email: tony@lathes.co.uk
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Atlas 10-inch Countershafts

A complete data pack is available for the Atlas 10-inch & other Lathes

Atlas Home Page   Atlas 6-inch    Atlas 9-inch   Late-model Atlas 12-inch   Atlas Utility Lathes
 
Restored 10-D & 10F   Acorn, Halifax & Sphere Copies   Early 9-inch Metalmaster Lathes
 
Atlas Screw-Machine (capstan)    Screwcutting Gearbox and Pick-O-Matic Threading
   
Atlas Factory   Catalogue Covers   Accessories   Atlas Wood Lathes

Countershafts   Atlas Miller   Atlas Shaper   Atlas Drill Presses



Countershafts could be had in both "V" for vertical and "H" for horizontal" models. As offered in standard form the vertical type was not fitted with a belt-run guard (but individual guards were fitted to the backgears above, left) whilst the horizontal type (above, right and below) leant itself more readily to a simple guard that covered just the front run of the headstock belt (below).
An all-enveloping "safety" enclosure that appealed to schools and other training establishments was available for both the vertical and horizontal countershafts.
The method of containing and aligning the countershaft's "Hyatt" needle roller bearings (held in cast-iron housings) was simple, ingenious and inexpensive to manufacture; each was held against two adjuster screws that socketed into shallow dimples placed 180° apart on their outside surface. Because the bearings were free to swivel they automatically took up a free-running position and it was then a relatively simple matter, using a steel straight edge, to make fine adjustments (to the screws) in order to get the countershaft pulley lined up exactly with that on the headstock.
The countershafts on the similar lathes branded
Craftsman and sold by for Sears used Oilite bearing. These widely-used and still very common bearings must be lubricated with oil, not grease, as the Oilite material is a form of sintered bronze and saturated with oil during manufacture. As the shaft turns the assembly warms up and the oil becomes free to lubricate the shaft. After use, and the bearing cools and the oil is partially reabsorbed; although intended to be maintenance-free, it is necessary to apply a little light oil occasionally to replace that lost through evaporation where it seeps from the (usually) unsealed bearing ends.

Horizontal-countershaft lathe fitted with a cover to guard just the front section of the belt's run.

Another view of the vertical countershaft for use with individual backgear guards and unguarded belt runs.

Horizontal countershaft model with complete enclosure of the belts, pulleys and backgears with neat cast-aluminium covers.

Vertical countershaft model with full safety enclosures.



A complete data pack is available for the
Atlas 10-inch & other Lathes


Atlas Home Page   Atlas 6-inch    Atlas 9-inch   

Late-model Atlas 12-inch   Atlas Utility Lathes
 
Restored 10-D & 10F   Acorn, Halifax & Sphere Copies   

Early 9-inch Metalmaster Lathes
 
Atlas Screw-Machine (capstan)   

Screwcutting Gearbox and Pick-O-Matic Threading
   
Atlas Factory   Catalogue Covers   Accessories   Atlas Wood Lathes

Countershafts   Atlas Miller   Atlas Shaper   

Atlas Drill Presses

Atlas 10-inch Countershafts
email: tony@lathes.co.uk
Home   Machine Tool Archive   Machine-tools for Sale & Wanted
Machine Tool Manuals   Catalogues   Belts   Books   Accessories