Mounting, Removing, and Aligning Lathe Centers

Session 8

Lathe Centers
Work machined between centers is turned for some portion of length, then reversed, and other end finished Critical when machining work between centers that live center be absolutely true

Produces concentric diameters

Mounting Lathe Centers

Remove any burrs from lathe spindle, centers, or spindle sleeves Clean tapers on lathe centers and in headstock and tailstock spindles Partially insert cleaned center in lathe spindle

Force center into spindle

Follow same procedure when mounting tailstock center Check trueness of center

Use dial indicator

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Removing Lathe Centers

ive center
Use knockout bar pushed through headstock spindle !slight tap"

Use cloth over center and hold to prevent damage

#ead center

$urn tailstock handwheel to draw spindle back into tailstock

%nd of screw contacts end of dead center, forcing it out of spindle 4

Alignment of Lathe Centers

When lathe center aligned Parallel diameters produced $hree common methods used to align
&' )' *'

(ligning tailstock $rial Cut $est +ar and ,ndicator

Alignment of Lathe Centers

(ligning $ailstock
(ligning centerlines on back of tailstock with each other -nly a visual check and not too accurate

Alignment of Lathe Centers

(ligning $ailstock

To Align Centers by Adjusting the Tailstock

&' )' oosen tailstock clamp nut or level oosen one of the ad.usting screws, depending on direction tailstock must be moved and tighten other until line on top aligns with line on bottom half *' $ighten screw to lock both halves in place /' 0ake sure tailstock lines still aligned 1' ock tailstock clamp nut or lever
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Alignment of Lathe Centers

$rial2cut method

3mall cut taken from each end of work #iameters measured with a micrometer

To Align Centers by Trial-Cut Method

&' $ake a light cut !'4412'4&4 in'" to true diameter from section at tailstock end about ')14 in' long )' 3top feed and note reading on graduated collar of crossfeed handle *' 0ove cutting tool away from work with crossfeed handle /' +ring cutting tool close to headstock end
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To Align Centers by Trial-Cut Method

1' Return cutting tool to same graduated collar setting as at first cut 5' Cut a '1442in !&* mm" length at headstock end and stop lathe 6' 0easure both diameters with micrometer

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To Align Centers by Trial-Cut Method

7' ,f both diameters not same si8e, ad.ust tailstock either toward or away from cutting tool 9 difference of two readings :' $ake another light cut at both points at same crossfeed graduated collar setting &4' 0easure diameters and repeat as necessary
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Alignment of Lathe Centers

$est bar and dial indicator

Fastest and most accurate method

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Alignment of Lathe Centers

$est bar and dial indicator

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Aligning Centers Using Test Bar and ial !ndicator

&' Clean lathe and work center, mount test bar )' (d.ust test bar snugly between centers and tighten tailstock spindle clamp *' 0ount dial indicator on toolpost or lathe carriage

,ndicator plunger should be parallel to lathe bed and contact point set on center

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Aligning Centers Using Test Bar and ial !ndicator

/' (d.ust cross2slide

,ndicator registers appro;imately '4)1 in at tailstock, indicator be8el to 4

/' 0ove carriage by hand so indicator registers on diameter at headstock end and note indicator reading 1' ,f both indicator readings not same, ad.ust tailstock with ad.usting screws until indicator registers same at both ends
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Aligning Centers Using Test Bar and ial !ndicator

6' $ighten ad.usting screw that was loosened 7' $ighten tailstock clamp nut :' (d.ust tailstock spindle until test bar snug between lathe centers &4' Recheck indicator readings at both ends and, if necessary, ad.ust tailstock
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