Physics 240 Virtual Machining Tutorial

As an aid in learning about machining, read through the following online topics (and watch the videos and animations) in the Virtual Machine Shop. The web site is http://www.jjjtrain.com.

Note that some of the topics have one or more YouTube or WMV videos in the content.

For the purposes of Physics 240, you can probably skip numbers 12 and 14 in the Engine Lathe Topics and 8, 10, and 11 in the Milling Machine section.

• Lathe Operations and Control.
  1. The Function of a Lathe, rotation of the work piece (WMV video).
  2. The Parts of a Lathe, a video and text description of the basic lathe parts.
  3. Movements of the Lathe, a video and text description of the moving parts of a lathe.
  4. Ways, Motor, and Headstock.
  5. The Spindle, types of spindle mounts, old and new.
  6. Spindle RPM, modern gear heads and older belt drives.
  7. Starting and Stopping the Spindle, the power handle and the foot brake.
  8. Setting Speeds and Feeds, using a gear head lathe to set spindle RPM and feed rates.
  9. The Carriage, the various parts of this very important subassembly.
  10. The Tailstock, parts and alignment.
  11. Centers, Dogs, and the Faceplate, live center, dead center, half center, and faceplate functions.
  12. Threading, Steady Rest, Follower Rest, and Taper Attachment.
  13. Turning, Facing, Boring, and Reaming (Adobe Flash videos).
  14. Sizing a Lathe, how a lathe is described by its size; the gap bed lathe.

Also read the following articles on the lathe:

• Three Jaw Chuck, (some WMV and Adobe Flash videos). You can safely skip items 6, 7, and 8.
• Center Lathe, Drilling, Countersinking, and Reaming, (some Adobe Flash videos).

• The Milling Machine.
  1. What is a Milling Machine? what is the difference between a milling maching and an engine lathe?
  2. Types of Milling Machines, vertical, horizontal, combination, and universal machines. Brief history and a description of each machine type.
  3. The Bridgeport, history of the Bridgeport machine, the hallmark of vertical milling machines.
  4. Mill Construction, descriptions of the two basic construction types of milling machines, the column and fixed bed.
  5. Milling Machine Parts, explanation of the general parts of the milling machine with emphasis on the most popular, vertical machine type.
  6. Changing Speeds, how the step pulley and variable drive head speeds (RPM) work and how to change the speed on a machine.
  7. Milling Machine Movements, the four basic movements involving the milling machine table and quill and using the micrometer and collar to control and position the milling machine table.
  8. Quill Feed, automatic quill feed features, how quill feeds work and feed ranges on Bridgeport style machines.
  9. Backlash, explanation of what backlash is and why it occurs. How to avoid backlash problems.
  10. Milling Machine Maintenance, preventative maintenance of machines and the importance of oiling and lubricating the machine.
  11. Milling Machine Oil Pump, oil pumps and how they work to lubricate the machine.