A production lathe is a capstan and turret lathe. It is employed to produce an arbitrary quantity of identical parts in the shortest amount of time.
The machining process is automated in semi-automated lathes.
Other than machining, tasks like job loading and unloading, tool positioning, and coolant operations are completed by hand. The saddle has longitudinal turret slides that mount the turret head on the ram.
The lathe stands out as a basic and useful equipment when exploring the world of machine tools. From delicate watchmaking to durable aircraft components, its capacity to precisely shape materials has been essential in a wide range of sectors.
In this article, we will explore what a Capstan And Turret Lathe is, it’s application, diagram, types, and how it works. We also discussed it difference, advantages, and disadvantages.
What is Capstan Lathe
The capstan lathe is a modified version of the engine and center lathe that uses a hexagonal turret tool head in place of the tailstock. Pratt and Whitney created it for the first time in America in 1860.
Because there was only one tool storage in the center lathe and only one tool that could be put in the tailstock, a capstan lathe had to be created. Consequently, each time we had to switch the tool to execute a different operation on the workpiece, it took a lot of time. The center lathe proved unsuitable for large-scale manufacturing.
A capstan lathe was created in order to solve these issues. A modified version of the center lathe is the capstan lathe. There are six distinct tool types on this turret tool head. To acquire the necessary tool for the task, the turret tool is spun.
It is employed in mass production, which is the process of producing a large number of final goods in the shortest amount of time with the highest level of accuracy and precision.
The lathe is semi-automatic. It is referred to as semi-automatic because certain machining operations, like drilling, facing, thread cutting, turning, etc., are done automatically without the need for tool changes, but other tasks, such clamping the workpiece, setting up the tools, and cooling it, are done by hand.
What is Turret lathe?
One kind of metalworking lathe that is distinguished by the use of replaceable cutting tools is the turret lathe. It forces a fixed cutting tool up against a revolving workpiece, just like a conventional lathe.
The replaceable cutting tools, however, are what make turret lathes special. It is possible to swiftly switch out the cutting tool to suit a particular production application.
The turret, an indexable toolholder that enables multiple cutting operations, each with a different cutting tool, to be carried out in simple, quick succession, without requiring the operator to control the toolpath or perform set-up tasks in between (like installing or uninstalling tools), is an evolution of earlier lathes.
Turret lathes come in a wide variety of forms. Turret lathes, for instance, can be either computer-controlled (CNC) or numerically controlled (NC). Older NC turret lathes typically employ punch cards or other simple control mechanisms.
CNC turret lathes, on the other hand, are more recent and employ sophisticated computer-based control techniques. Turret lathes can also be categorized based on their operation. Numerous tasks may be completed by automatic turret lathes with little or no manual labor.
Additionally, there are manual turret lathes that need some degree of physical work. Flat, vertical, and semi-automatic lathes are other popular varieties of turret lathes.
What are the Key Features and Functions of Capstan Lathe?
- Turret Head: Holds multiple cutting tools simultaneously, allowing quick tool changes and reduced setup time.
- Automatic Feeding: Ensures consistent and uniform cuts with automatic feeding mechanisms.
- High Speeds: Suitable for mass production of small to medium-sized components.
- Versatility: Can perform a wide range of operations including turning, facing, threading, drilling.
- Precision Control: Produces accurate and repeatable results with precise control over cutting parameters.
Applications
Capstan Lathe Applications:
- Capstan Lathe Machines: Versatility and Efficiency
- It is used in automotive industry for manufacturing precision components.
- Its crucial in aerospace sector for producing landing gear parts, hydraulic fittings, and aircraft engine components.
- Its in electronics for producing intricate parts for electronic devices.
- It works in medical devices for creating precise components like implants, surgical instruments, and diagnostic equipment.
- Contributes to general engineering by producing a wide range of engineering components.
Turret Lathe Applications:
- Specialized version of engine lathe with turret tool holder.
- Enables simultaneous mounting of multiple cutting tools.
- Ideal for repetitive production work.
- Enables quick tool changes without manual adjustments.
- Commonly used in high-volume production settings for efficiency and speed.
Diagram
Types of Turret Lathes
The common types of turret lathes include:
Vertical Turret Lathe:
Because the workpiece is held vertically in vertical turret lathes, the headstock can rest on the floor and the faceplate can rotate horizontally, resembling a massive potter’s wheel. When handling short, heavy, and very large workpieces, this is helpful.
A vertical turret lathe is a vertical boring mill with a turret. In general, vertical lathes are also known as “vertical boring mills” or just “boring mills.”
Computer Numerical Control Turret Lathe:
The digital computer was on the verge of evolving from a massive laboratory curiosity to a useful technology that could start to spread throughout business and industry at the end of World War II.
The introduction of computer-based automation in machine tools through numerical control (NC) and later computer numerical control (CNC) largely, but not entirely, replaced the previously used manual and mechanically automated machines.
Automatic Turret Lathe:
The mechanically automated “automatic” turret lathe was created and popularized during the 1870s and 1890s. Numerous part-cutting cycles may be completed by these machines without the need for human assistance.
Thus, production rose and operator duties—which were already significantly reduced by the manual turret lathe—were further decreased. These devices employ cams to automate the chuck’s opening and shutting as well as the turret’s sliding and indexing.
They thereby carry out the part-cutting cycle in a manner that is somewhat similar to how an intricate cuckoo clock runs an automated theater production.
While larger automated turret lathes are often referred to as “chuckers,” “automatic chucking lathes,” or “automatic chuckers,” smaller models are typically referred to as “screw machines” or “automatic screw machines.”
Semi-Automatic Turret Lathe:
“Semi-automatic turret lathes” are machines that resemble the ones mentioned above but have power feeds and automated turret-indexing at the end of the return stroke. This difference in nomenclature is ambiguous and not always followed.
They are all referred to as “turret lathes.” When semi-automatic turret lathes were created in the 1860s, they were occasionally referred to as “automatic.”
Fully automated machines, or what we now refer to as “automatics,” had not yet been created. Both manual and semi-automatic turret lathes were occasionally referred to as “screw machines” in that era, but we now only use the word for completely automated devices.
Horizontal, Manual turret lathe:
The horizontal-bed, manual turret lathe is the quintessential turret lathe and the first in chronological sequence of appearance. This sort of machine is still referred to by the unqualified name “turret lathe.”
The 1840s through 1860s were the formative decades for this kind of machine, during which time the fundamental concept of installing an indexable turret on a bench lathe or engine lathe was invented, born, and spread from the original businesses to several additional firms.
How Does Capstan Lathe Works
The capstan lathe has a hexagonal tool storage that holds six tools. The workpiece that has to be reshaped into the appropriate size and form is first put into the chuck.
This chuck comes in two varieties: three-jaw and four-jaw. Attached to a spindle, the chuck revolves with this workpiece. To accommodate six different tool types, the hexagonal tool head has six distinct surfaces.
The saddle is adjusted in the direction of the hexagonal tool head when the workpiece with the chuck begins to spin. The tool used for machining may be turned by rotating this hexagonal tool head, which will aim it toward the workpiece.
The necessary operation is performed once the needed tool is facing the workpiece and the ram is advanced to bring the tool into contact with the workpiece.
The tool installed on the next face starts up automatically after the turret has finished the first operation and the ram has been pushed rearward.
Difference between capstan and turret lathe
The capstan and turret lathes are advancements in engine lathes and center lathes, featuring a hexagonal turret tool head with six different tools in the turret. The turret tool is rotated according to process requirements in each operation, making the lathes heavier and more durable.
Capstan lathes are typically horizontal and have a turret tool head directly fitted on the saddle, resembling one unit. The turret head is mounted on a slide called ram, which is mounted on the saddle.
These lathes are suitable for heavier chucking work and bar work, and the saddle is moved to provide feed to the tool. The turret tool head is indexed automatically or manually, with feed stop screws and limit dogs controlling tool movement distance.
Some turret lathes have the capability to move the turret at right angles to the lathe axis. Feed rods provide longitudinal feed or not, and they are used for mass production of small and large size equal parts.
Both lathes have hand-operated collet chucks and power chucks, but their rigid construction prevents heavy cuts on the workpiece due to their non-rigid construction. Overall, the capstan and turret lathes offer varying levels of performance and versatility in their respective applications.
Advantages of Capstan Lathe Machines
- Increased Productivity: Automation and quick tool changes reduce manufacturing lead times.
- Improved Accuracy: Precision control ensures consistent and accurate machining, minimizing errors and rework.
- Cost Savings: Efficient machining processes reduce labor costs, material waste, and downtime.
- Flexibility: Capstan lathes handle various materials, geometries, and machining operations.
- Quality Assurance: Consistent machining results in high-quality components.
Disadvantages of Capstan Lathe Machines
FAQs
What does a turret do on a lathe?
Conversely, turret lathes have the ability to use many cutting tools simultaneously. The cutting tool does not need to be changed. Instead, industrial businesses may benefit from speedier and more efficient production processes since the turret lathe can automatically switch to the right cutting tool.
What is the difference between a turret lathe and a normal lathe?
The turret, an indexable toolholder that enables multiple cutting operations, each with a different cutting tool, to be carried out in simple, quick succession, without requiring the operator to control the toolpath or perform set-up tasks in between (like installing or uninstalling tools), is an evolution of earlier lathes.
What is the advantage of capstan?
A vertical drum on capstan winches is used for horizontal pulling. Benefits include the ability to remove the line from the drum at any angle, convenience of usage, and space savings. The cost of installation and the need to raise the weight more quickly are drawbacks.
What is a capstan lathe used for?
In general, capstan lathe machines are favored for light-duty tasks. Its ram, which allows for sliding movement, is where the turret head is situated. Turning, drilling, grooving, threading, boring, and other operations may be carried out with the aid of a capstan lathe machine.
What are the disadvantages of a turret lathe?
Turret lathes, however, may be more costly to buy and run, needing specific equipment and programming, and they also take more ability and experience to operate and maintain. Smaller, simpler items that can be manufactured more effectively on a standard lathe may not be appropriate for turret lathes.
What is difference between capstan and turret lathe?
Because Capstan lathes are lighter in structure, they operate more quickly. Due to their heavy structure, turret lathes operate more slowly.