The lathe may be truly said to stand of first importance in the equipment of a tool room which has to deal with press tools. A useful 6 in. centre tool-maker's lathe is represented at fig. 211. The headstock is double-geared, has steel spindle, with a 1 in. hole through its entire length. The three-step cone is driven by a 2 in. belt. A convenient reversing motion is fitted for operating the sliding, surfacing, and screw-cutting arrangement, and in some instances two rows of division holes are drilled on the face of the main wheel, and an index peg is attached to the headstock, and the loose headstock or poppet is adjustable for taper turning. It will be noticed that the compound slide-rest is fitted with an ordinary tool holder of the pillar form, the turning tool being held by means of a set-pin screwed down from the top end of the pillar. This type of tool holder, though convenient for quickly placing and fixing a turning tool in position, and useful for light work, is open to the objection of the tool tilting when heavy cuts are being taken. A far better and safer tool holder is that consisting of two clamp plates P, P, held down by four pins (see fig. 212), which is a plan of the headstock and compound slide-rest. The turning tool T is operating upon a stamp die 1>, which is held in the chuck G. This lathe can be used for all ordinary tool turning within its range of size; boring, cylindrical cutting, cupping and drawing dies (figs. 78, 79, and 80); turning and facing punches, such as those seen at figs. 82, 87, 94, 95; and a variety of other work, as instanced at figs. 70 and 111; turning former (fig. 116), or the rollers (fig. 119).

Fig. 211.

Fig. 212.

A sliding, surfacing, and screw-cutting lathe of 9 in. centre, having 9 ft. bed, fitted with gap, is seen at fig. 213. This lathe, in addition to being convenient for ordinary tool making, may be used for turning and boring the larger dies and punches. A lathe of this size and design is capable of executing a great range and variety of work, from dealing with a piercing punch 1/16 in. diameter to boring a bevel wheel 2 ft. diameter. At fig. 214 the lathe will be seen screw-cutting a drawing punch D P, on its shank S. Other examples of work carried out on this lathe would be that of boring and screw-cutting cross of bolster B, fig. 95, and making the setting-up pins, fig. 100, and the chuck, fig. 122.

Fig 218.

The shaping machine, fig. 215, is a 12 in. stroke, double-geared, and self-acting shaper, being also provided with a circular motion, so useful on sheet metal tool work. This circular motion will be seen above the work table immediately below the tool holder.

The shaping machine can be used to great advantage when its use is understood and it is adapted to suit the existing conditions of the shop. At fig. 216 the shaping tool is seen operating upon the circular end of a cutting-out punch, the circular motion being put into operation for this purpose. On referring back to figs. 87, 88, and 89, the usefulness of a shaping machine will be apparent. The same may be said of fig. 92, since the machine could be used for roughing-out the drift. In addition to its use in the production of cutting punches, large dies and cutting-out beds may be readily surfaced top and bottom and on their edges by means of the shaping machine.

Fig. 214.

A great amount of time and labour may be saved in the preparation of cutting beds by a proper use of the drilling machine. That shown in fig. 217 has six speeds provided by means of a three-speed cone on counter shaft, and a two-speed cone on the spindle. The spindle cone runs on a bush attached to the frame, and drives the spindle by means of two keys in feather key ways, thereby removing all strain on the spindle from the pull of the belt The spindle has a ball thrust, ensuring great sensitiveness and freedom from breaking drills, and the spindle is balanced by a flat coiled spring. The top table swings away, leaving the centreing arrangement for centre-drilling the ends of cylindrical tools, spindles, and shafts. There is also a circular swivel table available under the drill for use on special work.

Fig. 215.

Fig. 216.

Another vertical drilling machine, capable of dealing with the larger work, is shown at fig. 218. This machine is of suitable design and construction to meet with the general requirements of both the tool and fitting shops, since it embodies all the modern improvements for rapid and easy manipulation. The spindle is balanced, is fitted with ball thrust, and driven by two keys. The back gear is enclosed in the cone pulley and can be instantly engaged by the movements of the lever, and the machine-cut bevel gear, seen on the top end of the spindle, is enclosed. The feed is automatic and has self-acting variable stop motion for use when drilling accurately to depth, and a reversing motion for tapping is provided, consisting of three bevel gears and clutch between, the clutch being operated by a lever placed in a convenient position on front of the machine. 16wp

Fig. 217.

Fig. 218.

The table may be raised and lowered on the column by bevel-wheel gear and screw, and may be swivelled out of the way when it is required to bring a heavy casting under the drill. But for the purpose of press-tool work it will be necessary to use the table, in a position at some distance up the column. The sketch, fig. 219, represents the drilling machine (shown in plan), operating upon a die </, intended for use in cutting sheet-steel blanks, and is an instructive example of the use to which the drilling machine may be put for such work. A, B, C, end D represent the four stages in the progress of the drilling. Beginning at A, we see the shape of the blank marked out, and one hole has been drilled at end M, forming one end of the blank. In the next stage, B, we have the two end holes plugged up, ready for the holes at either side of the plug (at end K) to be drilled, whilst at end J the hole at one side of the plug has been drilled, this drilling having removed a portion of the plug. In the third stage, C, two plugs are shown in the" holes at both ends, and it has been necessary to file flats on the plugs to get them into place ready for the third holes to be drilled in either end of the die. The plugging up of the holes may appear to some to be a trouble, but whenever a drill can be used in making a cutting bed to form any portion of the outline of its cutting edge, it is very much cheaper and satisfactory than if done by the ordinary method of chipping and filing. In the fourth stage, D, the three holes that have been drilled at end F clearly show the shape at one end as it will appear on the blank when cut, and at end G when the two plugs have been removed the same shape will appear there. It will further be noticed in sketch D that a series of small holes have been drilled, so that a small amount of chipping with a thin chisel will remove the centre piece E, ready for the two sides to be finished. A study of fig. 91 will further demonstrate the use of plugging and drilling, and the amount of drilling required to be done on the tools. Fig. 95 will clearly indicate that a drilling machine need not stand idle in a shop where press tools are manufactured.