Lathe faceplate

Lathe faceplate

A lathe faceplate is the basic workholding accessory for a wood or metal turning lathe. It is a circular metal (usually cast iron) plate which fixes to the end of the lathe spindle. The workpiece is then clamped to the faceplate, typically using t-nuts in slots in the faceplate, or less commonly threaded holes in the faceplate itself.

The faceplate may be attached to the lathe in several ways: The two most common are a thread and a precision cone arrangement or threaded studs and a circular recess fitting a flange on the end of the spindle. Increasingly common is the camlock arrangement where shaped studs and cams replace threaded studs for rapid exchanging of the faceplate with other accessories, such as three or four jaw chucks.

The faceplate was the ancestor of lathe chucks, an arrangement of three or more adjustable 'dogs' bolted to the faceplate providing a primitive chuck arrangement. The smaller plate in the upper photo is specifically a 'dog face' with slots intended to hold a bent tail dog while the work itself was supported on centers. The larger plate to the right simply provides a variety of ways by which work can be bolted or clamped to the plate. The slotted plate on the lower photo accepts wedged holders which can be used to fasten the work to the plate. The plates were expendibles, so it was not unusual as shown in both photos for a machinist to drill additional holes in the plates for attaching work that could not otherwise be attached. While the Dog plates were usually fairly small regardless of the lathe size, the classic face plate is usually matched to the maximum diameter that the lathe will swing.

It may seem that the faceplate is a primitive accessory superseded by precision chucks, but it's inherent flexibility (almost any shape can be attached to a faceplate with care and the right fixings) and the possibility of achieving great accuracy by careful setting up make it an essential for the well equipped lathe.

For certain specialist jobs, temporary or special faceplates can be made, perhaps in wood or light alloy, that can be machined or adapted for difficult workholding jobs. One example might be attaching thin sheet metal to a wooden faceplate using woodscrews, allowing the trepanning of holes, with the tool cutting into the sacrificial faceplate material.

ee also

Lathe Dog or Lathe Carrier


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lathe (disambiguation) — Lathe may refer to:In woodworking and metalworking: *Lathe, used in turning wood, metals and other materials. *Lathe (metal), a lathe used specifically for metals. *Geometric lathe, used for making ornamental patterns on the plates used in… …   Wikipedia

  • Lathe carrier — A lathe carrier (or lathe dog) is a device that clamps around the workpiece and allows the rotary motion of the machine s spindle to be transmitted to the workpiece.A carrier is most often nn used when turning between centers on a lathe, but it… …   Wikipedia

  • faceplate — [fās′plāt΄] n. 1. a disk fastened to the spindle of a lathe that holds in place work to be turned 2. a protective cover, as over a light switch, journal box, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Lathe — A lathe (pronEng|ˈleɪð) is a machine tool which spins a block of material to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, or deformation with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object which has… …   Wikipedia

  • faceplate — noun Date: 1841 1. a disk fixed with its face at right angles to the live spindle of a lathe for the attachment of the work 2. a. a protective plate for a machine or device b. a protective cover for the human face (as of a diver) 3. the glass… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • faceplate — /fays playt /, n. 1. (on a lathe) a perforated plate, mounted on the live spindle, to which the work is attached. 2. the part of a protective headpiece, as a diver s or astronaut s helmet, that covers the upper portion of the face, often of… …   Universalium

  • faceplate — noun 1》 an enlarged end or attachment on the end of the mandrel on a lathe, on which work can be mounted. 2》 the transparent window of a diver s or astronaut s helmet. 3》 the part of a cathode ray tube that carries the phosphor screen …   English new terms dictionary

  • faceplate — face•plate [[t]ˈfeɪsˌpleɪt[/t]] n. 1) bui mel a perforated disk mounted on a spindle of a lathe for holding work to be turned 2) cvb the part of a protective headpiece, as a diver s or astronaut s helmet, that covers the upper portion of the face …   From formal English to slang

  • faceplate — /ˈfeɪspleɪt/ (say faysplayt) noun 1. a circular plate, which may be attached to the mandrel of a lathe, provided with slots and holes for securing work of an irregular shape. 2. the cover which fits over the front of a mobile phone. 3. a covering …  

  • Turret lathe — Hartness 3x36 flat turret lathe with cross sliding head, equipped for bar work, 1910.[1] The turret lathe is a form of metalworking lathe that is used for repetitive production of duplicate parts, which by the nature of their cutting process are… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”