According to :
A recent discussion on tool posts has inspired me to ask if there
exists a dictionary of sorts for the various tools and accessories
associated with lathes and milling machines?

The couple of library books I've found so far haven't dealt with much
past the basics. And even the occasional mention of common items here
on the newsgroup rarely go into details because it is assume that all
those reading know exactly what the tool looks like and does.

I would like to be able to look up something like a "tailstock turret"
and find not only the basic description and it's purpose, but a picture
of what it looks like, how it's secured to the machine, reference to
the various types(shapes & materials), along with their pros and cons,
and any terms associated with their use.

O.K. For that one -- you might try to get the _Machine Shop
Practice_ by Moultrecht. It is a two volume book, which is occasionally
offered on sale by MSC (where I got mine), and other places.

This will also cover an overview of turret tooling, covering
things like a "roller box tool" and a "Geometric die head".

And -- it will show the powered turret lathes as well -- where
the turret derives power from the leadscrew, just as the carriage
cross-slide does.

Note that you will *not* find a bed turret for the machine which
you were considering last I knew. They tend to be for semi industrial
machines, including my 12X24" Clausing, which came with a bed turret
which matched the serial number of the lathe -- they came from the
factory together. I had to chase down a standard tailstock to use with
the lathe for non-production operations.

In other words, somthing that'll teach me more than what I can get from
browsing catalogs.

Things like the quick-change toolposts may not be well covered,
because the nicest ones are a bit too new to have been well covered by
the book in question.

If such a site or book exists, I'd appreciate any info.

You could try getting that pair from the library, or try to spot
them on eBay, or order them from MSC or some other tool vendor.

Good Luck,
DoN.

--
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---