Which engine lathe component moves side to side along the ways?

Which engine lathe component moves side to side along the ways?

• A. Carriage
• B. Tailstock
• C. Cross-slide
• D. Chuck

Answer: (A)

The longitudinal movement along the bed’s ways is done by the carriage. It rides on the precision rails (the ways) and carries the tool post, allowing you to feed the cutting tool along the length of the work to turn a cylinder. The cross-slide, mounted on the carriage, moves perpendicular to that direction—across the face of the work, not along the bed. The tailstock can also slide along the ways to position itself for support, but it doesn’t feed the tool along the length. The chuck stays at the headstock and spins the work, without traveling along the ways.

The longitudinal movement along the bed’s ways is done by the carriage. It rides on the precision rails (the ways) and carries the tool post, allowing you to feed the cutting tool along the length of the work to turn a cylinder. The cross-slide, mounted on the carriage, moves perpendicular to that direction—across the face of the work, not along the bed. The tailstock can also slide along the ways to position itself for support, but it doesn’t feed the tool along the length. The chuck stays at the headstock and spins the work, without traveling along the ways.