Fig. 1801.
The work is held upon a circular table capable of being revolved upon its axis to feed the work to the cut. This table is carried upon a compound slide having two horizontal motions, one at a right angle to the other. The lower of these is operated by a rod running through the centre of the machine, as seen in the sectional view in [Fig. 1801]. The upper is operated through the larger of the two gear-wheels, seen at the side of the machine in the general view of the machine in [Fig. 1800]. The upper and smaller of these wheels operates a worm, which engages with worm-teeth cut on the periphery of the circular table to rotate the latter. Either or all of these feed motions may be put in simultaneous action, or all may be thrown out and the feeds operated by hand.
As the tool is in many cases rigid on the ram or bar of a slotting machine, it is preferable that the feed should occur while the tool is at the top of its stroke and before it meets the work, so that it may not rub on the return stroke, and thus become rapidly dulled.
Fig. 1802.
[Fig. 1802] represents a slotting machine in which the guideway for the slotting bar or ram is fixed in position, and the feed motions are entirely on the outside of the machine. In this case the worm-gear pinion is on the side of the machine not seen in the engraving.
The cutting tools for slotting machines are carried in one of these ways: first, bolted direct to the slotting bar or ram, in which case they stand vertically; secondly, in a box that is bolted to the end of the ram and standing horizontally; and thirdly, held in a tool bar, in which case the tool may stand either horizontally or vertically.