Newbie Question

A "bench lathe" is typically a smaller lathe that can be set up on top of a workbench .. typically 12" swing and smaller.

An "engine lathe" is an essentially obsolete term that refers to a lathe that has a gearing system for the spindle . Typically, a backgear and countershaft arrangement. Conversely, a non-engine lathe you could typically adjust the spindle speed only by shifting belts. Today, except for small hobbyist lathes, most lathes would qualify as "engine lathes."

Boris

The difference is subtle at best. A bench lathe is a complete lathe that is designed to sit atop a bench or other supporting stand of some sort. An engine lathe has its own stand in that it is bolted to a heavy console made esp. for it. Generally, engine lathes are of heavier construction than bench lathes. It is unusual to find a bench lathe larger than say, 12 x 36 (36 is the length of the bed). IMO, a quality bench lathe is likely to be less rigid than an engine lathe of the same size; and a thousnd or so $ less in price.

To avoid a flame war, I thought I'd clarify my statement a bit. The term "engine lathe" is archaic -- certainly out of date. So one has to go to older references. This is from "Lathe Design -- Construction and Operation" By Oscar E. Perrigo, Copyright 1916, republished in Lindsay's Lost Technology Series. I quote from page 287 -- the chapter on Engine Lathes. "..by the term of engine lathe we mean that class or type of lathe ... which can be defined as a metal turning lathe, having a back geared head-stock; a tail stock capable of being set over for turning tapers; a carriage provided with suitable tool-supporting mechanism for producing power lateral and transverse cutting feeds; and a lead screw swith suitable gearing fro driving it, whereby the usual screw threads may be cut. .." An earlier definition, in my 1941 Machinists handbook and also in the Oxford English dictionary defines it as any lathe powered by an engine as contrasted to one powered by hand or foot. But the handbook author goes on to admit that the "language butchers" abused the term and it then (1941) took on the meaning of an lathe with an 8" or greater swing that has a back gear.

Boris

"Boris Beizer" snipped-for-privacy@sprintmail.com

wrt meaning of "engine lathe"

Perrigo's definition by configuration, circa 1916, is fine, so far as that goes.

But the OED is poor [how I wanted to say wrong]. In older usage, the prime mover makes no difference as to whether a lathe is an engine lathe. It could be a treadle, or a crank, or a waterwheel, or a steam engine, or.... In 1820's-60's usage, an engine lathe is a lathe that is self acting, that moves the tool bit to and fro (in and out comes at the end of it) under its own power. That's it. It has nothing to do with having a lead screw, necessarily (feed was obtained from pulleys and rods in many such lathes), or with having back gearing, or with having setover by means of a two-piece tailstock. It meant only that you could engage the power, and the lathe bit would cut on its own. YEUMV (your engine usage may vary) Frank Morrison

That's interesting , the tool has to move at some point while the spindle is rotating without touching it. Now I can see why they used the word engine. I've been wondering about that forever.

Spelling, mostly.

It used to be necesary to diferentiate between an engine lathe and plain lathes, which had no feeds or slides. Mostly, these days, an "engine" lathe sounds like it should be worth about 3 grand more than a "metal" lathe. Marketing. The other usual designation is "toolrom" which implies, truthfully or otherwise, that the lathe is capable somehow of being better or more accurate than an engine or metalworking lathe.

Cheers Trevor Jones