PowerPoint to accompany

Technology of Machine Tools

6th Edition

Krar • Gill • Smid

Mounting, Removing,
and Aligning Lathe
Centers
Unit 49

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Permission required for reproduction or display.
 49-2

Objectives

• Mount and/or remove lathe centers

properly
• Align lathe centers by visual, trial-cut,
and dial-indicator methods
 49-3

Lathe Centers
• Work machined between centers turned for
some portion of length, then reversed, and
other end finished
• Critical when machining work between
centers that live center be absolutely true
– Concentric work
 49-4

To Mount 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
 49-5

To Remove Lathe Centers

• Live center
– Use knockout bar pushed through headstock
spindle (slight tap)
– Use cloth over center and hold to prevent damage
• Dead center
– Turn tailstock handwheel to draw spindle back
into tailstock
• End of screw contacts end of dead center, forcing it out
of spindle
 49-6

Alignment of Lathe Centers

• Parallel diameter produced when lathe
center aligned
• Three common methods
used to align
1. Aligning centerlines
on back of tailstock
with each other
– Only a visual check
and not too accurate

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
 49-7

Alignment of Lathe Centers

2. Using the trial-cut
method where small
cut taken from each
end of work and
diameters measured with a micrometer
3. Using parallel test bar and dial indicator
• Fastest and most accurate method

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
 49-8

To Align Centers by Adjusting

the Tailstock
1. Loosen tailstock clamp nut or level
2. Loosen on of the adjusting screws,
depending on direction tailstock must be
moved and tighten other until line on top
aligns with line on bottom half
3. Tighten screw to lock both halves in place
4. Make sure tailstock lines still aligned
5. Lock tailstock clamp nut or lever
 49-9

To Align Centers by
Trial-Cut Method
1. Take a light cut (~.005 in.) to true
diameter from section A at tailstock end
for .250 in. long
2. Stop feed and note reading on graduated
collar of crossfeed handle
3. Move cutting tool away from work with
crossfeed handle
4. Bring cutting tool close to headstock end
 49-10

To Align Centers by
Trial-Cut Method

5. Return cutting tool to same graduated

collar setting as at section A
6. Cut a .500-in (13 mm) length at section B
and stop lathe
7. Measure both diameters with micrometer
 49-11

To Align Centers by
Trial-Cut Method
8. If both diameters not same size, adjust
tailstock either toward or away from
cutting tool ½ difference of two readings
9. Take another light cut at A and B at same
crossfeed graduated collar setting.
Measure diameters and adjust tailstock.
 49-12

To Align Centers Using Dial

Indicator and Test Bar
1. Clean lathe and work center, mount test
bar
2. Adjust test bar snugly between centers and
tighten tailstock spindle clamp
3. Mount dial indicator on toolpost or lathe
carriage
– Indicator plunger should be parallel to lathe
bed and contact point set on center
 49-13

To Align Centers Using Dial

Indicator and Test Bar
4. Adjust cross-slide
– Indicator registers approximately .025 in at
tailstock, indicator bezel to 0
5. Move carriage by hand so indicator
registers on diameter at headstock end and
not indicator reading
6. If both indicator readings not same, adjust
tailstock with adjusting screws until
indicator registers same at both ends
 49-14

To Align Centers Using Dial

Indicator and Test Bar
7. Tighten adjusting screw that was loosened
8. Tighten tailstock clamp nut
9. Adjust tailstock spindle until test bar snug
between lathe centers
10. Recheck indicator readings at both ends
and adjust tailstock, if necessary