Quill
A quill is a hollow bored work spindle in stationary machine tools , which can execute an axial movement.
In cutting machines with rotating tools , such as drilling machines , boring mills and milling machines , a hollow shaft , the work spindle, is used to transmit the torque to the tool and the tool feed. It is drilled out at one end to accommodate various tools. The bore has a standardized shape and size; it is usually designed as a Morse taper , steep taper or hollow shank taper , which ensures that the tool is self-centering and that it is held securely.
In the case of the work spindle designed as a quill, manual or automated, axial displacement of the spindle with respect to the support is provided. This quill axis (usually referred to as the w-axis) can be used as a positioning axis, i.e. H. the position is fixed in advance for the following machine operation, as well as the feed axis, i.e. H. the position will be changed during the machining operation as a feed movement . In contrast to the cross slide , only the rotating parts of the spindle are shifted axially, while the support or headstock is stationary.
The quill is supported several times, mostly in roller bearings , to absorb the radial and axial forces , but can be displaced in the axial direction with respect to the housing to implement the adjustment movement. For transmission of the rotating movement and the torque of the sleeve on is gears , pulleys , clutches , or other suitable elements to the transmission connected. In larger machines there can also be two nested and independently driven quills to expand the work area.
The spindle of the tailstock is often referred to as the quill in lathes.