Pittler C3 videos ball turning, power cross feed, spiral cutting, copy turning
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Above: a 90 second video showing how the cross-slide turns and is then run by the universal joint
Above right: A longer video testing how the circular feed works. Although Pittler calls it an automatic ball turner it really only refers to the adjustable automatic stop as the mechanism needs constant attention to advance the cutting tool etc. In a factory setting one man could tend a whole row of machines, walking along resetting the mechanism trigger on each one and advancing the tool a bit each time, The settings of both the saddle and the cutting tool have to be set very accurately in order to cut a perfect sphere. The maximum sized ball that can be cut on the C3 is 2 inches according to Pittlers description.
Above: a demo of the power cross feed using the universal joint.
Above Right: A first attempt at cutting a spiral using the original Pittler Milling head. A 1/2." ball nosed milling cutter is used for several passes. Note the chuck is turning anticlockwise for this. Four drive belts running on seven pulleys are in use at the same time here but the flat belt to the headstock is slackened off to allow the chuck to turn freely under power from the leadscrew inside the bed. Needless to say it's very noisy but that is normal for this kind of Antique machinery
Shown here is the cutting of a fusee shape such as used to wind up the mainspring on some types of clock. a conical spirally grooved pulley in a timepiece from which a cord or chain unwinds onto a cylinder containing the mainspring and which by its increasing diameter compensates for the lessening power of the spring
Left: This is a first test to try out another of the Pittler lathes extraordinary capabilities. The swiveling saddle casting allows copy turning via a template fitted below, it utilises a pointer fitted to an attachment on the cross-slide shaft below. A large ring is bolted on both sides of the saddle casting to prevent it sliding off sideways.
Below is a threaded spiral cut using the copying device and then changing the cutter for a suitable screw cutting one, it shows the lathes capability to make a clock fusee
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