Difference Between Turret Lathes and Capstan Lathes

Difference Between Turret Lathes and Capstan Lathes

Difference Between Turret Lathes and Capstan Lathes - Turret and Capstan, both, are production machines and are usually of semiautomatic, type. Both turret and capstan lathes are provide with tool head, usually hexagon, to carry a set of tools and to supplement this by an additional slide carrying tools for cutting off and forming operations.

A Capstan lathe is usually a small or medium size machine with the tool head carried upon a slide mounted in a saddle bolted to the bed of the lathe, while a turret lathe has the (hexagon) tool head mounted on a saddle sliding directly on the bed.

Turret Lathe

Capstan Lathe

The capstan lathe, having a relatively short stroke of the tool head and automatic indexing, results in a rapid presentation of the tools to the work. The turret lathe, on the other band, is suitable for long and heavy work, the larger size of machines having a capacity for bar work up to 200 mm diameter X 1500 mm long or for chuck work upto 750 mm diameter. Capstan lathes ale limited to a maxi­mum of 300 mm diameter chucks.

Thus it is clear that turret lathes are larger, in size as compared to capstan lathes. Unlike capstans, the turret and deadstops on turret lathes have to be indexed into position by hand.

Capstan and turret lathes give quite effectively the normal accuracy required for interchangeable mass production. The dimensional accuracy may be within 0.002 mm of size for turning and boring and within 0.005 mm of size for reaming.