Tapers can be cut using the compound on the lathe or tilting the head on a milling machine is yours let you do that. But you can also "step off" the taper ... or radius. There are "Radius Cutting" tables available that can be used in the lathe or milling machine. Or you can calculate the "X" and "Y" coordinates for any radius you want. Before CNC, that's how we did it. The smaller the steps the smoother the contour and you have to file in the steps. Using the same set up and calcs, you can repeat accurately.
You can make all kinds (or buy) radius cutting attachments too, but I always like to make my own. You can cut spheres either convex or concave using the step off technique in the lathe. You can also cut spheres on the mill with a rotary table and a fly cutter by setting the radius of the fly cutter and tilting the head. There is a formula for doing that. I have cut many many different shapes and contours on conventional milling machines and lathes way before CNC by using those techniques.
Rob-
