Capstan Lathes

[ScrapMaker]

Hi all,
I've just scored an Atlas Lathe with a Capstan fitted, I just wondered if anyone here had any experience of them?
It isn't the dedicated screw cutting machine that they sold, but more like a standard 10" Atlas but with no lead screw.

Anyone have any tips on usage and setting up etc?

I'll post up some pics when I collect the lathe

Thanks

Scrap Maker

[Darren]

Oh dear, a capstan......you don't want one of those or you'll end up like me.....welcome to the grumpy club....

I think your question is a little open ended, if you could ask something more specific I'm sure someone can chime in.
What sort of setting up are you referring to?

Capstans can be great, just depends what you want to make?

[websterz]

 

[ScrapMaker]

Patience Websterz san, the pics will be uploaded as soona s I have collected it 

Darren, that's got me a little worried now, with all of the stress I've been enduring lately, I'm grumpy enough without a Capstan filled life 
Although I'm relatively new to metalworking, I own and run a joinery workshop as my job. Because of this, anything that can save a large amount of time is always going to be strongly considered.
When I was first looking to buy a lathe, I popped round a fellow woodworkers place, but he is a machinist come woodworker, rather than vice versa.
He had a quick change tool post, and I could instantly see the time saving benefits. So I made sure that I bought a lathe with a quick change tool post already. Now that I am doing more machining, I'm getting bored quite quickly of changing from centre drill, pilot drill, tapping drill,, tap etc.
I've been looking at the Arc Eurotrade turret system, but wasnt too set on it. When I caught sight of this auction, I made a bid and won it. Then spend the next 2 hours researching what I had bought 
So really, I'm looking to set it up for centre drill, pilot drill, live & dead centre etc

Scrap Maker

[Darren]

I deliberately bought a turret lathe as that was what I needed at the time, paid for itself in in full in one hour alone. Not the first hour of owning it of course, that would be silly. But in one hour it could produce enough profit to pay for the lathe fully.

But those days are gone.....for the moment......for now I just enjoy the lathe for what it is.

When you say capstan what do you mean exactly?

A device that fits into the tailstock, or a bigger sliding turret that sits on the ways?

[ScrapMaker]

It's a sliding turret that sits into the ways Here is a link from the lathes.co.uk website about it
http://www.lathes.co.uk/atlas/page5.html
Its just the sliding turret that I have on mine, and a different top slide assembly, that pictures arent very good of it
so I will post some more when I pick it up.
It seems that Atlas sold a Capstan kit to the US market, which included the sliding turret and other pieces.


SM

[bogstandard]

SM,

Up until 18 months ago I used to run an Atlas 10F, which is basically as you describe but with all the bells and whistles for screwcutting and feed.

I was offered a capstan version about 2 years ago for 100 squid, but turned it down as I knew I would be changing lathe types.

If you are just into centreing, drilling holes etc then they are great, they even come with basic front and back tool holders. Turn to size with the front one, then feed in the back to part off what you have just turned. Not really worth having if you are doing the odd 10 or 20 turned and drilled items, but any more than that, and if it is the right price, you are onto a winner.

I don't know if these were ever produced with a plain bearing head, but if they were, and yours is such a one, then make some sort of excuse and run away as fast as you can. Even though one in good condition runs perfectly well, once it wears, it will cost you an arm and two legs to get the bearings recast and bored to fit.

I purchased one of the tailstock turrets from Arc Euro, complete with all the bits and pieces. I could see it being great for a smaller lathe than mine. If they had done it with a 3 MT rather than the 2 MT it came with, then I would have used it, but by having to use an adaptor, it became a little 'droopy', so unfortunately I never used the turret part, but all the other bits were converted into a very versatile tap and die threading system, plus other specialist bits for the tailstock.


Bogs

[jim]

i spent 3 years on capstan lathes (Ward 2,3 and 7) during my apprenticeship.

i'd have one tomorrow, but i just couldn't find the space

one day maybe....................................

[Darren]

Srapmaker,

You'll be wanting some tooling for the capstan........here's a few of mine, nothing very exciting but useful all the same.....any questions just ask....

[SKIPRAT]

Hi Scrapmaker
in a past life i spent a few years setting up and operating various capstan and turret lathes mainly Ward 3a capstan bar lathes and Ward 7t combination turret lathes and became quite familiar with the delights of setting up "rolller
boxes"and "coventry dieboxes" it was quite a bit of a bind setting up anything up to twelve tools and thier related stops and the art of aligning up the turret arms with fag packets and fag papers capstan lathes where quit a useful tool in their day for batch production that kind of work is now done by cnc machines




Cheers Paul

[machanic]

Hi Skiprat.
im setting up n ward 3a turret for vesconite bushes. It cuts 0.08mm taper over the lenght of 80mm.
What is the best way to make sure the chuck and the turret is 100% aligned.