Golem Pens
Michael
I should also try the tailstock offset method. That just requires new mandrels to enable turning between centers I think. And feels fiddly in a way that irks me.
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Working on my South Bend 9C
- Thread starter Golem Pens
- Start date
You can turn tapers under power by setting the tail stock over, can even turn long tapered threads that way, LOL.
Just resetting the tail stock can be a bit of a pain. There is or can be made a set over attachment to put in the tail stock spindle so the tail stock does not need to be moved sideways.
Typed whiles faster fingers were typing.
Just resetting the tail stock can be a bit of a pain. There is or can be made a set over attachment to put in the tail stock spindle so the tail stock does not need to be moved sideways.
Typed whiles faster fingers were typing.
If I had to cut a lot of tapers I'd get one of these:
Taper Metal Turning Attachment in 3MT Shank for Off-setting Lathe's Tailstock : Amazon.ca: Industrial & Scientific
Taper Metal Turning Attachment in 3MT Shank for Off-setting Lathe's Tailstock : Amazon.ca: Industrial & Scientific
a.co
Golem Pens
Michael
Oh that's interesting. I may have to look into that. At least to try it out! Ah, I'll need MT2
Would that need a dead center (headstock) with a different tip or tip angle to properly drive the work? Research time
I'm only tapering up to about 3° currently.
140mower
Don
If the taper that you're cutting is generally the same as is the length of the material, you could offset your second tailstock for the correct taper and swap tailstocks as required. The parts will have to be turned between centers, but if you make a 60° center to clamp in the chuck and face it each time before use, you won't need to keep swapping the chuck out as well as the tailstock. Drive the lathe dogs off the chuck jaws.......
Golem Pens
Michael
I need to service that tailstock still. But that is a perfect use for it!
140mower
Don
It keeps the cost down...... that one I would try and use as the main one once fixed up, as it is low use and hopefully matched to the headstock...
BaitMaster
Certified Redneck
I would count having two tail stocks as a taper attachment for sure.
Dialing in a tail stock to cut square takes a bit of fiddling, and I don’t want to do that every time.
A taper attachment just separates the taper turning function from the tail stock function and makes it a lot more user friendly as you can perform other operations while still holding the same taper in reserve.
Again, that list doesn’t count specialty stuff, or metrology. I have a bunch of “specialty” tooling that isn’t for general purpose work that I consider essential.
Dialing in a tail stock to cut square takes a bit of fiddling, and I don’t want to do that every time.
A taper attachment just separates the taper turning function from the tail stock function and makes it a lot more user friendly as you can perform other operations while still holding the same taper in reserve.
Again, that list doesn’t count specialty stuff, or metrology. I have a bunch of “specialty” tooling that isn’t for general purpose work that I consider essential.
Golem Pens
Michael
Exactly why I'm not enthused by it.
I will need to figure out how much offset gives me the desired tapers and how best to switch between them. Again that's where the compound or one of those MT assemblies seem nice, just dial in the number on the scale.
Model Citizen
Well-Known Member
Yup, folks bogarting tailstocks, that accounts for tailstock-less lathes. ;-)
Just buy a boring head with a MT2 male end and use it for the offset, easy peasy.
Just buy a boring head with a MT2 male end and use it for the offset, easy peasy.
Golem Pens
Michael
... I might have one of those actually. And just turn a dead center that fits it?
Model Citizen
Well-Known Member
Golem Pens
Michael
Golem Pens
Michael
Yeah I'll need to figure out how to do the math on that.
BaitMaster
Certified Redneck
That’s one advantage of the taper attachment. Same taper no matter the length between centers. Drawback: sometimes the taper attachment isn’t long enough and you have to do in multiple steps.
BaronJ
Ultra Member
Hi Michael,
A picture of my tail stock taper attachment.
I actually made one of these but can't find the pictures at the moment. Note that the rotary center is not supplied with the tool.
This is what is needed, a ball center. This one is a salvaged 12 mm bearing pack from a computer hard disc drive with a 6 mm diameter steel ball glued onto the end. This works far better than a cone center because the cone pushes the work off to one side, whereas a ball allows the work to rotate freely.
And last a PDF of a taper attachment.
A picture of my tail stock taper attachment.
I actually made one of these but can't find the pictures at the moment. Note that the rotary center is not supplied with the tool.
This is what is needed, a ball center. This one is a salvaged 12 mm bearing pack from a computer hard disc drive with a 6 mm diameter steel ball glued onto the end. This works far better than a cone center because the cone pushes the work off to one side, whereas a ball allows the work to rotate freely.
And last a PDF of a taper attachment.
Yes, those work. I use one sometimes. You can buy small live centers on Amazon and add a bushing to fit your boring head.
Fenteer 4Pcs Lathe Tailstock Center Live Bearing Thimble and Drill Chuck Adapter High Precision, High Hardness Easy to Install : Amazon.ca: Industrial & Scientific
Fenteer 4Pcs Lathe Tailstock Center Live Bearing Thimble and Drill Chuck Adapter High Precision, High Hardness Easy to Install : Amazon.ca: Industrial & Scientific
a.co
The other end is really easy! Any old piece of stock will do. ALWAYS cut headstock centers in place. This insures perfect concentricity. Doesn't need to be great stock. Even an old bolt will do. Just set your compound to 30 degrees and cut it. As long as you leave it exactly where you cut it, it will always be perfect. I think many of us do this routinely. It's a very standard old lathe trick that all lathe users should know. The one on the left in this photo is a good example. Even though it's made from an old crappy threaded bolt. It is a dead nuts perfect center because it was cut in place on my lathe.
Golem Pens
Michael
@Susquatch ah I couldn't find those centers, thanks!
@BaronJ nice set of resources there! I'm also trying to find that ball center.
And in the meantime, this just arrived! So that's the next project.
@BaronJ nice set of resources there! I'm also trying to find that ball center.
And in the meantime, this just arrived! So that's the next project.
