Headstock taper turning

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Headstock taper turning

This topic has 11 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 15 January 2023 at 23:25 by Neil Lickfold.

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15 January 2023 at 17:27 #629532
vic newey
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@vicnewey60017
Unlike most lathes, the headstock on a Pittler lathe can be rapidly offset by as much as 20 degrees in either direction for fancy taper turning. Here is my first attempt on this 118 year old machine. Using the swivelling cross-slide I first turned a ball near the centre and then added tapers either side.

The drive belt restricted me from moving the headstock much more than 7 degrees as it's not long enough to allow further without the belt slipping off.

In a factory setting with a much longer belt from above then the full 20 degrees would easily be possible although probably not work between centres but held on a face plate or chuck. The headstock is fitted with one large bolt under the pulley and another smaller one above the degree scale.
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15 January 2023 at 17:27 #16421
vic newey
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@vicnewey60017
Pittler C3 lathe
15 January 2023 at 17:38 #629537
old mart
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@oldmart
What a clever design, obviously specially for constant use in turning tapers. Is there a locating pin for zero, as the scale markings would never be better than +- 1/10 degree?
15 January 2023 at 17:52 #629539
Bazyle
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@bazyle
Another use I have seen it used for is for facing off the ends of clock plate pillars to ensure they are concave and thus ensure they seat without wobble. A cheaper feature to add to a lathe than a topslide which was not universally provided.
15 January 2023 at 17:54 #629540
Peter Cook 6
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@petercook6
Sherline lathes use a similar approach. They use a key to reset zero
15 January 2023 at 18:27 #629544
vic newey
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@vicnewey60017
Posted by old mart on 15/01/2023 17:38:03:

What a clever design, obviously specially for constant use in turning tapers. Is there a locating pin for zero, as the scale markings would never be better than +- 1/10 degree?

No locating pin but takes one minute to set to zero and check alignment of both centre points
15 January 2023 at 18:35 #629547
Nigel Graham 2
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@nigelgraham2
I think the Drummond flat-bed lathes had a simple version of this, but from what I recall of the early 'B'-type I once owned, there did not seem a clear, positive way to re-align the headstock.
15 January 2023 at 18:41 #629548
DiogenesII
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@diogenesii
Nice; I enjoy these little 'Pittler' interludes, a machine with some interesting features. Thanks for taking the trouble to post, it's appreciated..
15 January 2023 at 19:07 #629553
vic newey
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@vicnewey60017
Posted by DiogenesII on 15/01/2023 18:41:37:

Nice; I enjoy these little 'Pittler' interludes, a machine with some interesting features. Thanks for taking the trouble to post, it's appreciated..

Thanks, enjoy my Pittler website as well Vics Pittler website
15 January 2023 at 20:52 #629569
Emgee
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@emgee
For readers information the Emco Unimat DB and SL have the same feature and use a 4mm pin to locate a truly aligned with bed setting.

Emgee
15 January 2023 at 22:05 #629577
ega
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@ega
The Barker lathe (with geared head) will do this and has a pin for resetting.
15 January 2023 at 23:25 #629579
Neil Lickfold
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@neillickfold44316
I had an early Drummond lathe, circa 1900 . It had the swivel head on it too. Great for cutting pipe threads. It came with some ball centres , for offset turning. One that went into the chuck of the headstock, and the other for the tailstock itself, a #1 morse taper from memory.

It was a great little machine. I now regret that I sold it when I bought my S7 in 1987. Hindsight I should have kept it.
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