the lathe spindle nose is the carrier of a variety of work-holding devices that are fastened to it in several ways. the spindle is hollow and has an internal morse taper at the nose end which makes possible the use of taper shank drills or drill chucks this internal taper is also used to hold live centers drive canters or collet assemblies the outside of the spindle nose can have either a threaded nose(figure)a long taper with key drive (figure) or a camlock(figure)
threaded spindle noses are mostly used on older lathes the chuck or face plate is screwed on a coarse right-hand thread until it is forced