Lathe spindle lock
Prior to owning a mill if I needed to put a flat on a shaft or then I would do this by filing with the bar held in the lathe. To use a file then the spindle must be locked to prevent the spindle from turning. The spindle lock, shown above, was built to facilitate this.
It consists of a 6 mm shaped steel plate that is pivoted on the left hand side on the threaded stud. On the right hand side is a lever that operates a cam that forces the shaped plate against the spindle that prevents it rotating. As shown in the header photo the spindle is locked.
It consists of a 6 mm shaped steel plate that is pivoted on the left hand side on the threaded stud. On the right hand side is a lever that operates a cam that forces the shaped plate against the spindle that prevents it rotating. As shown in the header photo the spindle is locked.
This photo shows spindle lock in the released position. The lever operating the cam is now vertical and fits inside the gear cover.
The plate is shaped to snugly fit around the spindle.
On the left hand side the plate is drilled out for the pivot. The pivot is next the to plate. The turned down section of the 10 mm hexagon bar is a snug fit in the pivot hole.
On the right hand side of the plate is a cut out for the cam.
On the left hand side the plate is drilled out for the pivot. The pivot is next the to plate. The turned down section of the 10 mm hexagon bar is a snug fit in the pivot hole.
On the right hand side of the plate is a cut out for the cam.
The cam lever and cam pivot are shown above. Not the offset shoulder around the pivot hole. This provide the required cam action and it engages in the cut out in the plate.
The plate does not bear directly on the spindle. Behind the bull gear shown in the header photo is a plastic spacer. This must be replaced by a steel or cast iron spacer, as shown here. The small cavity in the top of the spacer is for the tip of the key on the spindle.
I do not use this spindle lock any more since I now have the headstock indexing unit.