An all geared lathe machine is a lathe whose spindle speeds are set through a gearbox in the headstock, not through belts and pulleys. The operator changes speed with levers, which gives positive drive, higher torque and consistent speeds. That makes it well suited to turning, facing, threading, drilling and boring in industrial workshops.

A belt driven lathe changes speed by moving belts across pulleys. Belts can slip under heavy cuts and take longer to adjust. An all geared lathe uses a gearbox, so speed changes are quicker, power transfer is more rigid and it handles heavier cuts with better accuracy. This is why geared head lathes are preferred for production work.

All geared lathes are usually grouped by duty:

• Light duty lathes: For small components and light cutting.
• Medium duty lathes: For general engineering and threading work.
• Heavy duty lathes: For large, high-tensile workpieces.
• Extra heavy duty lathes: For heavy engineering, shafts and rolls.

The right type depends on the job size, material and production volume.

Yash Machine Tools, based in Ahmedabad, supplies all geared lathe machines in its WM Series. The range covers light duty, medium duty, heavy duty and extra heavy duty models for workshops and industries such as mining, shipping, paper and power plants.

Start with the largest job you will machine, considering its swing diameter and length between centres. Then consider:

• The material and how hard the cuts will be.
• Whether you need threading or large-bore work.
• Your production volume.

Small job shops usually need a light or medium duty lathe. Fabrication and heavy engineering units should look at heavy or extra heavy duty models with a bigger spindle bore and higher torque.

A heavy duty lathe machines large, heavy or high-tensile workpieces such as shafts, rollers, flanges and machine parts. It has a rigid bed, high spindle torque and a large spindle bore for boring operations. It is widely used in heavy engineering, fabrication, mining equipment, shipbuilding and power plant maintenance.

Standard accessories usually include a coolant system, a 3-jaw chuck, a centre sleeve and basic tools. Common optional accessories are a 4-jaw chuck, face plate, drive plate, thread chasing dial and chuck guard. On Yash Machine Tools’ heavy duty models, buyers can also choose a mechanical or electromagnetic clutch to suit their workload.

All geared lathe machines are used in general engineering workshops, fabrication units, automobile and spare parts manufacturing, mining, shipbuilding, paper mills, power plants and maintenance departments. They are also common in tool rooms and training workshops because one machine can handle many different round-part machining jobs.

An all geared lathe can perform:

• Turning, facing and taper turning.
• Threading.
• Drilling and boring.
• Knurling, grooving and parting off.

With the right attachments, one machine covers most round-part machining in a workshop.

A well-built all geared lathe with a stress-relieved cast iron bed can run for decades with basic care. To extend its life:

• Keep the gearbox oil at the right level.
• Clean and lubricate the bed ways.
• Keep the lead screw guarded from chips.
• Avoid overloading the machine beyond its rated capacity.