Turret Lathe - Example of A Part-cutting Cycle

Example of A Part-cutting Cycle

By pushing the hand lever of a manual turret forward, the tool is moved via the turret's slide toward the workpiece being held by the chuck, soon making contact and cutting or forming the part. On the return stroke, the tool is retracted and then indexed to the next tool held in the turret. In this way, a sequence of operations can be performed on a part without switching tools with each operation. That is, different tools can be shifted into position without the need to unscrew one and screw in another. Each tool can be set for a different length of travel by a stop screw located at the far right of the turret.

As an example, if one wanted to make a batch of special knurled-head screws, the turret could be set up with tools and used in this sequence:

1. Stop to set length of bar stock to be machined;
2. Box tool to turn diameter of stock down to threading size;
3. Geometric die head to cut external threads on turned-down part,
4. Knurling tool to knurl the screw's head.

After this, a front tool on the cross slide could cut a groove in the knurled area, providing a chamfer, and then a rear tool would be brought forward to cut the finished screw from the bar, called "parting it off".