Correct taper for a lathe live centre

[skotl]

So I've been looking at the pile of bits that will hopefully, round about the weekend, turn itself magically into a lathe (background) and it seems that I don't have a live centre.

I've measured the inside diameter of the tail stock barrel and it's around 17.5mm

Would I be correct in thinking that an MT2 taper would fit (bearing in mind that the lathe is probably 70 years old so it would have been imperial in them thar days)?

 

[daleyd]

Wooooo get you with all your technical terms now your a "lathe owner"!!!

(Sorry, I can't help but I'm sure a grown up will be along soon...)

 

[addjunkie]

http://www.drill-hq.com/2012/04/morse-taper-dimensions-chart/


Of course as a lathe owner if you also had a zeuo book youd have had the answer to hand. But if you look above and measure in inches oull know

 

[Shox Dr]

Not the first reference I go to. Prefer 'Counsellor' by Kennametal. A lot more info helpful to the machinist.
The local bearing supplies usually have them on the counter FOC. I also find Ericks Seal Book, and Tracy Tools also good references

 

[brightspark]

dunno why but people have it in there head to use live centers all the time ok if your running fast speeds but most jobs can be done with a fixed center. there-- more robust less overhang -and less chatter

 

[skotl]

dunno why but people have it in there head to use live centers all the time ok if your running fast speeds but most jobs can be done with a fixed center. there-- more robust less overhang -and less chatter

Oh poop. I just looked for the "spindly thing on the right hand side" and "live centre" was the first that came up.

OK - fixed centre - got it.

Nobody's directly told me what taper I need, though

 

[skotl]

Wooooo get you with all your technical terms now your a "lathe owner"!!!

(Sorry, I can't help but I'm sure a grown up will be along soon...)

http://www.drill-hq.com/2012/04/morse-taper-dimensions-chart/


Of course as a lathe owner if you also had a zeuo book youd have had the answer to hand. But if you look above and measure in inches oull know

Not the first reference I go to. Prefer 'Counsellor' by Kennametal. A lot more info helpful to the machinist.
The local bearing supplies usually have them on the counter FOC. I also find Ericks Seal Book, and Tracy Tools also good references

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're all very funny

As it happens, I did buy "The amateur's lathe", by J. R. Hartley L. H. Sparkey - first published in 1948, dunchaknow! But I'm only on page 22...

 

[Richiew]

It is mt2. Apologies for the short replies. My broadband is kaput and doing this from a phone doesnt lend itself to long answers.

 

[skotl]

It is mt2. Apologies for the short replies. My broadband is kaput and doing this from a phone doesnt lend itself to long answers.

Groovy - thanks Richie!

 

[skotl]

http://www.drill-hq.com/2012/04/morse-taper-dimensions-chart/


Of course as a lathe owner if you also had a zeuo book youd have had the answer to hand. But if you look above and measure in inches oull know

Aha! The answer was in there - MT2.

Thanks

 

[skotl]

dunno why but people have it in there head to use live centers all the time ok if your running fast speeds but most jobs can be done with a fixed center. there-- more robust less overhang -and less chatter

Cheers for that - ordered one of these; http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B0Q60FM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

 

[optima21]

dunno why but people have it in there head to use live centers all the time ok if your running fast speeds but most jobs can be done with a fixed center. there-- more robust less overhang -and less chatter

I use dead or half centres when I can.

and you can also get half centres that allow you to use a centre on small diameters like this (this is M6 thread being turned down to 4mm

carbide tipped ones are available from here

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Centres

and dont forget your centre drills that have the correct taper to match the point of the centre

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Cutting-Tools/Centre-Drills

 

[addjunkie]

Did we warn you that owning machine tools can be an expensive addiction

 

[skotl]

Did we warn you that owning machine tools can be an expensive addiction

Hah! Indeed - it's still lying in bits and I'm already buying stuff for it

I want to do that home made oiler / sudser that was posted last week, too!

I don't actually have any projects for the lathe but, like all my tools, it will mainly be used for making other tools

 

[daleyd]

I don't actually have any projects for the lathe but, like all my tools, it will mainly be used for making other tools

It didn't go down well with my wife 6 months after I bought my welder and the only thing I'd used it for was to make a trolley ...............for the welder.

(I've done loads with it now so we're all good!!)

 

[Wedg1e]

Nursy bought me a 270L 3-phase compressor 'cos I happened to mention 'It'd be nice'. It certainly would have been - at half the price she paid
A little research goes a long way.

 

[addjunkie]

Nursy bought me a 270L 3-phase compressor 'cos I happened to mention 'It'd be nice'. It certainly would have been - at half the price she paid
A little research goes a long way.

And did she use your credit card to buy it for you, like my other half does

 

[daleyd]

I keep mentioning Aston Martins are quite nice, fallen on deaf ears so far. Think I'm going to try playing subliminal messages while she sleeps.

 

[Wedg1e]

And did she use your credit card to buy it for you, like my other half does

You're kidding, she out-earns me threefold.

 

[brightspark]

I keep mentioning Aston Martins are quite nice, fallen on deaf ears so far. Think I'm going to try playing subliminal messages while she sleeps.

if u win the lottery buy one. had a go in one-at elvington airfield and they go -like sh..it of a stick and handle beutifuly