CAPSTAN AND TURRET LATHES

Comparison among Centre lathe, Capstan Lathe and Turret Lathe:

Feature Centre Lathe Turret Lathe Capstan Lathe

Headstock Cons pulley or all gear Heavy construction, Same as Turret Lathe
driven. Can Provide wider range of spindle
lesser speed than the speeds from more
other two powerful motor than
centre lathes
Toolpost Usually a single Toolpost Its cross slide carries a Same as Turret Lathe
(with a single tool). square turret type
Sometimes, a square Toolpost carrying 4 tools.
turret type Toolpost is Additionally, it has a
provided which can hold Toolpost at its rear to
4 tools. hold 1 or 2 tools.
Tailstock Usually used for Carries a hexagonal turret Carries a square, round
supporting the WP. head instead of tailstock, or hexagonal turret
Sometimes, some cutting which may hold a tool or called Capstan head in
tools (drills, reamers etc) tool head on each of its place of tailstock. This
installed to perform face. They are provides the same
operations at the end face automatically indexed in facility of mounting and
of WP. sequence to bring each indexing 4-6 tools as in
tool in proper position for case of turret lathe.
performing operations
sequentially.
Leadscrew Always provided on Thread cutting generally Same as Turret Lathe
centre lathe to enable performed by taps and die
thread cutting by a single heads fitted to the turret
point tool. head.
Method of Not applicable Turret head directlyCapstan head is
mounting the mounted on a saddle and mounted on a ram or
Turret or for feeding the tool on theslide, which travels on
Capstan Head WP the entire saddle has the fixed saddle. The
to be moved. tools are fed on the WP
by moving the slide.
No. of tools Usually 1 for single tool 4 tools on the front tool Same as Turret Lathe
mounted post. If a square turret post, 1 or 2 on the rear
type Toolpost is provided tool post and 4-6 tools on
then 4 tools can be the square or hexagonal
mounted. turret head. No. of tools
can be increased by using
multiple tool holders on
the turret.
Skill required Very high Very nominal after setting Same as Turret Lathe
for operator of tools
Tool setting High. Tool has to be Initial tool setting time Same as Turret Lathe
time changed every time a required. During
new operation is to be operation all the tool are
 done. available in the turret.
Degree of Very nominal (manual) Semi automatic Semi automatic
automation
Application More versatile. Made in Used in mass production Used for relatively
various sizes and of identical components. lighter and smaller jobs
capabilities to handle Can handle heavier jobs than turret lathes, but
jobs of various sizes and than capstan lathes. with more precision.
level of machining.
Rate of Lower Higher Higher
production
Overhead Less than the other two Higher than centre lathes Same as Turret Lathe
charges because of higher initial
investments, more power
consumption and higher
maintenance.
Labour cost Higher (require skill Lower, because after Same as Turret Lathe
labour) initial tool setting
unskilled/semi-skilled
labour is required.

Difference between a Turret and Capstan Lathe:

S. No Turret Lathe Capstan Lathe

1. Its turret head is directly mounted on the
saddle
2. For feeding the tool on the WP, the entire
saddle is moved
3. The above arrangement enables better
rigidity as all the cutting forces are
transferred to the lathe bed
4. Due to the above, this lathe can
accommodate heavier WP, involve heavier
cutting forces and severe cutting
conditions.
5. Operations my be performed on bars size
up to 200 mm in diameter
6. Since the turret saddle (along with all the
tools) moves over the guideways of the
lathe bed, hence it can move almost the
entire length of the bed.
7. Heavier designs of turret lathes are
provided with pneumatic or hydraulic
chucks to hold the heavier jobs firmly.
8. Some versions of this lathe may provide for
cross feeding of the hexagonal turret.
Its turret head is mounted on an auxiliary
slide which moves on the guideways of the
saddle.
For feeding the tool on the WP, the slide
moves over the guideways of fixed saddle
As the ram or slide is overhung, hence less
rigidity due to vibration, bending and
deflection.
Due to the above, its use is confined to
relatively lighter and smaller jobs.
Up to 60 mm diameter only.
Tool feeding done by movement of slide
over the saddle. Hence, movement is limited
No such arrangements provided
No such arrangements provided