Give Hofmann a ring?Thanks! You were the most likely candidate.
Seems to be the fate of a lot of universal heads - they get split from the bits that belong to them (which ironically is how I ended up with my tailstock and gearset).
I'm thinking of just using a threaded morse arbor inserted from the front, but I suspect that is probably not what the original uses. The morse solution is simple and easily done, but does preclude using the morse taper when differential indexing (for instance using a morse based collet). But just how often is this likely to be a problem? I suspect never, and even if I did happen, it doesn't prevent moving to an expanding arbor or similar.
But I'd love to see an original! None of the Hofmann brochures, pictures, or even the standard equipment lists this.
Andrew
Have you seen Hofmann pricesJust sent Hofmann an email. We'll see!
When you say "connected to the brake" are you expecting the brake to be some sort of plunger or lever that acts against the spindle at a single point? After stripping mine down I can only conclude that the brake is achieved by deforming a thin internal wall of the inside bore in the main housing, thus clamping around the OD of the spindle. The deformation being achieved by the application of oil pressure. Im at a loss as to how else it can work as there are absolutely no moving parts visible on mineYour pictures do raise another question with mine - how is the this boss connected to the brake proper.
Thanks for replying and the photos.Found these old photos, looks like mine doesn't have the M8 female thread in the housing, it seems to be an M16 as well (the shorter of the two M16 male threads screws into it (this is the one that tends to back out when I unlock)
That is my thinking as well...I can only conclude that the brake is achieved by deforming a thin internal wall of the inside bore in the main housing, thus clamping around the OD of the spindle. The deformation being achieved by the application of oil pressure...