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

Tovaglieri Lathes


Based in Busto Arsizio, the firm of Tovaglieri manufactured a range of centre (engine) lathes, production and multi-tool lathes, copying lathes, centering machines, tube working machines and various sizes of hydraulic-copying attachment for fitting to centre and other types of lathe. During the 1960s and 1970s the maker's lathe range consisted of:
GT 600-700: a range of heavy duty, high-production precision lathes with their ways hardened to 500 Brinell - and designed with especially strong headstocks able to take advantage of ceramic cutting tools. The lathe bed and stand were cast as a single, massive unit - with an inescapably-Italian design flourish to the its lower front edge. A rapid sliding feed was fitted to the carriage and the swing over the bed was 700 mm - and in the gap 945 mm. Various between-centres' capacities were available from 1500 to a maximum of 5000 mm with spindle speeds in the order of  8 to 1700 rpm.
TU 400, 460, 520 and CERAMIC 400, 460: high-quantity production and precision centre lathes built-up of two main castings blocks  - the headstock and screwcutting gearbox making one unit and the heavy bed and its feet the other. A hydraulic multi-disk clutch and brake were fitted to the spindle drive - which could be rotated from 18 to 2400 rpm under the influence of motors as large as 16HP. The swing over the hardened (to 500 Brinell) ways was 521 mm. The shortest bed model offered 1000 mm between centres whilst the largest could accommodate 3000 mm. A production version of TU range was also made - the TU CERAMIC. This was fitted with rapid longitudinal and cross-traverse in both directions with manual engagement and disengagement - but with an automatic rapid longitudinal return. The swing was 460 mm, with a maximum between-centres' capacity of 1500 mm. The spindle speeds of the standard machines ran from 22 to 2800 rpm and various sizes of motor, up to a maximum of 16HP, were offered. The "Ceramic" range of lathes could be converted into a semi-automatic, high-production copying machines when equipped with the maker's "TOVEL" hydraulic-copying attachment.
TOV 360, 400, 440 and 500: these were conventional centre lathes designed for use by medium-sized workshops The bed, with hardened ways, was cast with the stand and feet in a single unit. The swing was 505 mm and the greatest between-centres' capacity 2000 mm. Spindle speeds ranged from 28 to 1750 rpm - with motors up to 8 HP in size.
MAGISTER 160 and 160 Pl: designed for use by vocational trade schools these lathes enjoyed a similar specification to their professional bothers. The bed, with hardened ways, was cast in a single piece with the stand in an attempt to ensure a high degree of stability, accuracy and long life. The swing was 320 mm and the distance between centres 1000 mm. Spindle speeds ran from 45 to 2000 rpm and, rather foolishly, a 4 HP motor was offered as standard; if the young apprentice Lugi, after his first bottle and a half of red wine at lunch time, managed to have an accident in the afternoon, such a powerful motor would have guaranteed it to be a spectacular one. Let's hope the workshop manager specified something a little less ambitious on his order form…..
MAG 160, 180, 200: intended for machining parts that did not require great reserves of power (rather like young Lugi). The beds were hardened - and cast in one piece with the stand. The swing was 400 mm and the centre distance 1000 mm A 4 HP motor was standard and spindle speeds started at 45 and ran to a high of 2000 rpm.
GET A: a fully automatic work-cycle copying lathe. Swing over bed 460 mm, over the carriage 350 mm with a distance between centres of 900 mm - and a 20 HP motor.
HYDROCENTER X 1E: a fully automatic machine suitable for centring, spotfacing and turning the collars on shaft ends; if properly set-up it could also be used for boring, turning, ending and chamfering tube ends.
HYDROCENTER X2: a fully automatic centring and ending machine which could take a workpiece up to 160 mm in diameter and 2000 mm long. It was also suitable, if modified in its set up, for boring, turning and chamfering tube ends, deep-hole drilling, etc.
HYDROCENTER Series H: these were automatic machines designed for processing parts to finished size, with finished ends, coaxial centre holes and a turned collar for clamping. The minimum workpiece diameter was 20 mm, the maximum 120 mm. The shortest length that could be gripped was 173 mm and the longest that could be accommodated 1700 mm..

Tovaglieri Type MAG 200. Centre height 203 mm (8") with a between centres' capacity of either 800 or 1000 mm (31.5 or 39.4"). Spindle speeds from 45 to 2000 rpm from a 4HP motor. 42 mm spindle bore.

Tovaglieri Type TDV 440. Centre height 220 mm (8.7") with a between centres' capacity of either 1000 or 2000 mm (39.4 or 78.7"). Swing in the gap 585 mm (23") and spindle speeds 35 to 1500 rpm from a 7HP motor. 52 mm (2") spindle bore.

Tovaglieri Type GT700. Centre height 350 mm (13.8") with various between-centres' capacity from 1500 to 5000 mm (59 to 196.8"). Swing in the gap 945 mm (37.2") and spindle speeds from 8 to 1500 rpm from a 16 to 20HP motor. 80 mm (3") spindle bore.

Tovaglieri Type TU 400 Ceramic. Centre height 200 mm (7.9") with between-centres' capacity of either 1000 or 1500 mm (39.4 or 59"). Swing in the gap 595 mm (23.4") and spindle speeds from 30 to 2800 rpm with a 12HP motor. 52 mm (2") spindle bore.

HYDROCENTER H2  An automatic machine designed for processing parts to finished size. The shortest length that could be gripped was 173 mm and the longest that could be accommodated 1700 mm

HYDROCENTER X 1E. A fully automatic machine for centring, spot-facing and turning collars on shaft ends; when properly set-up it could also be used for boring, turning, ending and chamfering tube ends.


Tovaglieri Lathes
email: tony@lathes.co.uk
Home   Machine Tool Archive   Machine-tools Sale & Wanted
Machine Tool Manuals   Catalogues   Belts   Books  Accessories