15 Difference Between Capstan Lathe And Turret Lathe (With Pictures)

Capstan and Turret lathe were first developed in the United States of America in 1960 by Whitney and Pratt. They are used for repetitive production of duplicate parts in the minimum time possible. The main parts of a capstan and turret lathe include:

• Bed
• Headstock
• Cross slide and saddle
• The turret saddle and auxiliary slide

Capstan Lathe

In capstan lathe, the ram slides longitudinally on a saddle positioned and clamped on the bedways. This type of machine is lighter in construction and is suitable for machining bar of smaller diameters. The tools are normally mounted on the square turret and 6 faces of the hexagonal turret. The feeding movement is obtained when the ram moves from left to the right and when the ram is moved backwards the turret indexes automatically and the tool mounted on the next face comes into operation.

What You Need To Know About Capstan Lathe

1. In capstan lathe, the turret tool head is mounted over the ram and the ram is mounted on the saddle.
2. In capstan lathe, the saddle is fixed during machining.
3. Capstan lathe is a light weight machine.
4. Heavy cuts on the work piece cannot be given because of flexible construction of the machine.
5. For indexing turret tool head, the handwheel of the ram is reversed and turret tool indexed automatically.
6. In capstan lathe, the turret head can’t be moved crosswise (lateral direction of the bed).
7. In capstan lathe, hand operated collect chucks are used to hold the work piece.
8. Capstan lathe has a simple tool head.
9. In capstan lathe, maximum bar size is up to 60 mm. in other words; it is used for machining workpiece up to 60 mm diameter.
10. The short strokes of the ram have some limitations; therefore this lathe is used to machine small work piece only.
11. The rate of tool feeding is relatively faster because it is lighter in construction.
12. The capstan lathe is usually single spindle and horizontal axis type only.
13. Used for shorter work piece because of limited ram movement.
14. The lengthwise movement of turret is less.
15. Capstan lather is used in the mass production of small size equal part.
16. Turret tool head moves along with the saddle over the entire bed in the longitudinal direction.

Turret Lathe

The turret lathe is mounted directly on a saddle and the whole unit moves back and forth on the bed-ways to apply feed.  The movement of the turret may be effected by hand or power. The turret has a hexagonal shaped tool holder intended for holding six or more tools. Moreover, the machine is heavier in construction. It is particularly adapted to larger diameter bar work and chucking work.  

After one operation is completed, as the turret is brought back away from the spindle nose, the turret index automatically by a mechanism incorporated on the bed and in turret saddle, so that the tool mounted on the next face is aligned with the work.

What You Need To Know About Turret Lathe

1. In turret lathe, the turret head is directly mounted on the saddle and the saddle slides over the bed ways.
2. In turret lathe, the saddle is moved along with the turret head during machining.
3. Turret lathe is a heavy weight machine.
4. Heavy cuts on the work piece can be given because of the rigid construction of machine.
5. For indexing turret tool head, turret is rotated manually after releasing clamping lever.
6. In turret lathe, the turret head can be moved crosswise (in lateral direction of bed in some turret lathe).
7. In turret lathe, power operated Jaw chunks are used to hold the work piece.
8. Turret lathe has hexagonal tool head.
9. In turret lathe, the maximum bar size is up to 200mm. In other words, it is used for machining workpiece up to 60 mm diameter.
10. Saddle is moved along the entire length therefore, it is used to machine large work piece.
11. The rate of tool feeding is relatively slower because of the heavy weight of all the components.
12. Turret lathe is mostly single spindle and horizontal type lathe but may be vertical and multi-spindle type in some cases.
13. Used for longer work piece because of saddle movement along the bed.
14. The lengthwise movement of turret is more.
15. Turret lathe is used for the mass production of large size equal parts
16. Because of no saddle displacement, movement of turret tool head over the longitudinal direction of bed is small along with the ram.

Difference Between Capstan Lathe And Turret Lathe In Tabular Form