Tailstock alignment.

[grim_d]

Hi all,

I know, I know, "here we go again!" but I've google and googled and watched youtube videos without answer.

I need to align my tailstock, I've had everything apart so it will be out of alignment, but if we exclude the sweeping a dti around the tailstock quill method for now I'm going to need 2 centres to touch the tips or more accurately a bar between 2 centres to cut a test piece and measure.

Unfortunately I am missing the reducing bush for my Harrison spindle (4.5mt to 3mt) so I cannot mount a centre directly into the spindle (or indeed a test bar) and they command £200 on ebay. Similarly I do not have the skill or tooling yet to make one.

Would it be acceptable to mount a morse taper centre (or test bar) into a straight shank sleeve and indicate it dead on in the 4 jaw chuck or am I missing something here and being stupid?

Thanks,
The ever thankfull me.

 

[brightspark]

as long as the center is mounted in the 4 jaw accurately u havent a problem

 

[Spark plug]

I know those mt4.5 adapted are like hens teeth but I am yet to hear from someone that has contacted 600 group for a price. I know they ask rediculus amounts for things but £200 for a used one is rediculus.

 

[doubleboost]

I know those mt4.5 adapted are like hens teeth but I am yet to hear from someone that has contacted 600 group for a price. I know they ask rediculus amounts for things but £200 for a used one is rediculus.

I made one last week very time consuming
I will be getting a price from a CNC friend

 

[brightspark]

its very rare u would need it and there's other ways of doing things

 

[grim_d]

as long as the center is mounted in the 4 jaw accurately u havent a problem

Good to hear, thank you. I will order some centres and straight shank adaptors.

Just so long as it's properly dead centre when spun in the 4 jaw it'll be fine.

In fact, if you're cutting a test bar it doesn't need to be set accurately - make a cut along the length and measure for taper.

Depending on your measuring ability, a 4 jaw and a centre can be just as repeatable as between centres, and repeatability is really the only thing going on...

Do you mean just grip a bar in the chuck, centre drill for the centre in the tailstock and cut along its length and measure for taper then adjust to suit? I've saw mrpete222 cut his own test bar and measure for taper but he did always go between centres.

I know those mt4.5 adapted are like hens teeth but I am yet to hear from someone that has contacted 600 group for a price. I know they ask rediculus amounts for things but £200 for a used one is rediculus.

The one I saw for £200 was new old stock from Harrison, actually listed as an M250 adaptor. Absolutely absurd price.

I made one last week very time consuming
I will be getting a price from a CNC friend

Yes I watched it John, looked a bit of a 'mare, I wouldn't considerer asking such of someone but I am absolutely interested in a bush if some are being produced.

 

[brightspark]

I have a no 3 morse taper drill and a no 3 morse reamer bought them new for me old miller spindle but didn't use them

 

[doubleboost]

I have a no 3 morse taper drill and a no 3 morse reamer bought them new for me old miller spindle but didn't use them

Do you want to sell / swap them

 

[grim_d]

I've thought about gently running an MT3 reamer in the tailstock quill just to clean it up a bit as my lathe came from a college but they are a bit pricey, are you looking to sell?

Edit - If yer not fast yer last haha!

 

[Shox Dr]

I bought an MT4-MT5 sleeve from RDGtools wasn't expensive, although I did have to wait.

 

[doubleboost]

I bought an MT4-MT5 sleeve from RDGtools wasn't expensive, although I did have to wait.

Problem is it is a "Bastard" taper nether 4 / 5

 

[brightspark]

I've thought about gently running an MT3 reamer in the tailstock quill just to clean it up a bit as my lathe came from a college but they are a bit pricey, are you looking to sell?

Edit - If yer not fast yer last haha!

probably will it came from tracy tools. cant remember the price but u can have it cheaper as both my machines are no 2 . if u don't want to buy u can borrow it

 

[Shox Dr]

Problem is it is a "Bastard" taper nether 4 / 5

Doh. Eyes are tied, thought OP said 4-5

 

[grim_d]

John got in there first if you want to sell and would absolutely get more use out of it than me but I certainly would be interested in borrowing it along the way if possible. A kind offer.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Consider this. Mount a piece of rod into your 4-jaw, carefully turn a point on it; that will take care of the headstock end. Next clamp a needle into your smallest tailstock chuck and adjust until the points come together. That should get you within a knats **** until you run a test bar.

 

[doubleboost]

probably will it came from tracy tools. cant remember the price but u can have it cheaper as both my machines are no 2 . if u don't want to buy u can borrow it

pm imminent

 

[grim_d]

Consider this. Mount a piece of rod into your 4-jaw, carefully turn a point on it; that will take care of the headstock end. Next clamp a needle into your smallest tailstock chuck and adjust until the points come together. That should get you within a knats **** until you run a test bar.

That's a clever method but I only have a no34 chuck, I think it only goes to 1mm, there might be a pin chuck somewhere but I think its a round shank, so would be a chuck in a chuck!

 

[grim_d]

See I did think that but seeing as I couldn't find any evidence of it being ok I wasn't sure which is why I made the post, every video or description always went between centres, thought there must have been a reason. Ease and repeatability if you have to remove it I imagine?

I'll give it a try with my live centre whilst I'm waiting for a dead one.

 

[brightspark]

That's pretty much the reasoning imo and why I like centre turning on certain things.

If you really want to follow the youtube crowd, make your own centre - whack a slug into the chuck and turn a point on it, there's your head centre

Not sure how well a live centre will perform - depends how good it is really.

a fixed center is more robust than a live centre but it depends on how far u go

 

[grim_d]

That's pretty much the reasoning imo and why I like centre turning on certain things.

If you really want to follow the youtube crowd, make your own centre - whack a slug into the chuck and turn a point on it, there's your head centre

Not sure how well a live centre will perform - depends how good it is really.

I'll just wait for my dead centre to arrive, I suppose there's no rush.