page_title: Metal lathe
section_title: Headstock
hierarchical_section_title: Metal lathe / Construction / Headstock
caption_attribution_description: Highlighted headtock of Hwacheon centre lathe, H1: Geared head stock housing, H2: Intermediate gears lever, H3: High Low gear lever, H4: D6 camlock spindle, H5:Tumbler gears - forward/reverse and engage/disengage, H6: Quick change gear box with 4 selectors (3 levers), H7: Lead screw, H8: Feed screw, H9: Forward reverse switch, H10: Change gear cover
context_page_description: A metal lathe or metalworking lathe is a large class of lathes designed for precisely machining relatively hard materials. They were originally designed to machine metals; however, with the advent of plastics and other materials, and with their inherent versatility, they are used in a wide range of applications, and a broad range of materials. In machining jargon, where the larger context is already understood, they are usually simply called lathes, or else referred to by more-specific subtype names. These rigid machine tools remove material from a rotating workpiece via the movements of various cutting tools, such as tool bits and drill bits.
context_section_description: The headstock (H1) houses the main spindle (H4), speed change mechanism (H2,H3), and change gears (H10). The headstock is required to be made as robust as possible due to the cutting forces involved, which can distort a lightly built housing, and induce harmonic vibrations that will transfer through to the workpiece, reducing the quality of the finished workpiece.
  The main spindle is generally hollow to allow long bars to extend through to the work area. This reduces preparation and waste of material. The spindle runs in precision bearings and is fitted with some means of attaching workholding devices such as chucks or faceplates. This end of the spindle usually also has an included taper, frequently a Morse taper, to allow the insertion of hollow tubular (Morse standard) tapers to reduce the size of the tapered hole, and permit use of centers. 
  On older machines ('50s) the spindle was directly driven by a flat belt pulley with lower speeds available by manipulating the bull gear. Later machines use a gear box driven by a dedicated electric motor. A fully 'geared head' allows the operator to select suitable speeds entirely through the gearbox.
caption: Headstock with legend, numbers and text within the description refer to those in the image
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