Module

4
General Purpose
Machine Tools

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 Lesson
22
Use of various
Attachments in
Machine Tools.
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Instructional objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students will be able to;

(i) Comprehend and state the use of accessories and attachments in

machine tools
(ii) Realize and Identify why and when Attachments are necessarily used
(iii) Describe the basic construction and application principles of different
attachments used in;
• Centre lathes
• Drilling machines
• Shaping machines
• Planing machines
• Milling machines

(i) Use Of Various Accessories And Attachments In

General Purpose Machine Tools.
ACCESSORIES :

A general purpose machine tool is basically comprised of power drive and

kinematic system for the essential formative and auxiliary tool – work
motions and a rigid body or structure to accommodate all of the above. But
several additional elements or devices called accessories are also
essentially required for that machines’ general functioning, mainly for
properly holding and supporting the workpiece and the cutting tool
depending upon the type and size of the tool – work and the machining
requirements.
These accessories generally include for instance, in case of;
• Centre lathes : chucks, collets, face plate, steady and follower
rests, centres, tool holders etc.
• Drilling machines : vices, clamps, drill chuck and sockets etc.
• Shaping and planning machines : vices, clamps, tool holders etc.
• Milling machines : vices, clamps, parallel blocks, collets,
job – support like tailstock etc.

Such accessories, inevitable for general functioning of the machine tools, are
usually enlisted in the supply list and covered within the total price of the
machine tools. Occasionally, some accessories are ordered separately as and
when required.

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ATTACHMENTS

Each general purpose conventional machine tool is designed and used for
a set of specific machining work on jobs of limited range of shape and
size. But often some unusual work also need to be done in a specific
machine tools, e.g. milling in a lathe, tapping in a drilling machine, gear
teeth cutting in shaping machine and so on. Under such conditions, some
special devices or systems are additionally used being mounted in the
ordinary machine tools. Such additional special devices, which augment
the processing capability of any ordinary machine tool, are known as
Attachments, Unlike accessories, Attachments are not that inevitable and
procured separately as and when required and obviously on extra
payment. Some attachments being used in the general purpose
conventional machine tools are :
• In centre lathes :
ο Taper turning attachment
ο Copy turning attachments
ο Milling and cylindrical grinding attachments
ο Spherical turning attachments
ο Relieving attachment
• In drilling machines :
ο Tapping attachment
• In shaping machines :
ο Double cut tool head
ο Thread rolling attachment
ο Matterson’s attachment (gear teeth cutting)
• In planing machines :
ο Contour forming attachment
ο Helical grooving attachment
ο Oil grooving attachments
ο Milling and grinding attachments
• In Milling machines :
ο universal milling attachment
ο indexing / dividing head
ο rotary table
ο slotting attachment

(ii) Conditions And Places Suitable For Application Of

Attachments In Machine Tools.
With the rapid and vast advancement of science and technology, the
manufacturing systems including machine tools are becoming more and more
versatile and productive on one hand for large lot or mass production and also
having flexible automation and high precision on the other hand required for
production of more critical components in pieces or small batches. With the
increase of versatility and precision (e.g., CNC machines) and the advent of
dedicated high productive special purpose machines, the need of use of
special attachments is gradually decreasing rapidly.

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However, some attachments are occasionally still being used on non
automatic general purpose machine tools in some small and medium scale
machining industries;
• when and where machining facilities are very limited
• when production requirement is very small, may be few pieces
• product changes frequently as per job order
• repair work under maintenance, specially when spare parts are not
available
• when CNC machine tools and even reasonable number of
conventional machine tools cannot be afforded.
Therefore, use of aforesaid attachments is restricted to manufacture of
unusual jobs in small quantities under limited facilities and at low cost.

(iii)Working Principles And Application Of Various

Attachments In Different Machine Tools.

(a) Attachments used in centre lathes

• Taper turning attachment

Taper cylindrical surface, which is a very common feature of several

engineering components, is generally produced in lathes in a number of
methods, depending upon length and angle of the tapered position of the job,
such as offsetting tailstock, swivelling the compound slide using form tool and
combined feed motions. But jobs with wide ranges of length and angle of
taper, are easily machined by using a simple attachment, called taper turning
attachment. Fig. 4.6.1 schematically shows a taper turning attachment where
the cross slide is delinked from the saddle and is moved crosswise by the
guide block which moves along the guide bar preset at the desired taper
angle. Thus, the cutting tool, which is fitted on the cross slide through the tool
post and the compound slide, also moves along with the guide black in the
same direction resulting the desired taper turning.

• Copy turning attachment

There are two common types of copy turning;

ο mechanical type
ο hydraulic type

ο Mechanical copying

A simple mechanical type copy turning attachment has been schematically

shown in Fig. 4.6.2. The entire attachment is mounted on the saddle after
removing the cross slide from that. The template replicating the job-profile
desired is clamped at a suitable position on the bed. The stylus is fitted in the
spring loaded tool slide and while travelling longitudinally along with saddle
moves in transverse direction according to the template profile enabling the
cutting tool produce the same profile on the job as indicated in the Fig. 4.6.2

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 Fig. 4.6.1 Taper turning attachment.

Fig. 4.6.2 Mechanical type copying attachment.

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ο Hydraulic copying attachment

The mounting and working principle of hydraulic copying attachment for profile
turning in centre lathe are schematically shown in Fig. 4.6.3. Here also, the
stylus moves along the template profile to replicate it on the job. In
mechanical system (Fig. 4.6.2) the heavy cutting force is transmitted at the tip
of the stylus, which causes vibration, large friction and faster wear and tear.
Such problems are almost absent in hydraulic copying, where the stylus
works simply as a valve – spool against a light spring and is not affected by
the cutting force. Hydraulic copying attachment is costlier than the mechanical
type but works much smoothly and accurately. The cutting tool is rigidly fixed
on the cross slide which also acts as a valve – cum – cylinder as shown. So
long the stylus remains on a straight edge parallel to the lathe bed, the
cylinder does not move transversely and the tool causes straight turning. As
soon as the stylus starts moving along a slope or profile, i.e., in cross feed
direction the ports open and the cylinder starts moving accordingly against the
piston fixed on the saddle. Again the movement of the cylinder i.e., the slide
holding the tool, by same amount travelled by the stylus, and closes the ports.
Repeating of such quick incremental movements of the tool, Δx and Δy result
in the profile with little surface roughness.

Fig. 4.6.3 Hydraulic copying attachment.

• Milling attachment

This is a milling head, comprising a motor, a small gear box and a spindle to
hold the milling cutter, mounted on the saddle after removing the cross slide
etc. as shown in Fig. 4.6.4. Milling attachments are generally used for making

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flat surfaces, straight and helical grooves, splines, long and deep screw
threads, worms etc. in centre lathes by using suitable milling cutters.

Fig. 4.6.4 Milling attachment used in lathe.

• Grinding attachment

Grinding attachment is very similar to milling attachment. But in the former,

there is no gear box and the spindle speed is much higher as needed for
grinding operation. Such attachments are employed for external and internal
cylindrical grinding, finishing grooves, splines etc. and also for finish grinding
of screw threads in centre lathe. But unlike dedicated machines, attachments
cannot provide high accuracy and finish.

• Spherical turning attachments

These simple attachments are used in centre lathes for machining spherical;
both convex and concave surfaces and similar surfaces. Fig. 4.6.5
schematically visualises the usual setting and working principle of such
attachments. In Fig. 4.6.5 (b), the distance Ri can be set according to the
radius of curvature desired. In the type shown in Fig. 4.6.5 (a) the desired
path of the tool tip is controlled by the profile of the template which is pre-
made as per the radius of curvature required. The saddle is disconnected
from the feed rod and the leadscrew. So when the cross slide is moved

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manually in transverse direction, the tool moves axially freely being guided by
the template only.

Fig. 4.6.5 (a) Spherical turning using template.

Fig. 4.6.5 (b) Spherical turning without template.

• Relieving attachment

The teeth of form relieved milling cutters like gear milling cutters, taps, hobs
etc. are provided with flank having archemedian spiral curvature. Machining
and grinding of such curved flanks of the teeth need relieving motion to the
tool (or wheel) as indicated in Fig. 4.6.6 (a). The attachment schematically
shown in Fig. 4.6.6 (b) is comprised of a spring loaded bracket which holds
the cutting tool and is radially reciprocated on the saddle by a plate cam
driven by the feed rod as indicated.

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 (a) (b)

Fig. 4.6.6 Relieving attachment used in lathe.

• Thread pitch correcting attachment

While cutting screw thread in centre lathes by single point chasing tool, often
the actual pitch, pa deviates from the desired (or stipulated) pitch, ps by an
error (say ± Δp) due to some kinematic error in the lathe.
Mathematically,
ps – pa = ± Δp (4.6.1)
Therefore for correct pitch, the error ± Δp need to be compensated and this
may be done by a simple differential mechanism, namely correcting bar
attachment as schematically indicated in Fig. 4.6.7.
In equation 4.6.1,
pa = 1 x UC x L
± Δp = pstan(±α).L/(πmZ) (4.6.2)
where, UC = transmission ratio
L = lead of the leadscrew
m, Z = module and no. of teeth of the gear fixed with the nut and is
additionally rotated slightly by the movement of the rack along
the bar.

Such differential mechanism of this attachment can also be used for

intentionally cutting thread whose pitch will be essentially slightly more or less
than the standard pitch, as it may be required for making differential screws
having threads of slightly different pitch at two different locations of the screw.

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 saddle

lathe bed

nut cum pinion

rack

correcting bar

Fig. 4.6.7 Thread pitch correcting attachment.

(b) Attachments used in drilling machines

ο Tapping attachment

It has been mentioned earlier in the previous lessons that several machining
work other than drilling can be done in drilling machine using different types of
cutting tools and job holding device. Tapping of nuts for their internal threads
is also often done in a drilling machine by using tapping attachment as
schematically shown in Fig. 4.6.8. Return of the tap by reverse rotation of the
spindle without damage of the thread and the tap is the most critical design.
Fig. 4.6.8 (a) visualises that the spring loaded sliding clutch engages with the
free tapping clutch during threading. The clearance between the jaws of the
two clutches and the spring action enable safe return of the tap following that
of the spindle. Fig. 4.6.8 (b) shows another faster working tapping system
where the hexagonal blanks are fed one by one and the tapping unit, rotating
at a constant speed in the same direction moves only up and down for
ejecting the threaded nuts by centrifugal force.

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 (a) (b)

Fig. 4.6.8 Tapping attachment used in drilling machine.

(c) Attachments used in shaping machine

Some attachments are often used for extending the processing capabilities of
shaping machines and also for getting some unusual work in ordinary shaping
machine.

• Attachment for double cut

This simple attachment is rigidly mounted on the vertical face of the ram
replacing the clapper box. It is comprised of a fixed body with two working flat
surfaces and a swing type tool holder having two tools on either faces as can
be seen in Fig. 4.6.9. The tool holder is tilted by a spring loaded lever which is
moved by a trip dog at the end of its strokes.
Such attachment simply enhances the productivity by utilising both the strokes
in shaping machines.

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 Fig. 4.6.9 Double cut attachment used in shaping machine.

• Thread rolling attachment

The thread of fasteners is done by mass production methods. Thread rolling is

hardly done nowadays in shaping machines. However the configuration,
mounting and the working principle of the thread rolling (in shaping machine)
attachment are visualised in Fig. 4.6.10. In between the flat dies, one fixed
and one reciprocating, the blanks are pushed and thread – rolled one by one.

Fig. 4.6.10 Thread rolling attachment used in shaping machine.

• Matterson’s attachment

Various machines and processes have been developed for producing gear
teeth with high productivity and job quality. Gear teeth are hardly produced

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nowadays in shaping machines. But, if required, it may be occasionally done
by shaping machine in some small tool room or small workshop specially for
repair and maintenance work. One or two, even all the teeth of a gear may be
cut by forming tool in shaper using an indexing head. But such forming,
specially in shaper is not only very slow process but also not at all accurate.
But the Matterson’s attachment can produce gear (spur) teeth even in shaping
machine by generation process. The working principle of the attachment is
shown in Fig. 4.6.11. For generation of the tooth by rolling the blank is rotated
and the bed is travelled simultaneously at same linear speed by the
synchronised kinematics as indicated in the diagram. After completing one
tooth gap both the tool and blank are returned to their initial positions and then
after indexing the blank for one tooth, the tool – work motions are repeated.

Fig. 4.6.11 Matterson’s Attachment for gear teeth generation

in shaping machine.

(d) Attachments used in planing machines

• Contour forming attachment

This simple and low cost attachment may be used in planing macvhine for
producing 2 – D form of circular section in long heavy tables or beds as
indicated in Fig. 4.6.12 (a). The basic working principle is schematically
shown in Fig. 4.6.12 (b). The convex circular arc form is produced by a
swinging bar hinged at the upper bracket and connected with one tool head
which is manually or automatically moved axially by the horizontal leadscrew.
The horizontal rail is kept delinked from the vertical leadscrews. The
horizontal feed alone will move the tool – tip in circular path with the help of
the swing – bar. Similarly, with slight modification the concave form can also
be made.

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 (a)

(b)

Fig. 4.6.12 Contour forming attachment used in planning machine.

• Helical grooving attachment

Long lead helical grooves on large rod type jobs can be done easily and
inexpensively in a planing machine, if available, by using simple attachment
as shown in Fig. 4.6.13. Swinging of the bar clamping the linearly travelling
rod (job) due to the prefixed inclined bar causes the required rotation of the
rod. Such rotation along with linear axial travel produce the groove.

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 Fig. 4.6.13 Attachment in planing machine for cutting long lead helical
grooves.

• Other attachments used in planing machine

Δ Shallow oil grooves of various patterns can be cut on the flat
surfaces of large tables or beds of large machineries by replacing
the stationary fixed single point tool (s) by a rotary tool driven by a
separate motor.
Δ Hydraulic tracer control type attachments are often used for making
complex shaped 2 – D contours on large components in planing
machines. The form of the template is replicated on the product as
described in case of hydraulic copying lathe.
Δ Milling and grinding attachments.
Both productivity and process capability of conventional planing
machines are low for use of single point tools. Both productivity and
finish are substantially increased by replacing those single point
tool heads by milling and grinding heads on the horizontal and / or
vertical rails. Such powered heads with rotary tools led to
development of high productive plano millers and plano grinders.

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(e) Attachments used in Milling machines
• Universal milling attachment

Amongst the knee type conventional milling machines, horizontal arbour type
is very widely used, where various types and sizes of milling cutters viz. plain
or slab milling cutters and disc type cutters including single and double side(s)
cutter, slot cutter, form cutters, gear milling cutters, slitting cutter etc. having
axial bore are mounted on the horizontal arbour. For milling by solid end mill
type and face milling cutters, separate vertical axis type milling machines are
available. But horizontal arbour type milling machines can also be used for
those operations to be done by end milling and smaller size face milling
cutters by using proper attachments. The universal milling attachment is
shown in Fig. 4.6.14. The rotation of the horizontal spindle is transmitted into
rotation about vertical and also in any inclined direction by this attachment
which thus extends the processing capabilities and application range of the
milling machine.

Fig. 4.6.14 Universal milling attachment.

• Indexing or Dividing head

This device is essentially so frequently and widely needed and used that it is
also considered as an accessory. But it is taken as an attachment possibly for
being procured separately. This attachment is basically used for equi-angular
rotation by simple compound or differential indexing of the job while
machining. Fig. 4.6.15 typically shows a universal type dividing head and its
mounting and an application.

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 Fig. 4.6.15 A Universal type dividing head and its application.

• Rotary table

This device may also be considered both accessory or attachment and is

generally used in milling machines for both offline and online indexing /
rotation of the job, clamped on it, about vertical axis. Fig. 4.6.16 visualises
such a rotary table which is clamped or mounted on the machine bed / table.

Fig. 4.6.16 A rotary table which can be clamped or mounted

on the machine bed.

• Slotting attachment

Such simple and low cost attachment is mounted on the horizontal spindle for
producing keyways and contoured surface requiring linear travel of single
point tool in milling machine where slotting machine and broaching machine
are not available. The configuration of such a slotting attachment and its
mounting and operation can be seen in Fig. 4.6.17. The mechanism inside
converts rotation of the spindle into reciprocation of the single point tool in

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vertical direction. The direction of the tool path can also be tilted by swivelling
the circular base of the attachment body.

Fig. 4.6.17 Slotting attachment

There are several other possible attachments which can be used for some
specific application not included in the basic range of a particular machine
tool. New attachments can also be developed if so demanded. But need and
use of attachments are gradually decreasing for rapid and vast developments
in types of machine tools and more so after the advent of CNC machine tools
with flexible automation.

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