Your first part is pretty much correct. You might want to add having the machine set to the proper rpm, checking tailstock clamps and/or carriage lock is secured, and that feeds are disengaged at the intial startup.
On the second part
No not normally, its a matter of taste at that point, there are some work pieces you may not want to damage when moving the tool back across esp when TBC or doing tapers. I normally leave the clutch in, drop the feed or screw feed, then manual bring it back to my start and rengauge the feed. The manaul states that you leave the feed engaged only when doing metric threads, I am not completely sure why I am assuming thats because of imperial feeds. My feeling is that if you are only doing simple operations that you leave the clutch in as its a slight bit on the hazardus side to disengage, at least compared to other lathes I have run. Also I would think that its easier on the belts, I tend to shut the machine off then disengage the clutch, start the motor then engage the clutch, but I am new to the 9x20 not the lathe in general though most others(larger) don't clutch like that.
chris  |