wrote in message
ups.com...
JWho wrote:
How is a lathe measured? I see one that is 7" x 10", then another more
expensive one that is 8" x 12". Where are such measurements taken and
what
would be the differences?

In the US, the first number is the maximum diameter workpiece that can
be rotated over the bed, in the UK it's apparently the radius. Note
that this dimension may shrink when you crank the carriage in close to
the work - there's a smaller number for swing over the cross slide.

The second number is the maximum length of workpiece that can be held
between centers, one on the headstock and one on the tailstock, like on
a wood lathe. If you install a chuck on the headstock this distance
will shrink some.


Correct----most of the time. The tag on my old South Bend reads size "14
1/2 x 72"
The 14 1/2 is the swing diameter over the ways. The 72 is the total length
of the bed!
I've never measured center-to-center, but suspect it is around 32.

Bill