Hardinge Quick Change Precision Lathe Page 2


	email: t ony@lathes.co.uk Home Machine Tool Archive Machine-tools for Sal e & Wanted Machine Tool Manuals Machine Tool Catalogues Belts Books Accessories Hardinge Cataract Toolroom Lathe Page 2 "Quick-Change Swing Precision Lathe" Cataract Toolroom Lathe Home Page Cataract Toolroom Lathe Page 3 Cataract Accessories Cataract Stands & Drives Cataract Drills & Pinion Cutter Cataract Screwcutting Toolroom Lathe Cataract Millers Hardinge History Cataract Home Page Hardinge Elgin Lathes & Millers Literature for Cataract machines is available

Unusual-design of changewheel bracket on the end of the screwcutting gearbox

A "gate-change" lever, protected by a flip-up guard, selected three rates of sliding and surfacing feeds

Comprehensive screwcutting gearbox

Instantly recognisable as a design from the early 20th century, the apron carried twin friction clutches to engage the standard-fit power sliding and surfacing feeds. A useful addition was a large dial to show carriage travel.

The useful zeroing carriage-travel dial

Compound slide rest fully assembled

Cross-slide with rear extension to pick up the taper-turning unit and front and back stops installed

The top slide nut was generously proportioned and twice the length of those normally fitted to this size of lathe


	Top slide completely dismantled and showing the quick-release mechanism that required just one squared-headed bolt to be slackened before the slide could be rotated

Top slide degree swivel graduations

Above and below: small but clear Micrometer dials. These were locked by a knurled-edge ring that caused no alteration in the setting as it was tightened. One example of the lathe (No. 126) has been found fitted with a very large diameter dial--though this might have been an owner's modification

Taper turning unit with fine-screw adjustment of the setting

Taper-turning unit - component parts

Neat detailing with flat-faced, pin-drive nuts used to secure the swing bracket and adjustment unit.

Whilst the degree marks were punched (or rolled) with a single tool the digits and letters were stamped individually by hand


	The full collet set in place on its circular, swing-out holder


	Non-damaging wooden pins were used to locate the collets

Traditional precision lathe tailstock with a long travel spindle fully supported within the casting no matter what its position

Probably unnecessary on a lathe of this size, but the tailstock was secured to the bed by two clamp plates

Component parts of the tailstock

Not every maker provided such a chart to enable non-gearbox pitches to be generated


	Even in 1950 the lathe was considered worthy of a comprehensive rebuilt by a long-established machine-tool company.


	….and finally, how do you drive it. Like many other lathe-owing, motorcycle-enthusiast owners, you employ a surplus (Norton) 4-speed gearbox


	Cataract Toolroom Lathe Home Page Cataract Toolroom Lathe Page 3 Literature for Cataract machines is available Cataract Accessories Cataract Stands & Drives Cataract Drills & Pinion Cutter Cataract Screwcutting Toolroom Lathe Cataract Millers Hardinge History Cataract Home Page Hardinge Elgin Lathes & Millers Literature for Cataract machines is available Hardinge Cataract Toolroom Lathe "Quick-Change Swing Precision Lathe"