What is this?

[rufus]

Purchased an Atlas lathe recently, I was told machine had come from an alternator repair shop or something to that effect. Anyway there was a separate unit attached to the included workbench lathe is mounted on. Wanted to post a pic and get some ideas to what it is and if it is useful to keep attached. Thanks in advance.

R

 

[wachuko]

Looks like it was used to make small gears...

 

[wachuko]

Or to make splines in shafts... or key slots in small shafts... or...

 

[WhyW8]

Looks like an armature lathe?

 

[rufus]

Looks like an armature lathe?

I believe your right, thank you. I looked up armature lathe and I see things very similar.
For ex..

 

[wachuko]

I had to look it up... learned something new

That lathe was made to true up the commutator on small armatures, typically those from starters and generators of automobiles. The lathe also had provisions to undercut the mica used as an insulator between the segments of the commutator. Armature lathes were not designed to cut a spiral or thread like groove on the surface of the commutator.

 

[Parlo]

Could the unit cut the woodruff keys found on alternator shafts?

 

[markba633csi]

The Atlas accessory is a commutator undercutter which was a common job back in the day when it was cost-effective to rebuild/repair starter motors and generators rather than replace which is mostly what is done nowadays
-M

 

[jcp]

One of my uncles had a motor repair shop (late 30's thru mid 80's) and he had one of these for undercutting the mica after truing the copper of the commutator.

 

[benmychree]

The Atlas accessory is a commutator undercutter which was a common job back in the day when it was cost-effective to rebuild/repair starter motors and generators rather than replace which is mostly what is done nowadays
-M

Starter commutators are never undercut, only turned, thus the unit is only used for generator undercutting.