Lathe Terminology
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Lathe Terminology: • Bed: a heavy rigid frame on which all the main components are mounted.
• Ways: Inner and outer guide rails that are precision machined parallel.
• Headstock: mounted in a fixed position it rotates the work.
• Gearbox: inside the headstock, providing multiple speeds.
• Spindle: a hollow shaft through the head stock that drives the chuck
• Chuck: 3-jaw (self centering) or 4-jaw (independent) to clamp work piece.
• Tailstock: Fits on the ways of the bed to hold long work pieces
• Tailstock Quill: Has a Morse taper to hold a center, drill chuck etc.
• Carriage: Used for feeding the cutting tools.
• Cross Slide: uses a hand wheel to feed tools into the work piece.
• Tool Post: To mount tool holders in which the cutting bits are clamped.
• Compound Rest: it pivots around the tool post.
• Apron: it has the mechanism and controls for moving the carriage and cross slide.
• Feed Rod: drives the carriage
• Lead Screw: For cutting threads.
• Split Nut: used to engage the carriage when threading
• Quick Change Gearbox: Controls the movement of the carriage using levers.
• Steady Rest: it uses adjustable fingers to contact the work piece and align it.
• Follow Rest: it uses fingers to bear against the work piece to prevent deflection. | 
