Locking & Tramming the Tailstock
Tailstock Lock, Set Screws, Handles, Tailstock Tramming, Tramming Animations
This (Craftsman) wrench allows the nut to pass all the
way through. Ratcheting direction is quickly changed
by flipping the small lever on the
wrench. When the nut is loose it will not work the ratchet so
a short, strong
spring was installed with washers on both sides, in-between the bottom of the tailstock base and the
locking plate.
The ratchet now works even when it is loose. This is a
fast & strong method to lock the tailstock securely.
Replaced the 5mm set screw. Under
heavy drilling,
e.g.,
using a 1 inch bit, the original set
screw threads
would cut the inside of the groove it
engages. Used an 8mm set
screw with the end turned to 5mm.
Remove all the burs on the groove edges. Used aluminum
anti-seize compound on the lock & pin.
A second set screw keeps the tailstock from rotating if
it is over extended.
Handles
Upgraded to
chrome-plated
steel revolving
handles.
Drilled out the
M5-0.8 thread
then drilled &
tapped for a
¼-20.
Die cast zinc ratcheting locking levers from
MSC (M6-1 threaded bolts) with
a brass washer.
The carriage lock also has a brass spacer that loosely fits the original
counter-bored hole.
A tight fit could possibly bind when it gets grimy. Dissimilar metals can work
more smoothly.
For a smoother finish, lock the carriage when
performing facing or cut-off operations.
Tailstock Tramming
One method to
tram or center the tailstock is to mount a dial
test gauge in
the spindle & an MT-2 dead center
or better yet,
just indicate the inner surface of the
tailstock taper. Rotate the spindle
front & back while
adjusting the tailstock off-set screws (replaced with US
manufactured), making half-the-difference changes
between them until there are no front/back differences. The vertical top/bottom
error was corrected using
brass shim stock because mine was low. Use the basic principles of this technique to
tram:
a micro lathe, a
mill, a mill vice,
a rotary
table or a part.
Taper calculations
Shimming or milling the top of the cast iron tailstock base may be required to tram top to bottom.
Tramming Animations
Front/back tailstock tramming animation.
Top/bottom tailstock tramming animation.
Tailstock Lock, Set Screws, Handles, Tailstock Tramming, Tramming Animations
