Editing Lathe (section)

=== Accessories ===
{{See also|Lathe center}}

[[File:Luenette mit klappbarem oberteil.jpg|thumb|upright|left|A steady rest]]

Unless a workpiece has a taper machined onto it which perfectly matches the internal taper in the spindle, or has threads which perfectly match the external threads on the spindle (two conditions which rarely exist), an accessory must be used to mount a workpiece to the spindle.

A workpiece may be bolted or screwed to a [[lathe faceplate|faceplate]], a large, flat disk that mounts to the spindle. In the alternative, [[Dog (engineering)#Lathe dog|faceplate dogs]] may be used to secure the work to the faceplate.

A workpiece may be mounted on a [[mandrel]], or circular work clamped in a [[Chuck (engineering)#Three jaw|three- or four-jaw chuck]]. For irregular shaped workpieces it is usual to use a four jaw (independent moving jaws) chuck. These holding devices mount directly to the lathe headstock spindle.

In precision work, and in some classes of repetition work, cylindrical workpieces are usually held in a [[collet]] inserted into the spindle and secured either by a draw-bar, or by a collet closing cap on the spindle. Suitable collets may also be used to mount square or hexagonal workpieces. In precision toolmaking work such collets are usually of the draw-in variety, where, as the collet is tightened, the workpiece moves slightly back into the headstock, whereas for most repetition work the dead length variety is preferred, as this ensures that the position of the workpiece does not move as the collet is tightened.

A soft workpiece (e.g., wood) may be pinched between centers by using a [[Lathe center#Drive center|spur drive]] at the headstock, which bites into the wood and imparts torque to it.

[[File:CenterLiveDead.jpg|thumb|right|Running center (top)<br /> Dead center (bottom)]]

A soft dead center is used in the headstock spindle as the work rotates with the centre. Because the centre is soft it can be trued in place before use. The included angle is 60°. Traditionally, a hard [[lathe center#Dead center|dead center]] is used together with suitable lubricant in the tailstock to support the workpiece. In modern practice the dead center is frequently replaced by a [[Lathe center#Running center|running or live center]], as it turns freely with the workpiece—usually on ball bearings—reducing the frictional heat, especially important at high speeds. When clear facing a long length of material it must be supported at both ends. This can be achieved by the use of a [[lathe (metal)#Steady and follower rests|traveling or fixed steady]]. If a steady is not available, the end face being worked on may be supported by a dead (stationary) half center. A half center has a flat surface machined across a broad section of half of its diameter at the pointed end. A small section of the tip of the dead center is retained to ensure concentricity. Lubrication must be applied at this point of contact and tail stock pressure reduced.  A [[lathe carrier]] or [[lathe dog]] may also be employed when turning between two centers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lathes.co.uk/page13.html|title=Hints & Tips for Using a Lathe|work=“George Wilson’s” Hints and Tips |publisher=Lathes.co.uk|access-date=29 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201073248/http://www.lathes.co.uk/page13.html|archive-date=1 December 2010|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In woodturning, one variation of a running center is a [[Lathe center#Cup center|cup center]], which is a cone of metal surrounded by an annular ring of metal that decreases the chances of the workpiece splitting.

A circular metal plate with even spaced holes around the periphery, mounted to the spindle, is called an "index plate". It can be used to rotate the spindle to a precise angle, then lock it in place, facilitating repeated auxiliary operations done to the workpiece.

Other accessories, including items such as taper turning attachments, knurling tools, vertical slides, fixed and traveling steadies, etc., increase the versatility of a lathe and the range of work it may perform.