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For Machines Mfg. Since 3/11 16-Speed Gearhead Lathe
-3-
INTRODUCTION
About This Machine
Foreword
"The screw cutting engine lathe is the oldest and
most important of machine tools and from it all
other machine tools have been developed. It was
the lathe that made possible the building of the
steamboat, the locomotive, the electric motor, the
automobile and all kinds of machinery used in
industry. Without the lathe our great industrial
progress of the last century would have been
impossible." —How To Run a Lathe, 15th
Edition, South Bend Lathe.
The lathe represented in this manual is a
modern day version of the screw cutting lathes
that trace their roots back to the 1700's, which
were themselves technological improvements of
the bow lathe that can be traced back thousands
of years to the ancient Egyptians.
Now, almost 300 years later, these modern
"screw cutting" lathes are not just a piece of
refined machinery, but a culmination of human
ingenuity and knowledge embodied into the
design and synergy of thousands of interworking
parts—some of which represent the life's work
and dreams of many inventors, mechanical
engineers, and world-class machinists—including
the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Henry Maudsley,
and the founders of South Bend Lathe, John and
Miles O'Brien.
And now the torch is passed to you—to take
the oldest and most important type of machine
tool—and carry on the tradition. As the operator
of a South Bend Lathe, you now join the ranks
of some very famous and important customers,
such as Henry Ford, who used the machines he
purchased to help him change the world.
Features
This 16-Speed Gearhead Lathe is packed with
standard features and equipment, such as a
complete coolant system, easy-to-clean chip
drawer, one-shot way lubrication system,
included steady and follow rests, chuck guard,
adjustable work lamp, foot brake, powered cross
feed, 3- and 4-jaw chucks, and faceplate. Models
SB1054F and SB1055F also feature a Fagor
2-axis 20iT DRO.
Spindle speeds are controlled by a 2-speed motor
and convenient headstock levers, which allow the
operator to quickly set the spindle speed within
the available range of 40–2000 RPM.
Bed ways are constructed with Meehanite
castings that are precision hardened and ground
in the traditional 3-V prismatic design—long
used on South Bend Lathes for accuracy,
durability, and rigidity.
Headstock features quick-change gear controls
and an adjustable clutch mechanism that can
be set to disable the feed rod to prevent crash
damage. Spindle is a D1-6 (camlock type) with an
MT#6 taper and 2
1
⁄16" bore. Tailstock quill has an
MT#4 taper and offers 6" of travel.
Finally, to ensure long-lasting accuracy in the
most demanding shops, the spindle is equipped
with Japanese NTN bearings.
Capabilities
This 16-Speed Toolroom Lathe is built for daily
use in a busy industrial setting. Loaded with
many nice features and high-precision parts, this
lathe excels at making fine tools, dies, thread
gauges, jigs, and precision test gauges—however,
it is by no means delicate. Thick castings, heavy
weight, and quality construction throughout
provide the necessary brawn for demanding
production and manufacturing tasks.
16" South Bend Precision Toolroom Lathe
(Circa 1958)