Which statement about the headstock on a lathe is true?

• A. It houses the carriage
• B. It contains the spindle that rotates the workpiece
• C. It guides the cutting tool along the bed
• D. It supports the tailstock

Answer: (B)

The headstock’s main job is to provide rotational motion to the workpiece by holding the spindle. The spindle is driven by the machine’s motor through belts or gears, and it spins the chuck or centers to rotate the workpiece as you cut. The tailstock is a separate component that supports the opposite end of the workpiece or can hold a center or drill, but it sits on the bed separately from the headstock. The cutting tool is carried by the carriage, which moves along the bed to bring the tool to the workpiece; this movement is not part of the headstock. So, describing the headstock as containing the spindle that rotates the workpiece is the correct statement.