Locking & Tramming the
9x20 Lathe Tailstock
Last updated on
Thursday, January 12, 2012 06:01:37 PM
Eastern US Time Zone
Tailstock Lock, Setscrews, 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
& the
locking plate.
The ratchet now works even when it is loose. This is a
fast & strong method to lock the tailstock securely.
Setscrews
Replaced the 5mm setscrew. Under
heavy drilling,
e.g.,
using a 1 inch bit, the original
setscrew threads
would cut the inside of the groove it
engages. Used an 8mm setscrew with the end turned to 5mm.
Remove all the burs on the groove edges. Used aluminum
anti-seize compound on the lock & pin.
A 2nd setscrew placed 0.7" toward
the spindle, keeps the tailstock from rotating if
it is over extended.
Handles
Added
a chrome-plated
steel revolving
handle.
Drilled out the
M5-0.8 thread
then &
then tapped for a
¼-20.
Die-cast zinc ratcheting locking levers (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
A method to
tram (center) the tailstock is to mount a dial
test gage in
the spindle & an MT-2
dead
center
or
just indicate the inner surface of the
tailstock taper. Rotate the spindle
front &
back while
adjusting the tailstock offset screws (replaced with US
manufactured), making
half-the-difference changes
between them until there are no front-to-back differences. The vertical
top/bottom
error was corrected using
brass shim stock because it was low by a few thousandth's.
Interapid dial test indicator
312B-1 (Swiss) shown.
Shimming or milling the top of the cast iron tailstock
base may be required to tram
top to bottom.
The dial test indicator needle moves in the opposite direction when tramming the inside surface.
Tramming Animations
Front/back tailstock tramming animation.
Top/bottom tailstock tramming animation.
Tramming using a dowel pin.
Tailstock Lock, Setscrews, Handles, Tailstock Tramming, Tramming Animations