carefully ground and acting
more as a scraper than a cutting-tool. In this case the angles of
the tool were very slight.
On outside work, that is, turning rather than boring, a finishing
tool with abroad cutting edge is frequently made of an inverted
o A
regular shapes, and about all the shapes that will be needed, are
shown in the engraving, Fig. 191, in which the angle is specified.
Thread tools may, of course, be added to the list, and so also may
some forms of inside boring and threading tools.
The dimensions of the steel used for these tools for light lathe
work is -fg inch and } inch square. For medium lathe work, -f^, f,
T e, and J inch square. For heavy lathe work, f f |, 1, 1J
7 mcn , ,
square.
There are many different brands and grades of so-called high-
LATHE TOOLS, HIGH-SPEED STEEL, ETC. 221
The facility with which tools of different shapes that may be re-
quired can be produced is also an important reason for their use.
Another reason is that when the shop is once equipped with
tool-holders, the cost for the steel for making the tools is very slight
as compared with the heavy forged tools formerly used.
The modern demand for high-speed steel for lathe tools and
itshigh price makes it necessary, from reasons of economy, to use
small tools; hence tool-holders.
" "
FIG. 194. The Three-in-one Tool-Holder.
practical use.
The following remarks, giving the experience of one practical
LATHE TOOLS, HIGH-SPEED STEEL, ETC. 223
has been found to work best in one's own shop. This has been a
difficult matter for superintendents and foremen to decide, because
do the most work, and experience has taught most of us that any
of our high-speed steels, when properly treated, will do considerably
more work than the machine is capable of.
"I do not think it advisable to have too many different kinds of
stock in the works; results depend entirely upon the way of forging
and treating the tool. If the tool-maker is familiar with one or
two grades of the best high-speed steel, and the quality is found
satisfactory, and bringing about the best results that the machines
can stand up to, these are the steels that should be adopted.
"Each of these steels must be treated differently, and if the tool-
maker succeeds in treating one grade properly and understanding
it thoroughly, it means much time saved and better results in the
shop.
"
In introducing the use of high-speed steel in a shop, like every-
thing else that is to be a success, one must start right. That is, the
work should be undertaken by some responsible person superin-
tendent, foreman or speed boss, in other words, the man who is
responsible for the work turned out in the machine shop. All tools,
of course, have some particular way of treating, which should be
understood by the person in charge. Now it is 'up to the forger.'
"The person in charge should see that the tool has its proper
treatment, as success in most cases lies with the treatment. When
the tool is finished, and the superintendent or foreman is satisfied
that it has been properly treated in accordance with directions, it
is ready for grinding and for making a test. It should be ground on
a wet emery wheel, and care taken to heat the tool just so it can
be touched with the fingers.
"The tool once ground and ready to do the work, the question
often arises,
'
What lathe, planer, or machine are we going to put
224 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
'
it into? In most cases when a new tool is tried, it is put in a lathe,
to do turning; so naturally the superintendent or foreman would
pick out the best lathe that was in the shop, i. e., the lathe that was
considered to have the most power.
"
Being now ready to make the test, it is generally tried on steel;
that is by most
considered superintendents and foremen the sever-
est test to make. Take a piece of steel of almost any diameter,
and of the quality most used in the shop, and prepare to take the
cut. It seems to puzzle most every foreman to know just what to
do and where to start. I speak now of what I have seen, and of
the men who are sometimes sent by the steel makers to demon-
strate the use of their steels.
"I think the proper way is to get at least one dozen shafts of
a standard size that are used in the regular line of product, and to
first look up the exact time it took to finish or rough off the previ-
ous lot; then to determine about what percentage of time would
be considered a gain to warrant adopting the
fair steel, based on
the price per pound of the steel being used. Let it be based at
25 per cent, which I find in most shops can be accomplished, and
the lathe be speeded up faster than when the last lot was turned,
starting with the same feed and about the same cut, which most any
lathe will stand. The superintendent finds, after he has roughed
off about two or three pieces, that the tool seems to stand up all
right.
"The next step is to find out about the .speeds and feeds. The
first thing is to increase the feed with the same speed the machine
isrunning at. In most cases which I have seen, after the tool has
traveled a certain distance the cutting edge would break or crumble,
and the foreman would say, 'Just as I expected. All this high-
doing over 25 per cent more work than ever before, without the
least bit of trouble.
"Now the tool istaken out and looked over, and it is found that
a portion of its cutting edge has been broken off. Here is where
most foremen make a mistake; they take the tool back to the
forger or tool dresser to have it re-dressed and treated
over. If
it is only broken off slightly and can be ground, even if it take ten
or fifteen minutes to grind, it should be done by all means. My
LATHE TOOLS, HIGH-SPEED STEEL, ETC. 225
slips, the lathe is stalled, or the countershaft will not drive. (It is
will find to his great astonishment that by actual time the lathe
has produced over 25 to 40 per cent more work than ever before.
I allude to the lathe using most all ordinary tool steels.
"At
this point it is up to the superintendent to see just where he
is at,and he finds in looking around his shop that there is hardly a
machine that he can't speed up, but he also finds that the speeds
on the countershafts are all too slow. This means that he has
either got to increase his speed by increasing the main line, or buy
new pulleys to increase his countershafts.
"In most instancesit is advisable to increase the speed of the
"No doubt the reader will know the results that some of us have
arrived at in the last two years. In regard to cutting speeds and
feeds there has been and always will be difference of opinion, and it
is almost impossible to determine the right feeds and speeds, whether
226 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
it is for steel or cast iron, and for the operations of turning, planing,
or milling; the work varies so in different shops, that is, regarding
the construction of different pieces, the amount of metal there is to
remove from each piece, and how accurately the work has to be
done.
"
no doubt in my mind that the makers of high-speed
There is
be ground; and this is the only way to get good and accurate work,
especially where the strains of the cut spring the work. Moreover,
as it is not necessary to straighten the work to any great extent, it
"
14-inch swing lathe; slowest speed with back gears in, 100 feet.
16-inch swing lathe; slowest speed with back gears in, 90 feet.
18-inch swing lathe; slowest speed with back gears in, 85 feet.
20-inch swing lathe; slowest speed with back gears in, 75 feet.
24-inch swing lathe; slowest speed with back gears in, 65 feet.
30-inch swing lathe; slowest speed with back gears in, 60 feet.
36-inch swing lathe; slowest speed with back gears in, 50 feet.
42-inch swing lathe; slowest speed with back gears in, 30 feet.
"
Larger lathes in proportion.
"
High-speed twist drills, drilling cast iron, ought to drill the
if we have the
following, power and feeds:
"
J-inch diameter, speed 500 r.p.m., 3i inches deep in one minute.
|-inch diameter, speed 400 r.p.m., 2f inches deep in one minute.
f-inch diameter, speed 335 r.p.m., 2J inches deep in one minute.
f-inch diameter, speed 290 r.p.m., 2J inches deep in one minute.
1 -inch diameter, speed 250 r.p.m., 2J inches deep in one minute.
If -inch diameter, speed 220 r.p.m., 2J inches deep in one minute.
IJ-inch diameter, speed 200 r.p.m., 2 inches deep in one minute.
If-inch diameter, speed 185 r.p.m., If inches deep in one minute.
IJ-inch diameter, speed 175 r.p.m., If inches deep in one minute.
"
Larger ones in proportion.
"These speeds are all based on a peripheral speed of 65 feet per
minute. High-speed drills have done somewhat better than this,
however, but taking into consideration the time of grinding, I find
that this speed is a good average during a day's run."
228 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
secret lies in getting the tool to such a heat, in the process of hard-
ening, that the constituent molecules are mobile, and then 'draw-
ing' it to the right point.
"When the tool-maker has mastered this secret, he can pro-
duce a tool of high-speed steel as tough as any of carbon steel.
the cutters, the outer edges only being brought into immediate
contact with the bath, and therefore shrinking more rapidly than
the interior parts.
230 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
"For taps, drills, and similar shaped tools, this hardening leaves
the steel too brittle, and as soon as the tool has become a little dull
it breaks off. To avoid this the tool can be drawn as can a carbon-
steel tool. But here, too, a new set of color scales must be learned.
The blue heat of carbon steel is not enough of the high-speed steel.
The heat must be carried on until the metal reaches a greenish
tinge. It isthen allowed to cool in a dry place free from air drafts.
"It is now much tougher and softer than before. In case it
needs still further softening, itcan be done by reheating, bringing
it to a faint red, dull
enough to be perceptible only in a dark place
(an empty keg is convenient for this use) and then cooled as
nail
before. We have made taps as small as -j6d inch in diameter to be
used in an automatic nut tapping machine, about the hardest work
to which a tap can be put, with gratifying results.
"In the test three taps cut 92,000 nuts, an average of almost
31,000 nuts per tap; with carbon steel taps we cut 6,000 nuts per
saving in the time used formerly for stopping the machine, and re-
moving and grinding taps, which is five times as great when carbon
steel taps are used.
"This is not mentioned as a particularly demonstrative test,
but merely to show that high-speed steel can be profitably used
the speed of the ordinary drill, and at the same time cut more
holes.
"Makers of the new steels are in the habit of making large claims
as to speeds attainable. We
have tried about every such steel on
the market, giving each a thorough test. Our experience usually
bears out the moderate statements, and sometimes the extrava-
gant ones, put forth by some makers as to what is possible. For
LATHE TOOLS, HIGH-SPEED STEEL, ETC. 231
instance, we have cut a y1^ chip, ^ feed, at a rate of 266 feet per
minute peripheral speed, from a rod of machine steel.
"Such speeds are possible for short periods; but whoever buys
a rapid cutting steel with the expectation of maintaining such speed
will be sadly disappointed. With a fine feed, even four hundred
feet per minute can be cut under very favorable circumstances.
But think of the chip that comes off! In case of steel the chip is
no such thing as we are accustomed to, breaking into short pieces
and dropping into the box below.
"At a speed of, say, two hundred feet per minute, the chip
comes writhing and twisting, almost red hot, in a continuous length,
shooting here and there, everywhere but the chip box; and quick
must be the workman that manages to keep well out of the way
of it, for it 'sticketh like a brother' when once he gets tangled in it.
"
Possibly, in time, a way will be found to take care of such chips.
Until this is done, however, a moderate speed is most desirable. We
find that on steel, where there is no considerable thickness of metal
to remove, a speed of one hundred feet a minute is very satisfactory.
This allows taking care of chips, and the tools stand up well under
it. In turning gray iron, where the scale is to be removed, about
seventy feet per minute giving us the best results. Naturally,
is
teeth, are scarcely less familiar. It is now true that we are making
allthese tools with inserted cutters of rapid cutting steel at less cost
than the old carbon steel tools. At the same time they are doing
from three to ten times the work, and at a much greater speed."
The question of speeds and feeds is an important one in con-
nection with that of lathe tools, whether the old carbon steel is
used or the new high-speed steel known as self-hardening is that
selected.
As has been said in the observation on the form and qualities of
tools, a great deal depends, not only on the kind of metal worked,
but also on the quality of the particular kind that is to be machined.
With the old form of tools made from the old carbon steels,
cast iron was turned at a speed of from 20 to 25 feet per minute;
soft steel, 25 to 30 feet; wrought iron, 35 to 45 feet; and ordinary
brass at from 50 to 100 feet.
With the present tools and methods such speeds are considered
child's play, and the speeds at which different materials are turned,
The feeds will not vary in the same proportion as the speeds,
or in fact bear any fixed relation to them.
A prominent writer on this subject says that: "An important
point is, that other conditions being equal, the increase of speed
itself in the practice ofany given shop." He might have said, with
each different material, and as to whether it is a roughing, sizing,
or finishing cut.
Some practical observations in point may not be amiss, as they
are taken from actual practice and may be held as good mechanical
data, with the use of high-speed steel.
Roughing cuts in soft cast iron may be made with a feed as
coarse as 4 to 5 per inch, with a tool whose leading corner is slightly
rounded.
Roughing cuts on soft machine steel forgings, 5 to 8 per inch.
ing to both the work and the tool. A steady stream flowing upon
234 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
the cutting-tool will tend to carry away such heat as will, to a cer-
tain extent, always take place. Naturally a well lubricated tool
will last longer in proper condition for cutting than one that is
not lubricated, as the friction of the metal across the edge of the
tool will be much less.
water, and the oil and soap added successively while the mixture
is hot. Should the mixture prove too thick to run freely from a
drip can, or to pass through a lubricating pump, hot water should
be added until the desired consistency is obtained.
will alsobe experienced with the pumps and pipes from becoming
clogged by the undissolved portions of the compound.
As to the means used for applying the lubricant, the first and
most simple is a small, round bristle brush. This will answer well
enough for short jobs and for small parts, but for larger work is
rather a tedious process, requiring the constant attention of the
partment, flows over the vertical plate and into the other com-
partment where the clear liquid is drawn off by the pump. This
method is an improvement over the perforated metal plate or the
wire gauze strainer.
Usually these pumps and tanks may be purchased independ-
ently of a machine and attached in any manner desired. As the
pumps are usually of the rotary type, they may be driven from a
small pulley on the countershaft of the lathe if no special provision
for them has been made on the machine itself.
While these lubricating devices are usually more appropriate
for a turret lathe or similar machine than for an ordinary
engine
lathe, yet the class of work and the kind of material to be ma-
238 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
chined will be the deciding factor more often than the type of
machine.
It will be often desirable to know
the power which is being con-
sumed on certain work for which data is required.
in operating a lathe
For most purposes this can be sufficiently approximated by calcu-
lating the power of the lathe from the width of the belt and its
speed in feet per minute.
For such purposes it among mechanical engineers to
is usual
consider that a one-inch belt traveling a thousand feet per minute
will transmit one horse-power. This will give us a key to the entire
calculation.
For instance,if we have a
piece of work 6 inches in diameter,
we know that for every revolution it will move through a distance
equal to its circumference, that is, 18.85 inches. If the cutting
speed is 30 feet, or 360 inches, we can easily calculate that it must
make 19.6 revolutions per minute. If the back gear ratio of the
lathe and we are using the back gears, the cone must make
is 12,
or 5 feet, and therefore the belt speed will be 1176.6 feet per minute,
or 1.176 horse-power for every inch in width of belt. Now, assum-
ing that the belt is 4 inches wide, we shall be using 4.7 horse-power,
if we force the cut
up to the full capacity of the belt to drive it.
This calculation is for single belts. A
double belt is expected
to transmit double the power.
It would be very interesting if we could make a table giving the
power required to drive the lathe on all different diameters, for all
different kinds and qualities of metal, when turned with all differ-
ent forms of tools made from all different kinds of tool steels, and on
all different designs of lathes.
It would, however, be an almost endless task and would be of
very little practical value when it had been accomplished. The
conditions as noted above, and which are all practical, every-day
conditions, are so many and so various that there would be found
very seldom a repetition of them in regular machine shop work.
To construct a table that should give the power required for
different tools and metals worked upon in a certain shop, it would
LATHE TOOLS, HIGH-SPEED STEEL, ETC. 237
presently refer, it was found that the power absorbed by the ma-
chine varied greatly with the temperature of the bearings and also
with the speed. After the bearings become warm, the oil is more
viscous,which makes an appreciable difference; and tests also show
that sometimes requires more power to run a lathe at high speed
it
"
Applying Flather's formulas to these results we find that for
steel thehorse-power required would be 4.6, instead of 3, for light
cutting; and 19.6, instead of 15, for heavy cutting. In the case of
cast iron we find the horse-power would be 1.1, instead of 1.7, for
light cutting; and 5.15, in place of 5.5, for heavy cutting. This
would indicate that Flather's formula for steel allows more power
for soft steel than was shown to be actually required by the English
tests, and will probably give ample power for a considerably harder
LATHE TOOLS, HIGH-SPEED STEEL, ETC. 239
taking a heavy cut than when running at high speed and taking a
light cut; while cutting cast iron this condition was reversed.
when
It was found that the cutting force did not vary much with the
speed, because at high speed the cuts were light while at low speed
the cuts were deeper and taken with a heavier feed. The pressure
on the tool increased very rapidly as the tool became dull; but
when the tool was in good cutting condition the following pressures
were recorded:
Tons
For soft fluid compressed steel 115
For medium fluid compressed steel 108
For hard fluid compressed steel 150
Tons
For soft cast iron 51
For medium cast iron 84
For hard cast iron 82
TESTING A LATHE
is demanded, when it may be said that the machine tool that could
be sold as a fairly good tool ten or even five years ago could scarcely
be given away now; when a buyer critically tests every require-
ment of the machine he buys, and oftentimes almost literally dis-
sects it, it becomes necessary to adopt such methods and to provide
such appliances as will insure a practical demonstration of its
accuracy. Although the lathe is the oldest known machine tool
we have, we are far from knowing all its capabilities and possi-
bilities as yet, and each year finds some added good points brought
out by the many workers in the field.
i
and should be from 4 to 6
inches longer than the di-
ameter of the largest face-
plate to be tested.
Upon the arbor is accu-
rately fitted a hardened and
ground collar B. At the end
of the arbor next to the face-
plate the plug has a mortise a,
made square at one end and
at an angle at the other, as
shown in Fig. 196. At the
FIG. 196. Details of the Testing Bar. angled end is fitted a key b,
with the usual projections, to
prevent it from dropping out, and controlled by the thumb-screw
c.
Passing through the mortise a is a bar C, carrying at its outer
end a micrometer screw device, represented in detail in Fig. 197.
This consists of a bar D, of
a size convenient to hold
in the tool-post of the
lathe as well as in the
slotted end of the bar C,
where clamped by the
it is
thumb-screw k.
Pivoted to the bar D is
the curved bar E, having
down upon the collar B, rotating the latter slightly to get the pres-
sure just right. Slide the collar B to near the tail-stock, move the
from a perfect right angle with the line of centers. Having deter-
mined the accuracy of alignment of the lathe, we now desire to test
its accuracy of facing whether it will face up a piece concave,
convex, or exactly true, and to note the extent of the variation.
Figure 199 shows an adjustable straight-edge for this purpose.
244 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
H a permanent straight-edge used only for adjusting the one
is
head center of the lathe and projecting about 6 inches from the
face-plate. This not only furnishes a convenient support, but keeps
the contact points at right angles to the face-plate. Keeping the
points of the block n and the adjusting screw s in contact with the
face-plate, the micrometer screw r may be set to the convexity
or concavity of the plate, and the error read on the micrometer
GRADWTIONS 50 TO T
support for the adjustable arm E, secured by the bolt e and ad-
justed by the screw /. This arm is extended to form a graduated
segment at g. Pivoted in the arm E is the indicating lever F,
whose front end is formed to fit the thread of the lead screw A, and
to whose rear end is fixed the indi-
If the inner and outer V's of the lathe are not of the same height,
a parallel bar should be laid across the V's and the micrometer
surface gage placed upon it. In any event much care should be
exercised to be sure that the gage base sits fairly on its support,
as a slight scratch, or a burr, or the least bit of dirt, will defeat the
for test pieces for different sized lathes are given in Fig. 207.
To test for the concavity or the convexity of the face-plate it is
usual to use an ordinary straight-edge and three slips of paper.
This may be nearly correct, but we have no means of knowing the
exact amount of the error. For this reason the micrometer straight-
edge shown in Fig. 206 was designed. The stock A is slotted at
each end, and in these slots are secured the outer points B, B, ca-
TESTING A LATHE 251
Slips of paper are now introduced between the points and the
face-plate. The micrometer position is noted, and then adjusted
to hold the center slip of paper, when a second reading will give
22' !
and 2l" 21 \i
the foregoing tests, the dis-
2G"and 28'
'
15. Head center, to the rear at outer 34. Appearance of scraped surfaces..
point 35. Appearance of polished surfaces .
16. Tail center, high at outer point.. 36. Finished corners properly rounded
17. Tail center, low at outer point... 37. Width on cone "steps
18. Tail center, to the front, at outer 38. Change-gears fit studs properly.
point 39. Wrenches fit properly
19. Tail center, to the rear at outer 40. Squares for wrenches of uniform
point sizes . .
Remarks .'
Signed.
Inspector,
Further, the lathe going into the shop with such prestige will
naturally be looked upon as a good machine, and more than the
usual amount of care will be bestowed upon it and upon the
product which it turns out.
CHAPTER XIII
LATHE WORK
The use of hand Simple lathe work. Lathe centers. Care in reaming
tools.
center holes. Locating the center. Use of the center square. Angle of
centers. Lubrication of centers. Centering large pieces of work.
Driving the work. Lathe dogs. The clamp dog. The die dog. The
two-tailed dog. Lathe drivers. Using dogs on finished work. Clamp
dog for taper work. Bolt dog. Methods of holding work that cannot
be centered. Center rest work. Chuck work. Use of face-plate jaws.
Lathe chucks. The Horton chuck. The Sweetland chuck. The
Universal chuck. Face-plate jaws. A
Horton four-jaw chuck. The
Horton two-jaw chuck. A Cushman two-jaw chuck.
Chucking cylin-
drical work. Inside chucking. Chucking. Chucking work supported
in a center rest. Pipe centers. Mortimer Parker's improved forms
of pipe centers. Spider centers. Ball-thrust pipe centers. Lathe
arbors or mandrels. Kinds of mandrels. Expanding arbors or man-
drels. Making solid arbors. The taper of an arbor. Hardened and
ground arbors. The Greenard arbor press. Its advantages.
regular operations on the turret lathe, the screw machine, and with
forming tools on ordinary engine lathes.
Such hand tools as are still used in a limited degree will be
referred to in the proper places in the following description of
lathe work.
When the apprentice is first put to work on a lathe it will prob-
ably be the turning of a piece of shafting on centers, and his first
duty will be to center it, that is, to drill and ream proper bearings
for the center. If he is in a modern shop the old method of form-
254
LATHE WORK 255
sinking it with the center punch. The hole was once drilled with
"
a fiddle-bow drill/' which was later replaced by the geared breast
drill, which is very convenient for some jobs but not a tool to drill
a good center hole with.
Lathe centers should be accurately ground to an angle, at the
point, of 60 degrees. Center grinding attachments are provided
for this work (as shown in the chapter on lathe attachments),
F G
FIG. 208. Centering Lathe Work.
angle and then cutting away the upper half so as to give a cutting
edge.
The disadvantage of using this form is that two operations must
256 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
be performed, that of drilling, and afterwards reaming or counter-
sinking.
center a piece of round material it may be first " scribed" by
To
the dividers or the hermaphrodite calipers (a caliper having one
regular caliper leg and one pointed one, similar to the leg of dividers),
which are set approximately to the radius of the piece, and three
or four arcs marked across the previously chalked surface, forming
a small triangle or a square, within which the first prick-punch mark
is made. This is followed by the drilling.
This may be more quickly done by a center square shown at
C, Fig. 208, applying it as shown and scratching a line across the
work, then turning the work about a quarter turn and scratching
again in the same way. The intersection of these lines will be the
center, which may then be marked with the prick-punch as before.
The use of a centering machine will much facilitate the work
on small and medium sized work. In this machine the work is
held in a self-centering chuck, mounted on a short lathe bed and
holding the piece of work exactly in line with and in front of the
center drill and countersink shown at A, and held in a chuck carried
the work the result will be as shown at G, and the work will not
only run out of true in a little time, but the lathe center is likely
to be spoiled.
LATHE WORK 257
for that purpose. This hole connects with one at right angles with
it and opening beyond or outside of the end of the work, and through
which oil may be introduced while the lathe is running, thus keep-
ing the center always well lubricated. The plan is an excellent one
on heavy work, or in fact on nearly all work in lathes of 24-inch
swing and larger, and the larger the center the more benefit will be
found in its application.
tight enough to hold the work closely and without end motion.
Lathe dogs are of various kinds. The most common kind is
that shown at 1, in Fig. 209, which is fixed to the piece to be turned
258 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
by the set-screw and the work driven by the tail of the dog enter-
is
ing the driving slot in the small face-plate of the lathe. The clamp
dog shown at 2 is useful for driving square or flat pieces, and is also
frequently used for cylindrical work, which it is not so liable to mar
as is the set-screw of the first form.
At shown another form known as a die dog, the jaws being
3 is
plate out to and across the dog, and be secured to the face-plate
by a cap screw, with a washer under its head, and coming through
the face-plate from the back and into the end of the driver. Or it
may have a shoulder and be held by a nut.
More often, however, the driver is a bolt long enough for the
purpose, with a sleeve made of a piece of gas pipe or a block of
cast iron with a hole through it, which keeps the end of the bolt
far enough to reach the dog.
In placing dogs on finished work a piece of brass or copper should
be put under the points of the set-screws to prevent marring the
work. In using the clamp dog at 2 on finished work the pieces of
brass or copper should also be used.
Various other forms of dogs are used for special work and for
very large work as, for instance, two more or less curved bars and
;
the face-plate by a single bolt and its free end slotted so as to em-
brace the head of the bolt. This device is not much used at the
present time as bolts and cap screws are usually made from a bar
in the turret lathe at much less cost than is possible to produce
them in an engine lathe.
Lathe work that is not held suspended between centers must
be held by one of the following methods, namely bolted or clamped
:
FIG. 211. Sweetland Four- Jaw Chuck, and Cushman Face-Plate Jaws.
ent, the workman wishes to change to universal, the jaws are moved
inward until the outer end is true with the line on face of chuck;
now each screw can be engaged with the rack separately by sliding
the cam block outward. If one jaw is found to be out of true it
chuck with four jaws. It is built on the same plan as the three-jaw
chuck shown in Fig. 210.
At B is shown a Horton chuck with two jaws, which is very
useful for certain classes of work, and better adapted than those of
three or four jaws.
Not only the Horton chucks but also those of other makers are
built with two, three, four or six jaws, as the nature of the work
may demand.
At C is shown a Cushman two-jaw chuck, with provision for
"
slip, or false jaws." By this construction special jaws may be
made with faces of such contour as to fit the irregular form of the
ing of valve bodies and similar work, and is sometimes fitted with
various indexing devices by means of which the piece may be turned
from side to side and held while various operations are performed.
Special chucks are made of various forms and with a varying
number of jaws, of a variety of different shapes, all of which are
too numerous to illustrate or describe here.
In chucking cylindrical work with a universal chuck of three
LATHE WORK 263
and poor work in facing is likely to result, while the same pipe
carried on a pipe center, in the same lathe, will be a creditable
job-
Lathe arbors are an important adjunct to lathe work. They
are commonly called arbors although the old English name of
mandrel is the proper word, as an arbor is properly a carrier for a
tool, as a saw arbor, a milling machine arbor, etc., while a mandrel
is used for carrying a piece of work to be turned.
Mandrels are of two kinds, solid and expanding. The solid
mandrel should be made of hard machine steel or a cheap grade of
cast steel capable of being hardened.
In Figure 214 are shown two forms of arbors. That at A is the
B
FIG. 214. Lathe Mandrels or Arbors.
common form. The ends are turned down somewhat smaller than
the central body, and on one side, at each end, is a flat space for the
set-screw of the lathe dog to rest upon. The ends are slightly re-
cessed around the center hole so that it will not be bruised if the
end is struck with a hammer. The central body should be ground
with a very slight taper. The entire piece should be hardened,
not simply the ends, as formerly. A J-inch arbor should be 3J inches
long and a 4-inch arbor 18 inches, all intermediate sizes being of the
same proportion.
At B, Fig. 214, is shown an expanding arbor or mandrel. This
is made in two
parts, the arbor proper and an outer shell. The
inner arbor is turned and ground to a considerable taper and the
outer shells accurately fitted to it. It is then split, as shown,
266 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
careful to force the arbor into the reamed hole from the same side
that the reamer has entered, which should also be the same side
first entered by the piece that is to fit in the hole, provided it is to be
sought.
Much of what may properly be called irregular work will be
such as can be handled on the face-plate or in an independent jaw
chuck. Yet these appliances for holding the work will frequently
268
LATHE WORK (CONTINUED) 269
its original position and so show distorted machining. For this rea-
son much care should be exercised to see that it rests fairly on the
face-plate immediately under the clamps or bolts that hold it down.
The same idea applies to rings or similar shapes when held in
the jaws of a chuck or in face-plate jaws. There is always the pos-
sibility of springingthem out of shape and that this forcing process
will show in distorted work when the piece is taken out of the lathe.
The author once saw rings of cast iron two inches thick, 6 inches
wide, and about 30 inches inside diameter, pressed out of shape
stock center over for this purpose as it throws the head-stock and
tail-stock centers too much out of alignment to work properly.
This is shown in Fig. 215. One half the taper shown, on this length
270 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
ofwork would be practical. In this engraving A is the head center
and B the tail center.
It will be noticed, however, that if the work is but half as long
and the tail-stock center located at C, the inclination will be twice
as great and consequently the error in the alignment of the centers
double what it would be with the tail-stock center located at B,
to measure the amount of tail-stock set over, but the work must
be carefully calipered as the turning process goes on.
When the taper is considerable, it is better to do the work in a
lathe having a taper- turning attachment. Examples of this de-
vice will be found in the chapter on lathe attachments, where it
will be seen that the travel of the compound rest in a transverse
direction is governed by a swiveling bar which may be set at any
located, drilled, and reamed, and the shaft proper roughed out to
1
LATHE WORK (CONTINUED) 273
sharp, and set either on the center or but a trifle above it. The
idea is to avoid as much as possible any undue strain in the turning,
as the work will not be very rigid and the cuts taken must be light.
The wrist-pin being turned and finished, the offset pieces C, C,
are removed, a block fitted in the space D, between the arms of the
crank, and it is placed on the shaft centers and finished as any other
shaft would be.
One of the precautions that should be taken is to have the work
properly counterbalanced by adding on the face-plate the proper
weight, opposite the crank when turning the shaft, and opposite the
shaft when turning the wrist-pin, so as to prevent undue strain
and vibration.
Another and more rigid arrangement is shown at B, in Fig. 216,
in which, in place of an offset piece at the face-plate end, the bracket
or angle-plate E is used. This is bolted to the face-plate and has
a cap F fitted to it and bolted firmly, with the joint held slightly
apart with paper or thin cardboard. It is then bored out the
exact diameter of the end of the crank-shaft, which is firmly gripped
in and the shaft much more rigidly held than in the former
it
top the form and contour of the cutting edge is not changed.
The forming lathe may have an automatic feed with a stop which
automatically throws out the feed when the proper diameter is
274 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
reached. This makes the lathe semi-automatic, in that it need only
be set and started, and no further attention given to it until the
cut is completed. Thus one man may run a number of machines,
and the relative efficiency of each will be reckoned, not so much
in the large number of pieces turned out, as in the small cost for
labor, which is usually the most expensive item on this and similar
classes of work.
This is seen very readily in the automatic screw machine, which
turns out much of its work much more slowly than the turret lathe.
But the turret lathe requires the constant attendance of a skilled
operator, while one man may take care of from four to ten automa-
tic screw machines.
In many respects the engine lathe may be made to take the
place of the upright drill, although this class of work is now usually
done in the upright drill, the radial drill, or the boring machine.
However, there are shops which do not possess all these facilities
and still have many jobs that may be properly done in the lathe.
To the ordinary jobs of chucking and reaming it will not be
necessary to refer. The same may be said of ordinary drilling
such as may be done by holding the work in the chuck and using
either a flat drill with a center hole in its rear end for the tail-stock
drill shank is too small a collet may be used. In this way many
jobs of chuck or face-plate drilling may be done. When the work
issuch that it is necessary to revolve the drill instead of the work,
the drill may be transferred to the head spindle and the work held
by bolting or strapping it to the carriage, the compound rest having
been removed for that purpose.
Another method is to strap to the carriage an angle plate, jig,
or other fixture suitable for holding the work to be drilled.
Therea wide range of possibilities in this class of work and the
is
ways. It will be noticed that the taper shank is held from turning
by being screwed into the spindle of the lathe head-stock, and that
ithas a conical bearing at the outer end in the bracket A. The
"
bearing is thus adjustable to take up back-lash" by sliding the
bracket A to the right along the lathe bed, which in this case is of
ample power to do the work, and sufficient length of bed was allow-
able to bore a number of these cylinders at a time, and as they were
gear device for cutting any number of threads per inch, by shifting
one or more levers, is a comparatively simple matter. With a lathe
equipped with removable change-gears for accomplishing the same
purpose it is much more complicated, and its principles frequently
misunderstood. Therefore a clear understanding of these prin-
ciples is necessary to any one who aspires to become an intelligent
machinist.
The spindle or head shaft of the lathe runs at the same speed
as themain spindle; therefore it takes its place in all calculations
for thread cutting. Upon this spindle the first change-gear is
placed. The lead screw carries the second change-gear. The ratio
of these two gears determines the ratio of the number of revolu-
tions of the main spindle to those of the lead screw. The change-
change-gear, and C the idler gear. As shown, the two gears A and
278 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
B are of equal diameter and number of teeth, consequently the
lead screw revolves at the same rate of speed as does the main
spindle. It follows, therefore, that if the lead screw is cut with
four threads per inch the lathe carriage will move a quarter of an
inch with each revolution, and the
lathe will cut four threads per inch.
If the change-gear A
is only one
equals the ratio of the thread of the lead screw to the thread to
be cut.
To cut any desired number of threads per inch it is first
necessary to find the ratio which the desired number of threads
bears to the number of threads on the lead screw; then to select
such change-gears as bear this ratio to each other, remembering
that if the desired thread is of a coarser pitch than that of the
lead screw, the change-gear A
must be the larger, and if it be a
finer thread than that of the lead screw, the change-gear B must be
the larger.
The gears will revolve in direction of the arrows, by which it is
seen that the lead screw revolves in the same direction as the change-
gear A on the head shaft a, and consequently as the main spindle
of the lathe. This arrangement, with a right-hand thread (as
usual), on the lead screw cut right-hand threads.
6, will
When it is desired to cut left-hand threads the motion of the
lead screw must be reversed. This is done by the addition of the
LATHE WORK (CONTINUED) 279
single idle gear is to double the ratio existing between the gear on
the head-shaft and the one on the lead screw. The combination
as shown would cut 16 threads per inch on a lathe having a lead
screw cut with four threads per inch. (Usually lathes will cut
this number of threads without compounding. The gears here
shown and described are given as a simple example.)
At B, in Figs. 220 and 221, the order of gears is reversed, the
Spindle 1 j Spindle
Stud = - 1 Stud
72-gear is placed on the head shaft and the 36-gear on the lead
screw. The effect now is, instead of multiplying the pitch of the
lead screw by 4 (4 X 4 = 16 threads per inch on the work cut), the
number of threads of the lead screw is divided by 4 (4-*- 4 = 1),
thus producing in the work a screw of one thread per inch, or one-
inch pitch.
By a thorough and correct understanding of these principles
there should be no difficulty in setting up a lathe for any desired
number of threads per inch. It is usual to have compounding
gears of a ratio of 2 to 36 and 72, and so on. But
1, as 24 and 48,
it may be necessary to use other ratios as 1J to 1, say 48 and 72,
putting the two gears properly in mesh with each other, and go on
with the cutting of the second thread. This is assuming, of course,
that the stud gear has an even number of teeth and that the ratio
between the lathe spindle and the head shaft or gear spindle is 1
work, it may have one end held in a chuck and the other supported
by a center rest.
The author once had a job of this kind to do and it was accom-
plished successfully by the arrangement described and illustrated
as follows:
Given the task of boring a 5J-inch hole endwise
through a hard
1\ inches in diameter and 5 feet long, with a large and
steel spindle
powerful boring lathe, such as is used on gun work, and the work
would be comparatively easy and rapid. Having only the equip-
ment of an ordinary machine shop, the case becomes more serious.
In the regular course of business such a job was required to be done,
point of the drill and on its return brought out the chips. The
spindle was then reversed and the hole was bored from the opposite
end until thetwo holes met, which they did quite exactly.
LATHE WORK (CONTINUED) 283
diameter, and a large amount of stock was taken out in fact, nearly
;
350 pounds of hard steel. This was removed at the rate of nearly
30 pounds per hour.
The plan commend itself for similar work, and
will doubtless
where there even a greater difference between the directing hole
is
and the finished bore three or more cutters might be used to advan-
tage.
It is frequently the custom to fit flat cutters in elongated mortises
made through the bar instead of using a round cutter in a bored
hole. The flat cutters will be proper when the boring bar is com-
of being set over for turning tapers; a carriage provided with suit-
able tool-supporting mechanism and having connected with it an
the machinist who uses them; to the draftsman and designer who
may desire to know of their individual peculiarities; and to the
studentwho would learn valuable lessons in relation to the design
and development of the Modern American Lathe.
While it is not expected or intended that the lathes of all makers
shall appear in this connection, those of the more prominent builders
will be introduced, and to these will be added such others as may
possess particularly commendable or novel features, in order that
the essential points of the engine lathe may be well and thoroughly
illustrated and described, with a minuteness that their importance
may demand.
Among the many manufacturers of lathes the F. E. Reed
"
Company may deservedly receive the title of ancient and honor-
able," not because the product of the concern deserves the name of
ancient, but because of the long and honorable career of the estab-
lishment which has always stood for good materials, good work-
manship, and practical design for every-day tools capable of
standing up to the work, year in and year out, with whatever the
machine tool market affords. While the company have always
built substantial and practical tools, of ample strength and many
conveniencies for the operator, they have not been given to the
exploiting of mechanical fads and fancies or to going to extremes
in any one direction.
288 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
As an example of the engine lathe built by this company, the
18-inch swing engine lathe shown in Fig. 223 is given. It will be
seen that here is a deep and strong bed supported upon the older
form of legs instead of cabinets. Upon the front leg is a special
FIG. 223. 18-inch Swing Engine Lathe built by the F. E. Reed Company.
cabinet for holding the change-gears which are of the older form of
change-gears proper, that is, removable. The feed is by means of a
belt upon the well-known three-step cone, with which is arranged
a change of gears making six feeds.
FIG. 224. Spindle Box of the Reed FIG. 225. Spindle Box of the Reed
Lathe Ready for Babbitting. Lathe after Babbitting.
from a crucible steel forging which runs in cast iron boxes lined
with genuine babbitt metal, as shown in Figs. 224 and 225.
In the first of these illustrations is shown the cast iron box
ENGINE LATHES 289
properly milled out to fit the housings of the head-stock. After this
operation it is bored out and then slotted ready to receive the bab-
bitt metal lining. It will be noticed that these are all "dovetail"
slots, the object of this form being to hold the lining metal securely
in its place. The babbitt metal cast into the box, after which
is
coming in contact with the spindle except the babbitt metal, which,
when has the appearance shown in Fig. 225.
finished,
very long time, and, if properly lubricated, that the babbitt metal
will soon "glace" over and form one of the best bearing surfaces
and the difficulties which most builders have found with them, have
M.
tail-stock are fitted to the bed with a V at the rear and a flat
simple and durable manner, and with as few gears as may be, all
the results required in the most modern lathe. In a general way
it may be described as attached to the front of the lathe in the
form of a case in which a cone of nine gears is mounted upon a shaft,
any one of which can be instantly engaged by simply moving the
lever in front of the case. Upon another shaft located above the
cone of gears and in line with the lead screw is a double clutch-
gear controlled by the small lever on the top of the gear case.
The shifting of this lever to three different positions increases the
number of changes obtained by the lower lever to twenty-seven.
This number may be doubled by sliding in or out a gear at the end
of the lathe, thus giving fifty-four changes in all. An index
attached to the front of the gear case shows the entire fifty-four
changes, so that the operator may know instantly which lever it is
necessary to move, and to what position to set it in order to obtain
any of the different threads or the different cutting feeds shown
upon the index, the mechanism being so simple that the most
entire
FIG. 229. 16-inch Swing Engine built by the Prentice Bros. Company.
methods, and in Fig. 229 is shown one of their 16-inch swing engine
"
lathes, with a quick change gear mechanism
and an offset" tail-
stock.
The head-stock not as massive as in those of some other
is
pute with other builders who have made them from time to time.
Other than this feature and the quick change gear device the
lathe appears to be their regular and well-known product of engine
lathes.
The company make the usual variety of engine lathes of special
design for special work as well as their plain lathes. These special
machines, as well as various attachments and accessories, will be
illustrated and described in future chapters, later on in this book,
and attention called to their special features.
In 1865 P. Blaisdell began the building of lathes and has con-
tinued the business since. While no great efforts seem to have
been made to bring out new and novel inventions, the Blaisdell
lathes have always been known as machine tools, that are well made,
reliable, and practical.
In Fig. 230 is shown an 18-inch swing lathe of their manufacture,
that is a good example of their regular line of product.
The head-stock of this lathe has a cone of five steps which take
a 2|-inch belt. The spindle is made from hammered, cast crucible
steel, and is bored out to 1J inches. The boxes are of gun metal or
of cast iron lined with genuine babbitt metal, as may be preferred.
The back gear ratio is 11 to 1, which is high for a lathe of this swing.
The lathe has a power cross feed with micrometer graduations
296 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
for the cross-feed screw. There
furnished a rapid change gear
is
device for feeding from 13 to 339 per inch, and a new and powerful
friction warranted not to slip. There is a patented automatic stop
on the feed rod. The lead screw will cut threads from 2 to 23, in-
cluding 11J pipe thread. The net weight of this lathe with an
8-foot bed is 2,400 pounds.
Thiscompany make a variety of lathes and lathe attachments
and accessories, some of which are shown later on in this book, and
under the appropriate heading, to which the reader's attention is
directed if interested in this class of the product.
FIG. 230. 18-inch Swing Engine Lathe, built by P. Blaisdell & Co.
diameter and bored for a No. 4 Morse taper. The carriage is heavy
and has a long bearing on the V's, to which it is scraped and fitted
the entire length, and isgibbed at the front and back to the outside
of the bed. It has power cross and lateral feeds, an automatic stop
and a compound rest with a graduated base. The tool is adjusted
as to height by a hardened steel concave ring and washer. The
apron is very heavy, the operative parts simple and very strong.
No worm-gears are used, their usual office being performed by a
large bevel gear and two sliding bevel pinions, by which the motion
is reversed. This sliding movement also operates a simple locking
mechanism by which the thread cutting and feeding operations
become entirely independent of each other, and each, when in opera-
tion, locks the other out automatically. The six regular changes
of feed are 18, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 60 revolutions per inch of move-
ment for both lateral and cross feed. All feed racks, rack pinion,
studs, rod and lead screw, are made of special steel, and all nuts are
case hardened.
It will be noticed in the engraving of the front of the lathe that
all movements, including those of reversing, are controlled by levers
in the front of the apron, so that the operator need not, necessarily,
leave his place for this purpose.
A
21-inch swing lathe with a 10-foot bed weighs 3,800 pounds.
This company manufacture several other types of lathes and
lathe attachments, which will be illustrated and described later on
in thiswork and in connection with similar devices built by other
makers.
It is now on the author's desk that "the
said in a catalogue
name Hendey-Norton has come to be generally recognized as being
the pioneer in that class of lathes made commercially successful,
having the mounted system of gearing for thread and feed changes."
As to how far this claim is correct, is a proper matter for the me-
chanical public to judge. The phrase "commercially successful"
seems to have been well put in connection with the statement and
may possibly be its "saving grace," for it is well known that as
early as 1868 Humphreys used the much discussed "cone of gears,"
and that he wrote in his patent, "I place my gear-wheels upon a
shaft A, ranging from the smallest to the largest," while in 1892
Norton says in his patent, "on the shaft A, and within the box B,
300 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
are secured a series of gear-wheels E, of varying diameters,
arranged
step-like," etc. As to who was the pioneer may be an open ques-
tion, as are a great many relating to the matter of patented inven-
tions.
FIG. 233. 24-inch Swing Engine Lathe built by the Hendey Machine
Company.
metal and having taper bearings for the journals. The front bear-
ing is 3f to 4f inches in diameter and 7 J inches long, while the rear
bearing is 3J to 4 inches in diameter and 5J inches long. Both
these journals are not only self-adjusting, but adjustable, inde-
This view in connection with the end elevation and partial section
given in Fig. 235 shows the internal construction of the feeding
designed apron, excepting for the fact that worms and worm-
gears are still retained as a part of their construction, notwith-
standing the fact that even the best construction of this type is
liable to injury from the carelessness of the operator and the lack
of a plentiful supply of oil. The tail-stock is strong and rigid, and
carries a 2J-inch spindle bored and reamed for a No. 4 Morse taper.
The weight of a 24-inch swing lathe with a 10-foot bed is 5,450 pounds,
by which it will be seen that it is relatively a heavy lathe, consider-
ably more so than that of many of its competitors.
This firm make other types or modifications of their lathes,
and also some very desirable attachments and accessories for lathes
which are illustrated and described under their appropriate head-
ings further on in this work.
The Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Company have turned out
some good examples of modern machine tool building, in the recent
types of their engine lathes, showing much consideration and study
of the conditions surrounding the manufacturing problems of the
present day. This
noticeable in their 20-inch swing engine lathe,
is
bearings are accurately ground and the boxes have an oil reservoir
beneath them from which oil is raised by small buckets attached
to a brass ring located midway on the journal, thus insuring abun-
dant lubrication. Gage glasses at the front of the head-stock
show the level of oil in these reservoirs, which are deep enough to
ENGINE LATHES 303
FIG. 236. 20-inch Swing Engine Lathe built by the Lodge & Shipley
Machine Tool Company.
rapid change gear devices. In Fig. 238 the location of the various
handles and levers for controlling the change gear device is clearly
shown and their use and operation may be readily seen and under-
stood. The movable or sliding connecting or intermediate pinion,
carried by a lever which
held in place by a spring pin entering
is
any one of the line of holes shown in the front of the head-stock in
Fig. 236, is practically the same as used in the Hendey-Norton
latheand in others of this type. These changes are very quickly
and certainly made, and the mechanism appears to be substantial
and durable.
The bed is designed with ample depth and width, and is strongly
304 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
ENGINE LATHES 305
for by a simple device. The rear of this apron is shown in Fig. 239,
by which its compact form and mechanical design is clearly shown.
This establishment builds other types of lathes of very practical
and useful forms and equally good design, as well as various attach-
ments and accessories which will be found illustrated and described
further on in this book under their appropriate headings, and to
which the reader is referred for information of this character.
CHAPTER XVI
ENGINE LATHES CONTINUED
Fig. 240.
It will be noticed that the spindle cone has but three steps,
The apron and compound rest have steel gears throughout. The
tail-stock is provided with a pawl which travels in a rack formed
in the bed similar shown by Lodge & Shipley. The
to those
48-inch lathe will swing 31 inches over the carriage. The lathe
with a 14-foot bed weighs 17,500 pounds, and is a very strong
and rigid lathe.
ENGINE LATHES (CONTINUED) 309
This lathe has forty changes of feeds and also the same number
for thread cutting.
The company make the usual variety of lathe attachments and
accessories necessary to fitting out their lathes with modern con-
veniences, which be mentioned later and under headings that
will
follow this in proper order. Many of these have found their way
into the best machine shops of this country, and are much appre-
ciated.
The LeBlond manufacture of lathes, like their milling machines,
are well known and are noted for their good and care-
in the market,
ful design so as to properly meet the requirements which they have
arranged that it is impossible to throw in the rod feed and the lead
screw feed at the same time. The rack pinion can be freed from
engagement with the rack by lowering it out of its engaged position
so that there is no undue resistance when thread cutting is to be
done. It frequently happens that much friction is caused by these
strains upon the moving parts of the apron and cause serious in-
convenience and often damage or breakage to the ports, particu-
larly to the rack pinion.
The tail-stock set-over arrangement is graduated so that tapers
swings 25} inches over the bed and 16 inches over the carriage. As
a 10-foot bed lathe takes in 4 feet 4 inches between centers, it is
seen that the head-stock and tail-stock occupy a space of 5 feet
8 inches on the bed, giving the opportunity to make both of these
weighs 5,900 pounds net, it is seen that the weight is 590 pounds
per foot. Countershaft pulleys being 16 inches in diameter, and
for 5-inch belt assuresample driving power, and which, run at 120
and 165 revolutions per minute, give a spindle speed of 2J to 460
revolutions per minute, which is as wide a range as would possibly
be needed in a very large variety of work.
In the end elevation, shown in Fig. 242, the two stud-plates and
the system of change gearing is clearly shown, and a good idea is
given of the strength and stability of the lathe.
The operative parts of the apron of the smaller sizes of Le Blond
lathes is shown in Fig. 243, by which it will be seen that they are
very simple, and that therefore the parts may be made of sufficient
strength to withstand the hard usage to which a lathe is often sub-
This lathe will cut threads from 3 to 46 to the inch, and has a
number of threads per inch.
ratio of feeds of 4J times the
be seen that worms and worm-gears are avoided and the substantial
arrangement of a large bevel gear and double bevel pinions, mounted
in a sliding form, takes its place. The locking device for preventing
the interference of the thread-cutting and turning feeds with each
other is clearly shown. The smaller pinions and the large rack
gear are of steel and the rack pinion is capable of being withdrawn
when thread cutting is being done.
The carriage is scraped to the full bearing of its entire length
on the V's and is gibbed at both back and front to the outside of
the bed. It is made deep and strong and has power lateral and cross
feeds in all sizes of lathes.
by the use of high-speed tool steels and coarse feeds for the rapid
reduction of the material.
The head-stock is massive and of a symmetrically rounded form.
The cone has five steps and takes a belt of rather more than the
usual width. The spindle is of high carbon special steel and accu-
rately ground, bored out with a large hole, and runs in a good
quality of anti-friction metal boxes, provided with automatic ring
oilers.
rest is broad and strong and well fitted with hand-scraped surfaces,
as are all the sliding contacts of the lathe.
The bedis of deep box girder section. The webs are well tied
together with cross bars of box form, making the bed very strong
" "
and rigid. It is of the drop-V pattern, which gives an additional
swing of about 2J inches. The V's are far apart and the front tail-
stock way is which, in connection with the drop-V construction,
flat,
obviates much of the tendency to twist or lift the carriage off its
seat so common in even the best modern lathes where the lead screw
is located on the outside of the bed and pulls the carriage by its
equal to its width, before the clutches with which the change-gears
and extensions are fitted come in contact with each other. Thus,
when one of the change-gears is connected with the lead screw it
ceases to depend upon the disc for support, but is mounted on the
lead screw as substantially as if secured
by a nut and washer, although it is at
other times supported by, and practi-
cally journaled in, the circular gear
box. As a range of feeds or
sufficient
screw pitches cannot be obtained by
changing gears on the lead screw, only
provision is made at the head-stock for
various ratios of speed. This is ac-
design, affording ample cubpoard room for storing tools and small
parts. The pads rod and reversing rod
for the lead screw, feed
bearings are grooved and the bearings planed to fit them, thus assur-
ing true and permanent alignment.
The head-stock is massive and of good design, insuring rigidity
and preventing vibration and chatter even on the heaviest work
which the lathe will be called upon to perform. The spindle is of
high carbon steel forging and bored out If inches. It is ground
its entire length and runs in phosphor bronze bearings, hand-
scraped to fit the spindle. Anti-friction thrust bearings are pro-
vided with an adjusting nut for taking up lost motion due to wear.
On this lathe these bearings are provided with hardened and ground
steel washers. On the 22-inch swing and larger lathes these bear-
ings are provided with hardened and ground-steel balls which are
also adjustable and reduce the friction to a minimum, the ball-races
forged spindle with a Ig^-inch hole through its entire length, and
runs in phosphor bronze boxes, reamed and hand scraped. The
front bearing is 3 inches in diameter and 5 inches long. The spindle
cone has five steps, the largest being 11 inches in diameter and
adapted for a 2^-inch belt.
able price. This lathe is equipped, as illustrated, with feed box and
with compound rest. The bed is made in different lengths from
6 to 12 feet, with cabinet or regular legs, and with or without oil
pan. The spindle bearings are 2f and 2J- inches diameter; there is a
IJ-inch hole through the spindle, and draw-in chucks are furnished
massive lathe for the heaviest work to which a lathe of this char-
acter will be subjected. With the severe requirements of modern
shop methods and the use of high-speed steels the problem confront-
ing lathe builders has been one to tax their utmost energies in the
way of good design scientifically and practically worked out; good
materials lavishly applied; and good workmanship in every part.
Without all of these in a marked degree a lathe may scarcely be
classed as modern.
As to how well the designers and builders of the Bradford lathe
have succeeded in their conditions is to a considerable extent
manifest by an inspection of the illustration given in Fig. 256 and
a study of the description which follows, as well as to some detailed
engravings illustrating the special features of the machine.
The head-stock is long and massive, occupying over five feet
on the head end of the bed, affording large housings for the spindle
boxes and ample space for broad-faced, heavy back gears, and a
five-step cone of from 10J to 22 inches in diameter and 5| inches
face. The spindle is of crucible steel and is bored out with a 3-inch
hole. It has a front bearing 6 inches in diameter and 10 inches
shifted to its outward position, the gear on the outer end of the
lathe spindle communicates motion to the screw. When this shaft
is at its inward position, motion is communicated from the cone
the bed. The three upper gears are fast to the lead screw, while
the three lower gears are engaged consecutively by a sliding key,
controlled by the nut shown at the right of the engraving, and
handled by a wrench. These gears are of steel and may be engaged
and disengaged while in motion.
The apron is massive and well constructed. A rear view of it is
shown in Fig. 259, by which it will be seen that it is very simple,
and therefore the parts may be made of ample strength. All shafts
have bronze-bushed bearings. Independent frictions are used for
both lateral and cross feeds, and are reversed from the front of the
apron.
The lead screw is splined to drive the two bevel pinions, and its
thread is only used when cutting threads. The halves of the lead
330 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
screw nut are operated by the usual form of cam, controlled by a
lever shown at the right hand of the apron in the front view, as in
Fig. 256. The end of the sliding rod which carries the forks for
moving the bevel pinions isextended to the lead screw nut, where
an attachment is made for locking the lead screw nut open when-
ever either bevel pinion is engaged with the driving bevel gear, and
both of these bevel pinions out of engagement whenever
for locking
the lead screw nutis closed, thus
preventing the two types of feed
being thrown in at one time. The rack pinion is adapted to be
withdrawn from engagement with the rack when thread cutting
is being done.
The carriage is very long, deep, and massive, and is gibbed both
front and back. It has a bearing of 48 inches on the V's, and is
FIG. 259. Rear View of Apron of the 48-inch Swing Bradford Lathe.
with heavy tool clamping bars, and having an angular power feed
of 12 inches in any direction. The base is graduated and both top
and bottom slides are provided with taper gibs and adjusting
screws.
The tail-stock is of ample dimensions with a bearing 26 inches
long on the bed. The tail-stock spindle is 4J inches in diameter
HEAVY LATHES 331
and has a travel of 16 inches. It has the usual set-over screw for
use in turning taper work, and is provided with a rack and pinion
device for conveniently moving it to any desired point on the bed.
This lathe made with a 12-foot bed weighs 16,500 pounds, by
which its massive design and great strength may be judged and
by which the points stated in the opening sentences of this descrip-
tion maybe more readily appreciated.
The American Tool Works Company have recently designed an
excellent 42-inch swing lathe intended for heavy work and having
a number of good features not usually found in lathes of this capac-
FIG. 260. 42-inch Swing Triple-Geared Engine Lathe built by the American
Tool Works Company.
inch, including 11J pipe thread. The feed range is from 6.4 to 92
cuts per inch.
332 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
The device is operated while the machine is running, if necessary,
by a revolving nut seen at the right of the gear box beneath the
head, which moves a sliding key engaging two opposite gears, each
being one of a cone of gears which is encased in the gear box. The
feed or screw pitches thus obtained are multiplied by the compound
FIG. 261. 50-inch Swing Triple-Geared Engine Lathe, built by the New
Haven Manufacturing Company.
fifteen changes of speed. All the gears are broad and of coarse
with an unusually long bearing upon the bed, and carries a massive
compound rest with a long angular feed in all directions, a gradu-
ated base and large hardened straps, supported by spiral springs
upon studs, for holding the tool. These straps have projecting ends
so that tools may be held outside of the studs, which may be placed
either crosswise or lengthwise of the tool block as may be most
convenient for the work being done.
The apron is built with double plates so as to give shafts and
studs a bearing at each end. All feeds are reversible at the apron.
A large bevel gear with two bevel pinions is provided in the apron,
and an automatic locking mechanism prevents turning feeds and
thread-cutting feed from being engaged at the same time. As an
extra precaution against the frictions binding and refusing to release
properly when a tool gets caught and in danger of breaking or
spoiling work, as is liable to be the case on heavy work, or with very
heavy cuts, an additional provided as safety device, as
friction is
the most careless operator is not liable to screw up both frictions
beyond the point of releasing under an abnormally heavy strain,
in case of an accident which might result in serious injury to the
FIG. 262. 72-inch Swing Triple-Geared Engine Lathe, built by the Niles-
Bement Pond Company (usually called a Niles Lathe).
feeding mechanism without using the threads cut upon it, through
the medium of a short feed rod, located in the apron. This method
avoids the use of a long feed rod with its many supports and the
attendant inconvenience which is of much greater moment than in
those used for the much larger and heavier lead screw.
The bed very broad and massive and furnishes ample support
is
for theheavy head-stock and its weighty appendages, the long and
broad carriage with its compound rest of ample proportion, and
the massive tail-stock, as well as for the four-jawed center rest
which is furnished with this lathe.
The tail-stock is broad and heavy and carries a large tail spindle,
FIG. 263. 82-inch Swing Triple-Geared Engine Lathe, built by the Niles-
Bement-Pond Company (usually called a Pond Lathe).
geared device for moving the spindle, by which the hand wheel is
placed at the front of the tail-stock and within easy reach of the
operator. The base is secured to the bed by four bolts in the usual
manner, while the dividing line between the base and the top cast-
ing carrying the spindle is placed high up and the top secured by
four other bolts. By providing this double set of bolts the spindle
may be set over for turning tapers by loosening the upper set of
bolts only, leaving the main casting or base still firmly secured to
the bed. Thus it is not necessary to block up or to remove the
work from the lathe when setting for tapers, which is of considerable
designed to do.
In the builders' description of this lathe they say:
"With a 22-foot bed, this lathe will turn 8 feet 4 inches between
HEAVY LATHES 337
long bearings on the bed, is gibbed to the outside edges, and can
be clamped when cross-feeding. It is provided with a tool slide
HIGH-SPEED LATHES
and that the number of changes are doubled by engaging the back
gears by means of a positive tooth clutch.
FIG. 264. High-Speed Engine Lathe built by the Prentice Bros. Company.
A, B, and C, shown in Figs. 266 and 267, and also at the front of the
head-stock in Fig. 264. This arrangement of the several operative
parts is such that there is no danger
of engaging conflicting spindle
speed at all times, are two friction clutches E and F, either of which
may be operated by the lever A, which slides the friction spool I
along the shaft D, for the purpose of engaging the clutches at the
right or the left. Between the head spindle and the pulley shaft D
is located a secondary shaft G, which carries two gears of different
The device changing the feed and for the cutting of screw
for
to the
stock, showing the gear connections from the head spindle
cone of gears shown in section in Fig. 270, and is useful and inter-
HIGH-SPEED LATHES 343
and has an extra large spindle which runs in genuine babbitt metal
bearings.
The carriage is much heavier than an ordinary engine lathe, and
is extended out both back and front for additional bearing for tool
rests. Of these there are two, one in front and the other at the
rear. The front tool rest has an extra movement in line with the
slide. The back tool rest has an extra movement at right angles to
the slide. Both of these are moved by a single screw moving
towards or away from the center together.
The tail-stock is fastened to the bed with four large bolts, clamp-
ing it as far forward as possible. The feed is positive geared and is
changed by means of lever shown in front of the bed, giving three
changes, and can be stopped automatically at any point desired.
By tripping it with a small handle on the front of the apron the
carriage will proceed without removing the stop, and keep on until
itcomes in contact with the next stop.
The lathe is fitted with a geared oil pump for a continuous flow
344 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
of oilon the work; the pan is large enough to keep all dirt, oil, and
chips from the floor. Countershaft has double friction pulleys.
This lathe is intended for heavy and rough work, as, for instance,
rough turning forgings and heavy pieces of cut-off work that re-
efficient indoing this class of work. The first cost of these ma-
chines, however, is much more than that of the plain roughing
lathe.
The Lodge & Shipley Machine Tool Company build a lathe with
a head-stock that is a radical departure from the usual form of
cone-driven lathes and which is entitled to special consideration. It
isthe result of much experimenting and is covered by patents.
"
Commercially they call it their Patent Head Lathe." It is an
outcome of the recognition by the builders of the demand for a
much more powerfully driven lathe for the use of modern high-
speed lathe tools.
The manufacturer of the lathe says: "Our aim in its design has
been to provide this power in such a manner that all the functions
of the regular type would be retained, but the head would have
wearing qualities, in addition, proportionate to the increased service
expected of it. To this end we believe the observance of the follow-
ing conditions to be of the highest importance :
First, the spindle
Figure 273 shows the head-stock in place upon the bed and
FIG. 273. Head-Stock for Lodge & Shipley Patent Head Lathe.
with the main spindle and the gear covers removed in order to
show the construction of the driving mechanism. Power is applied
through a wide-faced pulley of large diameter which is keyed to a
sleeve revolving in the two central bearings of the head-stock. At
one end of this sleeve isa jaw clutch, and at the opposite end two
gears of different diameters. The main spindle passes through this
inch clearance, and revolves in the two outer bearings, that is, the
extreme front and the extreme rear bearing. It is connected to the
346 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
driving sleeve for direct belt speeds by the clutch, and for the back
gear speeds through either back gear, according to the speed
desired. A lever, convenient for the operator, engages or dis-
ing and return it to the well to be used again and again. This
method provides a certain system of lubrication without regard to
the speed of the revolving spindle.
The back gearing designed with ratios to give a uniform pro-
is
gression of speed from the slowest to the fastest. The two back
gears are connected to the back gear shaft by spline and key, and
are easily moved lengthwise to engage with their respective gears
on the driving sleeve. The back gear shaft and pinion are made of
forged thus insuring the requisite strength and wearing qual-
steel,
ities. Thejournals for the shaft are placed at either end, where
they revolve in bushings provided with oil reservoirs and the same
system of oiling as that for the spindle and driving sleeve.
The end thrust of the spindle is against the rear housing of the
head-stock by means of a large cast iron collar keyed fast to the
spindle, between which and the faced inside of the housing are
interposed two bronze washers placed on either side of a hardened
steel washer of like diameter. This distributes the friction to four
contacts, each composed of two dissimilar metals, and forming a very
efficient device for the purpose.
A variable speed countershaft is provided for the lathe, by which
a wide range of speeds may be obtained.
In Fig. 274 is shown a front elevation of this lathe with the
gear covers removed so as to show the head-stock assembled and
in running condition. The gear covers are of cast iron and cover
348 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
and protect portions of the head-stock mechanism, except the
all
considered.
But while the capacity of the lathe, so far as length between
centers is
concerned, relatively is much
less, the real capacity of
the lathe for producing work, good work, is so vastly increased that
the production of this head may fairly be considered as adding
FIG. 274. 22-inch Swing Patent Head Lathe, built by the Lodge &
Shipley Machine Tool Company.
large as the lathe will swing over the bed. It has a large, forged
steel spindle, the front bearing of which is 4J inches diameter by
if desired. This lathe can be furnished with four-step cone for wider
belt if desired.
A special feature of this lathe is the rest. It is provided with
two patented elevating tool-posts, each having a universal tool-
holder, in which any size of steel can be used to advantage, and so
made that they admit of adjustment up and down while the tool
is under cut. Each tool-post is moved from the front by a separate
screw, and the rear tool-post is provided with a screw for adjust-
ment crosswise of the rest. These tools can both be used to turn
to thesame diameter by dividing the chip; or, they can be used to
reduce the diameter, removing large amounts of stock, working one
tool in advance of the other, each tool turning to a different diameter.
A positive geared feed is provided, and so arranged that either a
fine or a coarse feed can be obtained by means of the lever shown
at the front of the lathe.
There are two methods of operation :
edly one of the best lathes of its kind, and for this particular and
important use, now on the market. With a 10-foot bed this lathe
weighs 7,390 pounds.
ing features of this machine, and the greater driving power, greater
stability, the accurate control of tools and work, made possible
by this construction, result in such rapid and economical produc-
tion of work that the Lo-swing is already an acknowledged cost-
reducer for the shop.
HIGH-SPEED LATHES 351
Its two distinctive features are first, its very low swing, just
enough to clear a 3J-inch bar; and second, single tool slide carriages,
several of which may be simultaneously employed.
The ideal machine for turning small work,which must be turned
on centers, should have the toolmounted on a low rest with the
guiding rail as close to the work as possible, and with the cross-feed
screw located directly back of the cutting-tool so that a change of
the screw would surely and positively effect a corresponding change
in the position of the tool, and so that variation under working
352 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
strain from no load at all to a full load, or from a very light chip
to a very heavy one, would have the least possible effect on the loca-
tion of the tool.
While these conditions have been presented, time out of mind,
by the mechanical engineers who have studied the lathe question
and its relation to the regular lathes built and put on the market,
the lathe builders have been slow to adopt such radical changes as
would properly accomplish the required result.
The builders of the Lo-swing lathe have cut loose from the con-
servative methods of other lathe builders in producing this machine.
While it is yet too early to determine what will be the success
of this venture, and how popular it may become with manufacturers
general design. A
defect in design. The omission of a valuable
feature. Pulley-turning lathe built by the Mies Tool Works. A pulley-
turning machine. Its general construction. Turning angular work. Con-
venience of a bench lathe. The Waltham Machine Company's bench
lathe. Its general dimensions and special features. A
grinding and a
milling machine attachment. Devising special attachments. Reed's
10-inch swing wood-turning lathe. Special features of design. Popu-
larity and endurance. The countershaft. Inverted Vs.
arranged to be turned back out of the way instantly to allow the use
of other tools in the turret. This is a strong, powerful lathe, and
with the builders system of three-lip drills and reamers, fully one
third more holes can be made than with ordinary turret chuck
lathes.
The lathe is built heavy and strong and the parts are well fitted
and of good material, so as to stand the hard and continuous service
to which such a machine is subjected, as well as the neglect and the
p,-jfoi&\ & c
FIG. 277. 20-inch Swing Turret Head Chucking Lathe, built by the
F. E. Reed Company.
pound rest, and when in place connects the gear upon its oil pump
SPECIAL LATHES 355
shaft to a similar gear on the driving shaft running the entire length
of the bed. In designing the three-tool rest, two of the tools are
placed on the and one tool on the right of a massive follow rest.
left
FIG. 278. 24-inch Swing Shaft Turning Lathe, built by the Springfield
Machine Tool Company.
ing the driving mechanism, and also for furnishing a large wearing
surface for the supplemental face-plate and face gear upon the
supply tubes to the proper height above the cut ting- tools. This
tank is arranged with an automatic relief valve susceptible of adjust-
ment any desired pressure can be obtained. By this
so that
arrangement the operator need not give any attention to the pump
when he starts up the lathe, inasmuch as it provides auto-
matically for the overflow should no water be required. The water
used may have added to it soda, soap, or any of the usual ingredients
used for such purposes.
On this lathe, when arranged as above, it is only necessary to
remove the shafting rest, replace the compound rest, disconnect
the tumbler gear under the head-stock, and the lathe is ready to
perform any of the ordinary functions of an engine lathe, thus
making it a valuable convertible lathe where there is not shaft-turn-
ing work to keep it going all the time, although that is the primary
object in designing it and that is supposed to be its chief function.
The long centers shown are necessary as they must reach through
the bushing in the shafting rest, which is mainly depended upon to
support the shaft during the process of turning. They are bored
and reamed to the diameter which the shaft is turned by the second
a roughing tool), and then split so that by
tool (the first tool being
a little compression, exerted by a set screw provided for that pur-
pose, the bushing is held in position and the shaft is accurately
supported in its proper place.
with an adjustable gib on the lower bed. The lathe swings over
the bed 28 inches, and through the gap 52 inches.
The 12-foot lathe takes 6} feet between centers when closed,
and 10^ feet when extended. The gap opens 4 feet, and every
additional foot of bed lengthens the gap 6 inches.
Whatever may be the opinion as to the advisability of building
358 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
a lathe with two spindles for the purpose of furnishing a lathe of
large and small capacity, the fact still remains that the two-spindle
lathe,brought out a number of years ago by J. J. McCabe, has
achieved a notable commercial success and many of them are in
use.
An illustration of the 26^8
inch swing lathe of this construction
is shown in Fig. 280, which gives an excellent idea of this machine.
It is impossible in a lathe of this character to so design it
that it shall present a symmetrical contour, however we may view
the matter, yet it seems as if the tail-stock of this lathe might be
somewhat improved in its outlines without detracting from its
strength or usefulness.
FIG. 280. 26-48 inch Swing Double Spindle Lathe, built by J. J. McCabe.
probably a fact that the large swing feature is more in use for boring
and similar work than for heavy work requiring the full swing.
Still we know personally that much large and heavy work is done
either the small or large swing, requiring only the necessary chang-
ing of face-plates to suit the work, the compound rest and the
center rest require the use of a building-up or blocking piece when
the change from small to large swing is made, and vice versa.
Naturally the compound rest will not be as stiff and rigid as that
of a regular 48-inch swing lathe, as the compound rest proper is
ing the head spindle, as the inside V's are omitted. The tail-stock
is fitted with a gib on the front side for the purpose of taking up
This lathe also made 24-40 inch, and 26-44 inch swing, while
is
the one here illustrated and described is also furnished with per-
manent raising blocks or built up solid to swing 32-54 inches. It
is also arranged to run with an electric motor when this method
of driving is preferred.
A pulley turning and boring lathe is shown in Fig. 281, and is
built by the New Haven Manufacturing Company. There are
several features in this lathe which make it of unusual value, not
only for turning and boring pulleys, but for a variety of very useful
work.
Among these are the following: The compound rest has an
unusually long lateral feed. It may be set at any desired angle
and has a power feed, and also a hand feed from either end. The
360 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
FIG. 281. 60-inch Swing Pulley Lathe, built by the New Haven
Manufacturing Company.
pulleys the proper boring bar is selected, one end placed in the taper
hole in the tail spindle and secured by the clamp dog shown on the
end of the spindle. The opposite end of this boring bar fits in a
bushing in the head spindle, thus assuring a correct and properly
SPECIAL LATHES 361
aligned hole. While this work is being done the pulley may be
held in a chuck, or chuck jaws attached to the face-plate, by the hub
or by the rim. The pulley having been bored is pressed on an
arbor and supported on centers. It is driven by two arms secured
by bolts to the face-plate in the usual manner.
The tail-stock is provided with the usual set-over, the same as in
an ordinary engine lathe, for the purpose of turning tapers. It is
provided with two sets of holding-down bolts so that the top casting
with the spindle may be set over without detaching the tail-stock
from the bed. By this means there is no necessity
for removing
the work from the lathe or blocking it up.
The head spindle is driven entirely by means of the internal
gear bolted to the back of the face-plate through a pinion on the
cone shaft. Back gearing
provided by which, with the five-step
is
heavy and unusual strain is brought upon it, rather than that the
gear teeth be endangered.
This lathe is not of new design, but has been built in substan-
tially its present form for many years; it is a deservedly popular
machine.
The ordinary length of the bed of this lathe is about 11 feet. It
swings 60 inches over the bed and 50 inches over the carriage and
will take in 50 inches between centers. Its weight is about 10,000
pounds.
The head spindle is bored out so that boring bars of any length
may be used. It will bore and turn pulleys up to 60 inches in
diameter and 19 inches face, and a pulley up to 50 inches in diameter
and 32 inches face.
By throwing out the back gears a fast boring speed is produced,
or the boring and turning may proceed simultanously, if the pulley
is held by the arms on a proper face-plate fixture.
362 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
There is no arrangement for the employment of a back tool
which might do the roughing work. This fact necessarily limits
needlessly the output of the lathe, as a proper rest for one or more
back tools could be readily and economically provided.
A pulley-turning lathe be so designed as to become rather
may
a pulley-turning machine than a lathe proper, and when thus
specialized will usually be a more efficient machine than if designed
strictly on the lines of a lathe. Such a machine is shown in Fig.
The bed, head-stock and tail-stock are all cast inone piece, and
this casting extends to the floor or foundation and provides a very
duced.
The pulley to be turned is forced on a mandrel or arbor and held
between centers in the usual way for obtaining good concentric
work. As to the method of driving the pulley, there is an equaliz-
SPECIAL LATHES 363
ley out of its proper shape, as is the case when it is held in a chuck.
There are two tool-rests which operate at the same time, one
being in front and provided with an angular feed for crowning the
and one in the rear carrying an inverted tool and
face of the pulley,
provided with a hand cross feed. This lathe tool takes the rough-
ing cut while the front tool carries the finishing cut and crowns the
pulley. The angular feed with which the front tool is provided
adapts it for turning bevel gears as well as pulleys. When set to
make a straight cut parallel to the axis of the work it is well adapted
to turning the outside of large gear blanks, balance-wheels, and simi-
lar work.
While the tool at the rear of the machine is often set for a straight
cut, parallel to the axis of the work, it is also provided with an
adjustable slide by which it may be set at an angle for crowning
the face of a pulley or for turning bevel gears and similar work.
This feature is necesary in heavy work particularly, in order to
leave an equal amount of metal to be cut away by the front tool
wise be the case. The back side of the casting is reinforced to give
the necessary stiffness.
The base of the slide-rest rests directly upon the bed of the
lathe, and its squaring device has a bearing on the front of the bed,
below the lowest part of the head-stock and tail-stock. This gives
the opportunity to make a long squaring device, thus insuring
greater accuracy, and also to have the bearing where there is less lia-
bility of trouble from The builders also make a
chips, dirt, etc.
swivel squaring device by means of which angles can be turned or
ground with the cross slide, thus enabling one to make two angles
with one setting of the slide-rest. This is a valuable feature in
making special cutters or mills, or in grinding spindles and bearings
having two angles.
The feed screws have hardened bearings, and are provided with
indices that are graduated to read to 1-1000 inch on the swivel
screw, and to 1-2000 inch on the cross-slide screw, the latter division
being adapted so that the movement of one graduation on the
index will make a difference of 1-1000 inch in the diameter of cylin-
dricalwork which is being turned or ground.
The tool-slide is made flat on top to take various attachments,
and has two T-grooves for the tool-post. Ordinary lathe tools are
used. The slides are carefully scraped together and the whole slide-
rest is neatly ornamented.
For holes and for light outside grinding there is an inside
grinder that is arranged so that the lap can be swung away from
the hole, for testing the size, and then returned instantly to its
original position.
The outside grinder for general work is clamped directly upon
the tool-slide and has a vertical screw adjustment. It is arranged
so that an emery wheel can be used on either end, and there is a
taper hole in the front of the spindle to take arbors for small laps.
Two methods of thread cutting are provided for. The first is on
the Fox and is attached to the T-groove on the
lathe principle
back of the bed.
Any even multiple of the lead screw thread up
to ten times can be cut, and with a few extra lead screws all ordi-
the case that others for special work are frequently devised and
added to the bench lathe equipment, making it a very useful ma-
chine and capable of performing a great many different operations,
Fig. 285. The spindle has a single bearing in the head-stock, which
extends over a large proportion of its length, the face-plate being
attached to the front end as usual, and the three-step cone pulley
attached at the opposite end, fitting upon the spindle for a distance
about equal to one of its steps and carried by a flanged collar which
SPECIAL LATHES 367
tion, besides protecting the V's from being jammed. The upper
angle of V is meets the surface of the bed, which
rounded where it
bed or V at th s place.
:
also prevents jamming or injury of the
The T-rests, instead of being the usual form, are concaved, with
a projecting lip on the bottom which serves as a finger gage for
the operator while using the turning tool. The T-rest holder is
SPECIAL LATHES 369
lathe jobs, while the addition of an extra tool now and then for
special work, or a special form, will adopt the turret lathe for a very
large variety of work, which may thus be performed with a great
degree of accuracy, with a very good finish and in a very economical
manner.
Where large numbers same kind are to be made,
of pieces of the
it is usually the practice to make special tools whenever better
work or a larger output can be thereby secured. This will be
stroke.
subject of lathes.
There is one type that deserves special attention on account of
its valuable service on small work, and that has been known in the
"
shop for many years as a monitor" lathe, from the fact, no doubt,
of its resemblance to the turret of a monitor. The slide upon which
the turret is pivoted is run forward and back by a lever which makes
it very rapid in operation. It is usually built for small work only.
The Jones & Lamson flat turret lathe is now so well known that
an extended description of it seems hardly necessary, and yet its
importance in the manufacturing world of to-day, and its many
points of real mechanical interest and importance, demand more
than a passing notice.
A front view of one of these machines is given in Fig. 286, this
particular machine being 3 x 36-inch size, that is, it will work up a
3-inch bar and the turret has a run of 36 inches on the bed.
As will be seen the bed is supported by strong and well designed
legs in a pan nearly the full size of the machine. The head-stock
and its gearing is covered by a protecting case which moves with
it. One of the peculiar features of the machine being the sliding
tance, and in this particular point the flat turret lathe seems to
have an exceptional advantage. Its index pin is located directly
REGULAR TURRET LATHES 373
under the working tool, and so close to it that there can be no lost
motion between the tool and the locking pin. The turret is turned
automatically to each position the instant the tool clears the work
on its backward travel, and it is so arranged that by raising and
lowering trip screws near the center of the turret it may be turned
to three, four, or five of the six places without making any other
stops.
The power feed for the carriage is actuated by a worm-shaft.
374 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
The worm is wheel by a latch which is disengaged by
held into its
the feed stops. There are one for each position of the
six feed stops,
pulleys are 12 inches in diameter by 4 inches face; two run 300 revolu-
tions per minute, and the remaining, or middle, pulley runs 150
revolutions per minute.
FIG. 287. Top View of Turret Parts of Jones & Lamson Flat Turret Lathe.
These pulleys have extra long hubs that extend an equal distance
each side of the "pull of the belt" (each side of the rim), and per-
fectly distribute that strain over its entire bearing on the shaft.
The shipper rod is so connected that it will act on any one of the
three clutches at the will of the operator.
The tools used in this machine are of the usual nature but of
improved design in many cases, and are well shown in Fig. 287, as
376 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
they appear on the machine, in the top view taken from the rear
end, and at the 'front of the machine, looking toward the head-stock.
The machine tools built by Warner & Swasey are known wher-
ever American machines are used as being of good design, good
materials, and good workmanship. In fact, some of the finest ma-
chine work turned out in this country comes from their shop.
Their turret lathes are no exception to this rule, and in Fig. 288
is shown their 24-inch swing universal turret lathe, which is a good
example of a lathe of this type, adapted to a large variety of work
such as iron and brass valves, from 3 to 6 inches, gears, pulleys,
bearings, machine parts of circular contour, and general chucking
work requiring drilling, reaming, and facing.
FIG. 288. 24-inch Universal Turret Lathe, built by Warner & Swasey.
The bed is 8 feet 7 inches long, and is deep and heavily ribbed
as it should be in a lathe of this kind. The head-stock is cast in
one piece with the bed, rendering it strong and rigid against the
weight of the work and the torsion al strain of the machining opera-
tions. The spindle cone is of three steps, the largest of which is
16 inches in diameter and adapted for a 4-inch belt. The spindle
has a 2J-inch hole all the way through. From the end of the spindle
nose to the face of the turret is 36 inches when at its extreme
position.
The friction back gears give two speeds without stopping the
machine, the ratio being 8 to 1.
upon the carriage. It is 14 inches across flats and has six 3-inch
REGULAR TURRET LATHES 377
holes, allowing 2J-inch bars to pass through it. The carriage has
a longitudinal travel of 32 inches and a cross travel of 12 inches.
Two sets of independent adjustable stops are provided for each
face of the turret, one operating with the longitudinal and the other
with the cross travel of the carriage. When the general work which
the lathe is expected to do renders these stops superfluous, they may
be omitted from the regular equipment.
The geared feeds, both for the longitudinal and the cross cuts,
give six changes, any one of which is made instantly available by
moving a lever. These feeds are so designed that they will give
respectively 4, 7, 12, 16, 28, and 48 to the inch for every revolution
of the main spindle; that is, the spindle will make these various
number of revolutions while the feeds advance 1 inch.
The lead screw is provided with the proper gears for cutting 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 J, 12, and 14 threads per inch. Finer threads
than these are not likely to be required on a lathe of the capacity
of this one.
There is a taper turning attachment for turning tapers up to
3 inches per foot, which is furnished only when specially required.
The machine is driven from a triple friction countershaft which
has 16-inch pulleys adapted for a 4J-inch belt. One of these pulleys
runs at a speed of 100 revolutions per minute and the other at 140,
which gives twelve spindle speeds ranging from 53 to 264 per minute
without the back gears, and from 7 to 30 revolutions per minute
when the back gears are in use. A third pulley is designed to
run the spindle backwards.
The weight of this machine is 4,500 pounds, which shows its-
step of the spindle cone are seen the carriage stops, which are ad-
justable in a group upon the bed, and independently as the work
may require.
The cross-slide is unusually wide and operated by a screw and
is
clamped at any point on the bed, and moved along the bed by a
rack and pinion device.
The lubrication of tools is amply provided for, the lubricant being
pumped from a tank on the floor and up through two pipes properly
jointed so as to deliver two streams of lubricating compound at a
380 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
time at the points desired. Situated over this tank and beneath
the pan surrounding the bed, is a secondary pan supported on wheels
so as to be readily removable when it is desired to clean it out. Into
each end of this, oil and chips drip from the two lips seen at the
right and left. This feature
will be duly appreciated by
the operator, who has been
accustomed to clean out the
pans of the older style ma-
chines.
The countershaft has three
friction pulleys 20 inches in
diameter, for 4 J-inch belt, and
runs respectively 96 and 144
revolutions per minute for-
ward and 144 revolutions
backward. The weight of
the entire machine is 9,500
pounds, which is a very lib-
eral weight for a machine of
this capacity, and insures
great rigidity and strength of
its principal parts.
Another notable machine
brought out by the Pratt &
Whitney is their 3 x 36 tur-
ret lathe; that is, a lathe ca-
pable handling a 3-inch
of
bar of round stock and in
which the turret has a run of
36 inches. The machine is
well shown in perspective in
in which the bed, head-stock and pan are cast in one piece. On
account of the great quantity of oil that is necessary to use upon it
when machining bar stock, thebed is set in a pan of ample propor-
tions and well supported on heavy legs, those under the head-stock
REGULAR TURRET LATHES 381
FIG. 291. The Single Casting Combining the Bed, Head-Stock and Pan of the
Pratt & Whitney Turret Lathe.
materials as well, so that it does its work under a very large range
of conditions and circumstances.
The turret slide has power feed for turning lengths up to 36
inches,and the driving device for the feed mechanism for the turret
and by means of a silent chain which is driven from
cross-slides is
a sprocket wheel on the spindle, from whence it leads down to a
gear box containing the variable speed gears for giving the different
rates of feed. The shaft for operating the turret and cross-slide
382 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
located at the rear of the bed, and the gear box mechanism is oper-
ated by the two short levers in front of the head-stock as seen in
Fig. 290, and by which four rates of feed in either direction are
obtained for either the turret slide or the cross-slide. The turret
feeds range from .007 to 0.23 inches-
and those of the cross-slide from .0014
to .004 inches per revolution of the
main spindle.
There are dovetailed upper and
lower edges on the hexagonal turret
faces, to which tools may be rigidly
ism. In Fig. 293 is shown a section of the chuck and its related
parts, and in Fig. 294 its operative mechanism; In the former en-
graving D is a portion of the
nose of the spindle, and E the cap
screwing on over it. G is the
chuck jaws and H the closing col-
lar. This collar as well as the
jaws of the chuck and the wearing
surfaces of the cap are hardened
and ground, and the rear end of
the latter is made a sliding fit in
the spindle bore, while its front
end is ground to a sliding fit in FIG. 293. Chuck Construction of the
Pratt & Whitney Turret Lathe.
the ring F, which is hardened and
forced into the nose of the spindle D, and then ground while the
FIG. 294. Chuck and Rod Feed Mechanism of the Pratt & Whitney
Turret Lathe.
keep them in contact with the cap when released by the closer.
The jaws for each nominal size of stock are adapted to hold bars
3
32 inch over size, or ^ inch under size, and anyv/here within
this range they maintain a parallel grip on the bar. This is due to
384 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
the fact that the contact between jaws and closer is always a line
contact along the middle of each jaw, the surface at either side of
this line being relieved so as always to clear the conical seat in the
closer.
To
give the jaws a uniform gripping pressure upon the work,
regardless of the variation in size from standard, provision is made
for first bringing them into contact with the bar by operating a
lever, after which they are closed tight by means of a second lever,
both levers being mounted at the front of the head and about a
common axis, as shown in Fig. 290.
Referring again to Figs. 292 and 294 it will be seen that the
rear end of the spindle carries two sliding rings actuated by inde-
pendent yoked levers; these latter are connected by links with the
operating levers just mentioned.
The ring C, Fig. 293, is fitted with a pair of racks each of which
engages with a spiral pinion formed at the center of a right and
left-hand screw; the front ends of the screws fit holes tapped in
collar A, which is secured to the spindle, while the rear ends are
screwed into the sleeve B which carries the chuck-closing fingers J,
whose heels are always in contact with the lugs of the chuck-closing
tube K, the rollers at the outer ends resting against the shoes
carried in the ring I. The yoked lever N, operated through the link
by the inner of the two vertical levers in front of the head, is con-
nected also by the slotted link L with the stock-feed mechanism at
the rear.
When the chuck opened and the stock stop swung down from
is
the head, the inner leveris thrown over, forcing the link L toward the
rear and clutching the gear M to the feed screw, which is then driven
from the spindle in the right direction to draw the bar forward
against the stock. When the bar is in contact with the stop the
clutch throws to the middle position as shown, stopping the screw;
the lever is then thrown in the opposite direction, sliding the ring C
on bearing, and by means of the racks, spiral gears and right
its and
left-hand screws the sleeve B, with fingers J and tube K, is drawn
forward, forcing the chuck jaws into contact with the bar. The
outer lever is then operated to push back the ring I and close the
chuck down hard upon the work.
The manipulation of the levers takes but an instant, and it will
REGULAR TURRET LATHES 385
occasions.
The wearing surfaces
throughout are made very
large, all sliding surfaces
justable, are arranged for each of these tools, both for lateral and
cross feeds.
Turret stops are arranged at the rear of the machine and may
be severally brought into working position by rotating the cylin-
drical carrier. They are, of course,
independently adjustable.
In Fig. 296 given a view of the top of the machine, which will
is
serve to show the various operative parts of the turret and its stops,
the revolving tool-holder on the carriage, and the taper attachment,
much more clearly than is shown in the front view in Fig. 295, and
on a much larger scale.
This description might be much more elaborate but the machine
is quite well known among practical shop men and those having
any branch of machine business, and
special connection with this
further details do notseem necessary.
Pond tools are considered good tools and are usually designed
heavy enough and strong enough to stand the strain of any work
that the machine may be called upon to do. While this remark
design is such as to furnish the best resistance and support for both
the strain of weight and of torsion.
^
FIG. 296. Top View of Gisholt Turret Lathe.
The swing over the carriage is almost as great as that over the
ways, which permits the use of tool-post tools directly behind the
work, and also allows the carriage to be run behind the chuck so
that the turret may be brought up close to the chuck. Short,
rigid tools with practically no overhang and short boring bars can
REGULAR TURRET LATHES 389
The design of the turret provides for six faces, three of which are
of extra width, permitting the heaviest facing, multiple-turning, and
forming tools to be rigidly attached.
This turret is illustrated in plan in Fig. 298 and in elevation in
Fig. 299, showing the narrow
faces at A, A, A, in both fig-
ures and the wide faces B, B, B.
In the use of a tool held upon
a shank it is obvious that the
width of the face A is ample, as
all that is necessary is sufficient
front of the turret in Fig. 297, the very wide face, provided with a
groove across the center into which a rib on the tool base fits, and
the two T-slots for the four bolts securing it to the turret, are
manifestly very valuable in holding the tool stiff and rigid, and
"
doubtless suggested the name of rigid turret," as there is every
reason to assume such condition from the excellent design.
The turret is semi-automatic in its movements, the rapid forward
and return movement and its rotation being controlled by one
lever. It is indexed by worm
rn Miii
Til !
'
respectively 3J to 1, 8J to 1, 22 to 1, and 57 to 1.
and, with half nuts in the apron, and any tapping work can be done
with positive lead from the screw. A specially strong chuck is fur-
nished having, in addition to the hardened jaws, a set of soft ones to
be used for the second operation, so as to secure perfectly concentric
work, which is frequently difficult, particularly when the limits of
measurement and the exact running of the work are important
conditions.
It will be noticed that the feed gears are of broad faceand well
adapted to heavy work and that the lathe carries a very heavy and
strong chuck, which is all-important when heavy cuts are to be
made as well as when the work itself consists of large and heavy
pieces. It is particularly well adapted to machining forging up to
the limits of its swing and of rough outline, which usually prove
FIG. 301. 24-inch Swing Engine Lathe with Turret on the Bed, built
by the Springfield Machine Tool Company.
also made of tool steel slides between large bearings, with provision
for adjustment to take up wear.
All the parts pertaining to the automatic revolving mechanism
of turret are also made of tool steel and hardened.
Feeds are engaged and disengaged by levers conveniently placed
in front of the pilot wheel.
394 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
length of the top slide upon which the turret is pivoted, 46 inches;
width of the bearing surface, 11 inches; length of bottom slide, or
saddle, 30 inches; width of bottom slide, 11 inches; extreme dis-
tance between lathe spindle and turret face on a lathe with a 10-foot
bed, 42 inches; weight of turret, 1,200 pounds.
These figures will give a good idea of the substantial design of
this device, which was evidently intended for heavy work and hard
strength it will fail when put to the actual test of hard work. If
not of sufficient rigidity the tools will " chatter and either seriously
"
mar or spoil the work. If all the parts are not well fitted the tools
"
willnot "line up with the head-stock spindle, and as a consequence
true work cannot be done in the machine. It may be stated as a
day.
A very complete turret lathe for working brass and other similar
metals is built by the Dreses Machine Tool Company. It is shown
in Fig. 302, and is known as a 15-inch friction back geared brass
turret lathe, and is provided with a special chuck, cutting-off slide
and a slide-rest.
SPECIAL TURRET LATHES 395
FIG. 302. 15-inch Friction Back Geared Brass Turret Lathe, with Special
Chuck, Cutting-off Slide and Slide-Rest, built by the Dreses Machine
Tool Company.
dages are the same as those shown in Fig. 300, and the bed and
cabinets supporting it are the same. The turret* and carriage
arrangements, however, are quite different and adapted to a much
larger range of work.
The carriage is fitted with a turret tool-post which will carry
four tools under the massive top plate shown, and which are securely
fastened by the set-screws through it, thus materially increasing its
capacity for different cuts on the same piece of work. A binding
lever on its top secures the tool clamp in any desired position.
The turret, is very heavy and well supported by the turret slide,
upon which it is pivoted, and a long base slide or saddle. It is run
forward and back by a capstan or pilot wheel with long levers giving
ample hand power.
The turret can be connected with the carriage so as to be used
for thread cutting and for tapping, as it thus connects positively
with the lead screw by way of the apron. This feature is valuable
in many respects.
In addition to the above convenience it has its own automatic
feed, which has an unusually long run. As the turret has six large
flat faces, each tapped with four holes in addition to the central hole
for holding tools, it is well adapted for carrying large box tools,
FIG. 304. 15-inch Forming Turret Lathe with Automatic Chuck, built by
the Dreses Machine Tool Company.
cal forming rest, etc., is found very useful, doing the work upon
soft metals that the very heavy rest with its horizontal forming
toolsdo for the harder metals, as iron and steel.
In Fig. 304 is shown a 15-inch swing brass forming lathe, with
automatic chuck. It is built by the Dreses Machine Tool Company.
The distinguishing feature of the machine is the forming slide,
which consists a base securely clamped to the bed and support-
of
withstanding the fact that this limits its range of work somewhat,
it is a machine of much practical usefulness as a great variety of
light manufacturing comes well within its range, and it can be done
as well and as rapidly as on a much more complicated and expen-
sive machine.
The head-stock is long and heavy, supporting boxes for the
spindle journals of ample dimensions. The spindle is hollow and
of large size so that bar stock may be worked up. The end thrust
is taken by ball bearings which minimize friction. The driving-
cone has four steps and is adapted for an extra wide belt. The
countershaft is of the double friction type, thus giving eight speeds.
hand and any desired tool brought quickly into position for work.
The indexing ring is of large diameter and made of tool steel,
hardened and ground, as is also the locking plunger, which auto-
matically adjusts itself for wear. The wear between the turret and
the stem upon which it is pivoted is taken up by an adjustable taper
bushing.
SPECIAL TURRET LATHES 401
The top slide is square gibbed and adjusted by a taper gib. The
turret base securely clamped in any position on the bed by
is
a lever at the front of the turret and can be tripped to a line in any
position by an adjustable stop.
The lathe shown is of 16-inch swing and has a circular turret
First, the power, and in case of variable speed motors the speed
is under the control of the operator;
directly
Second, there is economy in the use of power, as none is used to
drive "jack shafts" or countershafts;
a small two-step cone on the motor shaft to the spindle cone. The
motor is of the variable speed type with a speed variation of two to
one.
The motor is mounted on an overhead bracket directly above
the head-stock, pivoted at the rear to two heavy standards bolted
on to the back of the bed, and is connected to the driving pulley by
a short, wide belt, in which sufficient tension for driving is obtained
by means of the adjusting screw with a hand wheel at the front of
the head-stock.
408 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
When thissystem is used the cone pulley has two steps, and
two back gears are provided, so that the combination affords
sets of
a total of six speed changes, two with the lathe out of gear and two
with each of the back gears in. By varying the speed of the
motor, either through the introduction of field resistance or by
use of one of the multiple voltage systems, intermediate
speeds in each range are obtained, the number of which depends
only on the number of points in the controller. With a 20-point
controller, 120 distinct spindle speeds are thus afforded.
This company also equip their lathes with constant speed
motors, for which purpose they mount the motor at the rear of the
head-stock near the floor. From a small pulley on the motor shaft
a belt runs up to a large pulley on a countershaft located directly
in the rear of the head-stock. This countershaft carries the usual
speed cone, from which a short belt connects with the spindle cone in
the usual manner. The countershaft speed is from 125 to 200 revo-
lutions per minute.
In buying a motor-driven lathe, the purchaser has usually to
decide between a direct-connected and a belt-connected lathe, and
between a constant speed and a variable speed motor. The use
of a constant speed motor direct geared to the lathe is practically
50 per cent in the speed, can be used to some advantage and would
divide the steps of the mechanical speed variation into five or six
additional changes, giving 40 or 48 changes of speed in all.
one can usually have the parts needed shipped directly from stock
and without any delays.
Another consideration should be noted. The wear upon the
variable speed reversing controller is considerable when we take
410 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
into consideration the number of times that the lathe is stopped,
started, and reversed each day
The greatest advantage is that the induction motor is without
commutator troubles, which is the main cause of difficulties with all
direct-current motors.
A lathe capable of doing at one setting the operations that would
require eight or more settings of an ordinary engine lathe is the
24-inch semi-automatic turret lathe, manufactured by the American
Turret Lathe Company and shown in Fig. 311 as a good example
of this class of machines so driven.
FIG. 311. Heavy Motor-Driven Turret Lathe built by the American Turret
Lathe Company.
Rotating, indexing, and clamping of the turret head are all auto-
"
matic, and an independent knockout" or feed stop serves each
face.
The spindle is driven through a Renold silent chain by a ten
horse-power Crocker- Wheeler semi-enclosed motor mounted above
the head-stock. An M. 12 controller in the current supply allows
the motor twelve speeds, ranging from 876 to 130 revolutions per
minute.
With the combination of electrical and mechanical means the
highest and lowest possible chuck speeds are 90 and 1 1-5 revolu-
tions per minute, respectively. For the operation of the turret a
three horse-power Crocker- Wheeler fully enclosed motor is used.
This runs continuously at a constant speed of 1,000 revolutions per
minute on a two-wire supply, and drives a steep-pitch lead screw
through bevel gearing. A
longitudinal shifting of the driven shaft
clutches one or the other of the two bevel gears, producing direct
or reverse rotation, or in the central position releases both.
The Hendey-Norton arrangement of an elevated electric motor
operating a countershaft is shown in Fig. 312.
The electric-motor drive, as illustrated, gives all the advantages
to be had from regular countershaft drive. It will be noticed that
the motor is of the back geared type. Carried on the end of the
commutator shaft are two rawhide pinions of different diameters,
driving two large gears on the countershaft of the motor, the gear-
ing being properly proportioned to give the required driving
speeds to the countershaft.
These large gears run smoothly on the shaft. Their inner for-
mation that of the friction clutch pulleys used on their shapers,
is
dispenses with the necessity of wiring the motor for backward drive,
an item of expense and complication which is avoided.
prevents any springing of the shaft when the belt is used on the
smaller steps of the cone.
The workmanship on the electric motors and their connections,
like the work on the lathes and other product of this company, is
first class, and the entire outfit is a good example of mechanical
work, although cannot be said that the design of the device, with
it
journaled the rock shaft L, upon which are fixed the two levers M,
fixed the worm segmentP, which engages the worm Q, the shaft R
of which is journaled in the bracket S fixed to the front of the head-
stock, as shown in Fig. 314. Upon the outer end of the shaft R is
fixed the crank T for operating the belt- tightening device.
The belt V is cemented instead of being laced, to facilitate its
smooth running. By a backward turn of the crank T the belt V is
rendered slack enough to be changed from one step of the cone to
the other, and a forward turn of the crank tightens it as much as
run and start the lathe gradually by tightening the belt slowly for
416 MODERN LATHE PRACTICE
that purpose, and we must admit that the operator of a machine,
in his daily experience, frequently finds convenient ways to "do
things" that the designer or the foreman may entirely overlook.
While the device here shown is simple, and no claim is made
of anything strikingly new or original, it has succeeded admi-
rably and given good satisfaction to the proprietors as well as to
the employees of the shop where it is in use, and will be found an
economical, convenient, and efficient method of applying the elec-
tric drive to existing lathes.
INDEX
Adjustable conical front bearing, 115. Author's design of fiddle-bow lathe, 26.
straight-edge for lathe testing, reversing gear device, 298.
243. 21-inch lathe, 76.
Alignment of centers, testing for, 241. 50-inch lathe, electric drive, 413.
Allowable limits in lathe testing, 251.
American Tool Works Company's 20- Back gear data, 124.
inch engine lathe, 316. gear ratios, 124.
Tool Works Company's 42-inch geared lathes, 57.
triple-geared lathe, 331. geared lathes, essentials of, 58.
Boycott, first in this country, 15. Clamping work to the face-plate, 269.
Braces for beds, 81. Classification of change gear devices,
Bradford 16-inch engine lathe, 314. 195.
42-inch triple-geared lathe, 327. of lathes, 52.
Crowning device for pulley turning, Early mechanic, tools of the, 17.
360. Engine, definitions of, 286.
Cushman chuck, 261. lathe, 286.
Cut-meter, Warner's, 227. lathes, complete, 57.
Cutting speeds for high-speed steel English classification of lathes, 22.
tools, 230, 232. tests of power for cutting tools,
threads, 277. 238.
Cylindrical cutters for boring bars, 283. form of lathe bed, 78.
method of determining the swing
Data, making record of, 237. of a lathe, 77.
Davis 18-inch engine lathe, 324. Electric drive, advantages of, 405.
tail-stock, 139. designed by the Author, 413.
Day's work of the early mechanics, 29. simplicity desirable, 416.
Definitions of turning, 22. Electrically driven lathes, 405.
Design of lathe head-stocks, 346. Elementary form of lathe bed, 72.
of lathe tools, 217. Erecting a lathe, 245.
Designing a lathe head-stock, 133. Essential parts of a back geared lathe,
lathe carriages, 143. 58.
lathe spindles, 102. triple-geared mechanism, 131.
Development of the balance-wheel Expanding arbors, 265.
idea, 28.
of manufactures, 20. Face-plate jaws, 261.
Devices for machinery concave and jaws for holding work, 269.
convex surfaces, 176. work, 259.
Diameters of lathe cones, 133. improper holding of, 269.
Difficulties of lathe design, 70. Factories, early New England, 16.
Distortion of work, 269. Failures in turning tapers, 150.
Double-spindle lathe, McCabe's, 358. False jaws for a chuck, 262.
threads, cutting of, 281. Faulty designs of back gearing, 125,
Dreses forming turret lathe, 398. 127.
turret lathe for brass, 395. Fay & Scott extension gap lathe, 357.
Drilling speeds, 227. Feeding mechanism, drive for, 134.
work on the lathe, 274. "Fiddle-bow" lathe used by the
Drivers for lathes, 258. Author, 26.
mechanism of a triple-geared Fitchburg machine works "Lo-swing"
lathe, 123. lathe, 350.
Driving feeding mechanism, 134. Fitting tapers, 271.
lathe work, 257. Flat cutters for boring bars, 283.
the lead screw, 135. Flather's quick change gear device,
Dynamometers and the transmission 212.
of power, 237. 18-inch quick change gear engine
lathe, 292.
Earliest form of lathe, 23. Follow rests, 165.
Early development of machine tools, Foot lathes, 24.
20. built by the Author, 30.
Rapid change gear devices, 194. Speeds and feeds, 224, 232.
change gear devices, Bradford, 203. of drills, 227.
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