LATHES

TYPES OF LATHES.

Lathes used in manufacturing can be classified as speed, engine, and tool room. Special types of
lathes have only a head stock, tail stock, and a simple tool post mounted on a light bed. They ordinarily
have only three or four speeds and are used primarily for wood turning, polishing, or metal spinning.
Spindle speeds up to about 1000 rpm are common.

Engine Lathes are the type most frequently used in manufacturing. They are heavy-duty machine tools
with all the components described previously and have power drive for all tool movements except on the
compound rest.

In most cases the bed is mounted on two pedestal legs. They commonly range in size from 12 to 24
inches swing and from 24 to 48 inches center distances, but swings up to 50 inches and center
distances up to 12 feet. Most have chip pans and a built-in coolant circulating system. Smaller engine
lathes-with swings usually not over 13 inches also are available in Engine type, designed for the bed to
be mounted on a bench or cabinet. Tool Room Lathes have somewhat greater accuracy and, usually, a
wider range of speeds and feeds than ordinary engine lathes. Designed to have greater versatility to
meet the requirements of tool and die work, they often have a continuously variable spindle speed range
and shorter beds than ordinary engine lathes of comparable swing, since they are generally used for
machining relatively small parts. They may be either bench or pedestal type.

PREPARING THE BARREL BLANK

You have the barrel cut to the length that you want, plus 1 inch, so now chuck the barrel in the lathe and
face off both ends of the barrel. If the bore has run quite a bit off center, you will need to repeat this