John Chamberlain
Aluminum
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2005
- Location
- Boston
I have not used a big lathe in a long time and I am confused about the difference between the lead screw and power feed. I have a book which says the following:
"The lead-screw should be used only when cutting threads. For all other operations, motion is transmitted through the feed-rod. This practice is to preserve the accuracy of the lead-screw."
On the mini lathes it seems there is only a single rod, the lead screw, which turns and drives the carriage. There seems to be no other way to drive the carriage. According to the above, however, lathes have two rods (?) both threaded (?) that can drive the carriage. On pictures of lathes I only see one threaded rod though.
I know the half-nut engages the lead-scew. In the same book it also describes something called a "friction clutch". Is this how the "feed rod" is engaged? Is the feed rod threaded?
Thanks for any assistance clarifying how these things work.
"The lead-screw should be used only when cutting threads. For all other operations, motion is transmitted through the feed-rod. This practice is to preserve the accuracy of the lead-screw."
On the mini lathes it seems there is only a single rod, the lead screw, which turns and drives the carriage. There seems to be no other way to drive the carriage. According to the above, however, lathes have two rods (?) both threaded (?) that can drive the carriage. On pictures of lathes I only see one threaded rod though.
I know the half-nut engages the lead-scew. In the same book it also describes something called a "friction clutch". Is this how the "feed rod" is engaged? Is the feed rod threaded?
Thanks for any assistance clarifying how these things work.