Southbend SB1037 - Manual (Page 5)

INTRODUCTION
For Machines Mfg. Since 7/09 EVS Toolroom Lathes
-3-
I N T R O D U C T I O N
About These Machines
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 lathes represented in this manual are 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
As the name implies, these lathes feature EVS
(Electronic Variable Speed) spindle control,
which allows the operator to quickly set the
exact spindle speed within the available range of
20–2500 RPM. Spindle speed is displayed on a
digital readout and controlled within each speed
range with the use of a dial—no changing gears
or looking up complex lever positions on a chart.
The beds of these lathes are constructed with
Meehanite castings that have been precision
hardened and ground in the traditional 3-V
prismatic design—long used on South Bend
Lathes for its accuracy, durability, and rigidity.
The headstock features quick-change gear levers
and an adjustable clutch mechanism for the feed
rod that can be set to prevent damage in the
event of a crash.
To further ensure a high degree of accuracy,
these lathes are equipped with NSK or NTN
spindle bearings. The spindles are the D1-6
camlock type with an MT#6 taper and 2.0625"
bore. The tailstock quills have an MT#4 taper
and offer 6" of travel.
The EVS lathes also include a pressurized
headstock oiling system that pre-lubricates
bearings/gears before the spindle starts and
delivers perfect lubrication during low speed
operations (compare to conventional splash
and bath oil systems that leave bearings/gears
starved for oil when the spindle is first started
and during low speed operations).
Finally, these EVS toolroom lathes are packed
with standard features, such as a complete
coolant system, easy-to-clean chip drawer, one-
shot way lubrication system, included steady and
follow rests, adjustable work lamp, foot brake,
and powered cross feed.
Capabilities
These EVS Toolroom Lathes are built for daily
use in a busy industrial setting. Loaded with
many nice features and high-precision parts,
these lathes excel at making fine tools, dies,
thread gauges, jigs, and precision test gauges—
however, they are by no means delicate. Thick
castings, heavy weight, and quality construction
throughout provide the necessary brawn for
demanding production and manufacturing tasks.