Mike

Headstock location of controls has always been normal due to mechanical constraints on the linkage between operating levers and the various headstock innards.

However the designers were generally well aware of the potential hazards and most industrial quality lathes of any pedigree are so called "three shaft" types where the clutch can be operated by a lever on the tailstock side of the saddle via a rod with an appropriate keyway or splines machined in it. No idea when this became normal but my P&W Model B 12 x 30, a wartime re-iteration of an early 1920's design, is so equipped. Starting the motor and speed selection has to be done at the headstock but no need to run the job up from potentially hazardous position. Most later, bigger machines have remote electrical start and stop controls on the saddle too.

About the only quality lathe I know of that doesn't so conform is my Smart & Brown 1024 VSL which has no clutch, just big green forward and reverse run buttons and an even bigger red stop one. Start-up can easily be done from outside of the line of fire but stopping if things go pear shaped mid job does require moving into the danger zone. One day I might fit a tramp bar.

When it comes to chuck guards I have zero confidence in these flimsy devices being able to stop anything other than fairly small parts making a bid for freedom. I might be more tolerant if they were any good at containing swarf but the usual "fixed to the headstock" arrangements pretty much precludes this over any useful length. On day I'll sort the one on the 1024 so it is properly useful and fit one to the P&W.

Hobby lathes swim in a different pool where performance and features are dictated by the shallowness of the first purchasers pocket. Can be hard enough for Mr Ordinary Home Shop guy (or gal) to afford the basics let alone sophistication.

Clive

I purposely located the controls for the Stepperhead at the tailstock end for safety

http://www.lathes.co.uk/stepperhead/

Alan

Good idea with all those uncovered belts and pulleys down the other end

I located the Electronic Halfnut that I built for the AutoArtisans ELS down at the tail;stock end. Seemed more natural there.

(OTOH the remote controller box for the Motor VFD is at the headstock end – albeit farher over than the spindle – it seemed more natural there).

Anything below tray height is a bad idea unless you are using it to train knuckle dragging apes and if too far down the tailstock end again may only be in reach of the ape when an emergency is happening at the head end.

Not sure about the S&B 1034 but my recollection is that the Model A has a little lever on the apron ready to be accidentally nudged.

Why do lathes have the chuck on the left?

Surely that's not a problem for you in Australia where the lathes are upside down.

Do you operate the on/off by feel and fumble?

I hesitate to ask, but where is the mains socket is that the lathe plugs into?

Ian P

I'm sure its easier or more intuitive/ergonomic than it looks in the picture but it appeared to me that the buttons were a long way down or a lot lower than where the action takes place. I wondered why the mains lead exited from the top of the box and the buttons were lower than they would be with normal mounting

Ian P

I should have known! You always get one on a forum!