Instructions for Manual Lathe Operation

A Physics Instrument Shop Instructional Guide

by

James Corwin

CONTENTS

3…Lathe Bits Used For This Project
3…Holding The Workpiece
4…Lathe Controls
4…Electrical Controls
5…Speed Controls
6…Thread And Feed Selection
6…Apron And Slide Controls
7…Tailstock
8…Illustration Of Tools Needed
9…STEP 1- Setting Up The Lathe
9…Powering up the Lathe
9…Setting the Spindle Speed
9…Setting the Speed and Direction for the Power Feed
10..STEP 2- Facing Off Aluminum To Size
11..Setting up the Facing Tool
11..Setting the angle of the Facing Tool
11..Adjusting the height of the Facing Tool
12..Starting the Spindle Rotation
12..Setting the Z-axis for the Facing Tool
13..Taking a rough cut on the first side
14..Taking a finish cut on the first side
15..Resetting the Z-axis, for the 2nd side
16..Taking a rough cut, 2nd side
17..Measuring the length of the aluminum
17..Resetting the Z-axis, after measuring
18..Rough cut, 2nd side, continued
19..Finish cut, 2nd side
20..Sanding and polishing
22..STEP 3- Drilling 3/8” And 15/16” Diameter Holes
22..Resetting the Spindle Speed to 305 rpms
22..Centerdrilling
24..Drilling with 3/8” drill bit , 2” deep
26..Drilling with 15/16” drill bit, 1” deep
31..STEP 4- Boring 1.250” Diameter, 0.500” Deep
31..Boring Tool set-up
31..Centering Boring Tool
32..Setting the angle of the Boring Tool
32..Resetting the Powerfeed direction
32..Resetting the Spindle Speed
33..Setting the X and Z-axis for the Boring Tool
34..Measuring the 15/16” drilled hole
34..Placing the measurement into the Digital Readout
35..Rough Boring 1.250 diameter, .500 deep
37..Finish Boring 1.250 diameter, .500 deep
41..STEP 5- Drilling And Tapping For ¼-20 Threads
41..Resetting the Spindle Speed to 305 rpms
41..Centerdrilling
43..Drilling with the #8 drill bit
45..Tapping with the ¼-20 Plug Tap
48..Tapping with the ¼-20 Bottom Tap
50..STEP 6- Turning Down The Outside Diameter
50..Setting up the Turning Tool
51..Centering the Turning Tool
51..Setting the angle of the Turning Tool
52..Resetting the Spindle Speed to 745 rpms
52..Resetting the Powerfeed direction
53..Setting the X and Z-axis on the Digital Readout
54..Turning down the outside diameter, rough cutting
58..Measuring the outside diameter
58..Making the finish cut
62..Verifying all measurements
63..STEP 7- Returning Tools
63..Returning the tools to their proper places
63..STEP 8-Cleaning Up the Lathe
63..Cleaning up work area

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