The major advantage of a taper attachment is which of the following?
a. No backlash during in-feed
b. Quicker setup time
c. Power feed can be used
d. Any length of taper can be machined
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is d. Any length of taper can be machined.
Explanation:
A taper attachment is an accessory for a lathe machine that is used to cut tapered parts, allowing the machine to produce a variety of conical shapes. The main advantage of a taper attachment is that it provides the ability to machine a taper of any length, which is not limited by the standard turning capabilities of the lathe. This feature is crucial for industries that require precision manufacturing of tapered components, such as in aerospace, automotive, and metalworking.
Here’s a breakdown of why option D is correct and why the other options are less accurate:
- a. No backlash during in-feed: Backlash is the play or slack between the mating gears or components of a machine. While some taper attachments may have mechanisms to reduce backlash, the primary purpose of the taper attachment is to create accurate tapers, not necessarily to eliminate backlash during in-feed. Therefore, this option is not the major advantage of the taper attachment.
- b. Quicker setup time: While taper attachments can help in machining tapered parts, their setup time is typically longer than when setting up for simple turning operations. Setting up a taper attachment involves adjusting the attachment to the required angle and configuring the machine to ensure the correct taper is produced. As such, this is not the major advantage of a taper attachment.
- c. Power feed can be used: Taper attachments often allow for the use of the lathe’s power feed, which is beneficial when cutting tapers, but this is a secondary advantage. The primary benefit is not about the use of power feed but rather the ability to machine tapers of varying lengths with precision.
In contrast, d. Any length of taper can be machined is the most accurate advantage. With a taper attachment, the operator can adjust the attachment’s angle, allowing for a taper to be machined over any length of the workpiece, which is a crucial feature when working with parts that need to be tapered to specific dimensions. This versatility is why taper attachments are essential in many specialized machining applications.