STUDY OF LATHE

INTRODUCTION Lathe is the father of all machine tool. It is a basic machine tool probably the most important one of all, lathe was actually the first machine tool. Lathe is a particular type of machine tool in
which the work is held and rotated against a suitable cutting tool for the purpose of producing surface of revolution in any material.

LATHE SPECIFICATIONS: In order to specify a lathe, a number of parameters could be used on the specific applications. However, the major elements used for specifications should invariably be based on the components that would be manufactured in the lathe. The sum of lathe specifications is, L=Distance between centers. A=Swing diameter over bed. B=Swing diameter over carriage. R=Radius. H=Height of center from bed DISTANCE BETWEEN CENTERS (L): This would be specifying the maximum length of the job that can be turned in the lathe. SWING DIAMETER OVER BED (A): This specifies the maximum diameter of the job that can be turned in the lathe machine generally restricted to small length jobs. SWING DIAMETER OVER CARRIAGE (B): This specifies the maximum diameter of job that can be turned in the lathe machines with the job across the cross slide. Other factors should also be specified to fully describe the lathe machine. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Horse power of the motor Feed range Accuracy achieved Cutting speed range Screw cutting capacity Spindle nose diameter

PARTS OF ENGINE LATHE OR CENTER LATHE: The principal parts of an engine lathe are, 1. Bed, 2. Head stock, 3. Tail stock, 4. Carriage, 4.1. 4.2. 4.3. 4.4. 4.5. Saddle, Cross slide, Compound rest, Tool post, Apron.

5. Feed Mechanism, 6. Thread cutting mechanism. CARRIERS AND CATCH PLATES: Carriers and catch plates are used to drive a work piece when it is held between two centers. Carriers or driving dogs are attached to the end of the work piece by a setscrew, and catch plates are either screwed or bolted to the nose of the headstock spindle. CHUCK: A chuck is one of the most important devices for holding and rotating a piece of work in a lathe. Work piece of short length, and large diameter or irregular shapes, which cannot be conveniently mounted between centers, are held quickly and rigidly in a chuck. TYPES OF CHUCKS: 1. Four jaw independent chuck 2. Three jaw universal chuck 3. Air or hydraulic operated chuck 4. Magnetic chuck 5. Collet chuck 6. Combination chuck 7. Drill chuck

FACE PLATE: A faceplate consists of a circular disk bored out and threaded to fit the nose of the lathe spindle. This has the radial, plain and T slots for holding work by bolts and clamps. ANGLE PLATE: This is a cast iron plate having two faces machined to make them absolutely at right angles to each other. Holes and slots are provided on both faces so that it may be clamped on a faceplate and can hold the work piece on the face by bolts and clamps. MANDRELS: A mandrel is a device for holding and rotating a hollow piece of work that has been previously drilled or bored. The work revolves with the mandrel which is mounted between two centers. PLAIN MANDREL: The plain mandrel this type of mandrel is most commonly used in shops and finds wide application where a large number of identical pieces having standard size holes are required to be mounted on it. STEP MANDREL: A step mandrel having steps of different diameters may be employed to drive different work pieces having different sizes of holes without replacing the mandrel each time. This type of mandrel is suitable for turning collars, washers and odd size jobs used in repairing workshops. COOLER MANDREL: A cooler mandrel having solid coolers is used for turning work pieces having holes of larger diameter, usually above 100 mm. This construction reduces weight and fits better than a solid mandrel of equal size. SCREWED MANDREL: A screwed mandrel is threaded at one end with a collar. Work pieces having internal threads are screwed on to it against the collar for machining. CONE MANDREL: A cone mandrel consists of a solid attached to the one end of the body, and a sliding cone, which can be adjusted by turning a nut at a threaded end.

GANG MANDREL: This has a fixed collar at one end and a movable collar at the threaded end, which may be adjusted, to this position by a nut. The mandrel is used to hole a set of hollow work piece between two collars by tightening the nut. EXPANSION MANDREL: There are different types of expansion mandrels. The mandrel consists of tapered pin, which is driven into a sleeve that is parallel outside and tapered inside the sleeve has three longitudinal slots, two of which are cut nearly through, and the third splits it completely. RESTS: A rest is a mechanical device which supports a long slender work piece, which is turned between centers or by a clutch, at some intermediate point to prevent bending of the work piece due to its own weight and vibrations set up due to the cutting force that acts on it. STEADY REST: A steady rest shown in Fig consists of a cast iron base, which may be made to slide on the loath bed ways and clamped at any desired position where a support is necessary.