Chapter 6

Supporting Devices For

Workpiece On Lathes

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course the student will be able to:

- Explain the uses of the steadies

- Set up and use a follower rest for when machining a long shaft

- Set up and use a steady rest for machining workpiece

Duration
1 Hour

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Chapter 6 Supporting devices for

Workpieces On Lathes

General
Some of lathe operation would not be possible without the use of the supporting devices
such as steady and follower rests, and dead and revolving tailstock centers. These valuable
attachments make internal and external machining operations on long workpiece possible on
lathe.

Steady rest
This is used to support long thin workpieces
during machining. These help to eliminate
the workpiece tend to vibrate, bend and
leave chatter marks. It is also used when a
long workpiece has to be machined on the
end face e.g, in drilling, boring or internal
thread cutting operation. The rest is
mounted on the slide rails of the lathe
machine. The workpiece must rotate exactly
"true" when the support jaws are tightened.
To avoid wear between the jaws and the
workpiece, the jaws are made of hardened
steel or plated with a layer of copper - tin
alloy (bronze), cemented carbide or plastic.
Steel rollers are also often used. The
component must be exactly round at the
bearing points (steady seat), otherwise the
ovality will be transferred to the entire
workpiece. Heavy cuts can be made by
using one or more steady rest along a
workpiece.
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Follower rest (back rest)

Because the lathe tool must be guided along

the entire length when machining long thin
workpieces, the rest must travel. The
follower rest is often used when cutting
threads on long and slender shaft. It is open
in part and has only two steadying jaws.
These prevent the workpiece from moving
away from the tool. The rest is screwed on
to the saddle of the lathe. The jaws are fixed
behind the point of machining on the part of
the workpiece which has already been
turned. When finishing a workpiece which is
already nearly exactly dimensioned, the rest
can also run before the tool. When turning
rough components, a steady seat is turned
on the workpiece, or an eightscrew chuck is
used. This must be aligned to run exactly
true.

Dead and revolving tailstock centers

Tailstock or lathe centers, are the most common devices for supporting workpieces in the
lathe. Most lathe centers have a tapered point with a 60° included angle to fit workpiece
holes with the same angle. The workpiece is supported between two centers, one in the
headstock spindle and one in the tailstock spindle. Centers for lathe work have standard
tapered shanks that fit directly into the tailstock and into the headstock spindle using a center
sleeve to convert the larger bore of the spindle to the smaller tapered size of the lathe center.
The centers are referred to as live centers or dead centers. A live center revolves with the
work and does not need to be lubricated and hardened. A dead center does not revolve with
the work and must be hardened and heavily lubricated when holding work. Live and dead

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centers commonly come in matched sets, with the hardened dead center marked with a
groove near the conical end point.

The ball bearing live center is a special center

mounted in a ball bearing housing that lets the
center turn with the work and eliminates the need
for a heavily lubricated dead center. Ball bearing
types of centers can have interchangeable points
which make this center a versatile tool in all lathe
operations.

The male center or plain center is used in pairs

for most general lathe turning operations. The point
is ground to a 60° cone angle.

The half male center is a male center that has a

portion of the 60° cone cut away. The half male
center is used as a dead center in the tailstock
where facing is to be performed. The cutaway
portion of the center faces the cutting tool and
provides the necessary clearance for the tool when
facing the surface immediately around the drilled
center in the workpiece.

The V-center is used to support round workpieces

at right angles to the lathe axis for special
operations such as drilling or reaming.

The pipe center is similar to the male center but its cone is ground to a greater angle and is
larger in size. It is used for holding pipe and tubing in the lathe.

The female center is conically bored at the tip and is used to support workpieces that are
pointed on the end.

self driving center is a center that has grips installed on the outer edge of the center
diameter that can be forced into the work to hold and drive the work when turning between
centers without using lathe dogs.

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Question Sheet

1. Name the two kinds of jaws used on a fixedsteady:

a. for lightworkpieces:………………………………………

b. for heavy workpieces:…………………………………..

2. A fixedsteady supports:

a………………………..
b………………………..
c………………………..

3. When turning long workpieces, the following is used:

a. sleeve
b. change gear rotatable mounting arm.
c. slide rest.
d. steady.
e. bracket.

4. Name the two support devices used to prevent flexing of long, thin workpieces.
Explain how they are mounted.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..

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Answer Sheet

1. Name the two kinds of jaws used on a fixedsteady:

a. for lightworkpieces:………………………………………

b. for heavy workpieces:…………………………………..

2. A fixedsteady supports:

a………………………..
b………………………..
c………………………..

3. When turning long workpieces, the following is used:

a. sleeve
b. change gear rotatable mounting arm.
c. slide rest.
d. steady.
e. bracket.

4. Name the two support devices used to prevent flexing of long, thin workpieces.
Explain how they are mounted.

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Chapter 7

Setting / Alignment of
Centers

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course the student will be able to:

- Properly mount and remove the lathe centers

- align the lathe centers by visual, trial cut and dial indicator methods

Duration
1 Hour

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Chapter 7 Setting / Alignment of Centers

General

In order to machine a parallel diameter on work mounted between centers, it is important that
the headstock and tailstock centers be in a straight line and true to the centerline of the lathe.
If the lathe centers are not aligned, the diameter of the workpiece being turned will be
tapered (one end will be larger than the other). Facing while the centers are not aligned
produces surfaces which are not flat and square. Therefore, it is a good practice to
occasionally check the center alignment to ensure that the headstock center is concentric
with the tailstock center.

Tailstock out of line causing a tapered workpiece

The lathe tailstock is constructed in two halves, the baseplate and the tailstock body. The
baseplate is machined to fit on the ways of the lathe. The body is fitted on the baseplate and
maybe adjusted either towards or away from the cutting tool by means of two adjusting
screws. This allows the tailstock center to be adjusted for alignment with the headstock
center.

Before attempting to adjust the alignment of lathe centers, it is important that both the
headstock and tailstock centers be checked as follows:

1. Remove both centers and remove any nicks or burrs from the tapered shanks.
2. Examine the condition of the points of both centers.
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3. With a cloth, clean the tapered holes in the headstock and tailstock spindles. Check for
and remove any burrs found in the spindles.
4. Replace the centers.
5. Check the live center to see if it is running true.

After the centers are properly mounted and checked, they are aligned by any of the following
methods, depending on the accuracy required.

 By visually aligning the centerlines on the end of the tailstock

 By visually aligning the points of the live and dead centers

Note: The above methods should not be used where accuracy is required.

 By the trial cut method, in which a cut is taken at each end of the work, and the

finished diameters are checked with a micrometer.

 By using a parallel test bar and dial indicator.This is a fast and accurate method of
aligning lathe centers.

 By the use of a micro-set adjustable center, which is constructed to permit the center
to be offset slightly.

Methods of alligning the centers

i. Aligning Centers by Means of the Tailstock Graduations

Procedure;
1. Loosen the tailstock clamp lever or nut.

2. Loosen one of the adjusting screws and tighten the other, depending on the direction of
movement required. Continue adjusting the screws until the line on the tailstock body is in
line with the line on the baseplate.

3. Tighten the loose adjusting screw to hold the upper part of the tailstock in this position.

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Dead center is aligned approximately by the tailstock lines

ii. Aligning the Centers by the Visual Method

Procedure;
1. Loosen the tailstock clamp lever or nut.

2. Turn the tailstock handwheel until the tailstock spindle extends about 10mm.

3. Slide the tailstock to the left until the dead center is approximately 5mm from the live
center.

4. Turn the tailstock handwheel until the points of the centers almost touch.

5. Place a sheet of paper on the lathe bed under the centers.

6. Look down on top of the centers and check the alignment of the lathe center points.

7. Adjust the tailstock by means of the two adjusting screws until the points of both centers
are in line.

8. Tighten the loosened adjusting screw to keep the top section in position.

Live and dead centers may be aligned approximately

By the visual method

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iii. Aligning Centers by the Trial Cut Method

Procedure;

1. Mount the workpiece between the centers of the lathe.

2. Take a light cut at the tailstock end of the work (section A), deep enough to produce a
true diameter. The cut should be about 1/4" long.

3. Stop the automatic feed and note the reading on the graduated crossfeed collar.

4. Back the cutting tool away from the work using the crossfeed handle.

5. Move the carriage until the cutting tool is about 1" from the lathe dog. Be sure that the
lathe dog will not strike the compound' rest.

6. Turn the crossfeed handle until the graduated collar is at the same setting as it was for
section A.

7. Machine section B for about 1/2" long.

8. Stop the machine and measure both turned diameters with a micrometer.

9. The lathe centers are in alignment if the diameters at sections A and B are the same size.
If these diameters are different, the tailstock must be adjusted one-half the difference in
these two diameters:

a. Towards the cutting tool if the diameter at the tailstock end is larger

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b. A way from the cutting tool if the diameter at the tailstock end is smaller

10. Take another light cut from both sections A and B, using the same graduated collar
setting for each cut and measure the diameters.

11. Continue readjusting the tailstock and taking light trial cuts until both diameters are the
same size.

iv. Aligning the Centers Using a Test Bar and Dial Indicator

Procedure;

1. Clean the centers of the lathe and those in the test bar.

2. Mount the test bar snugly between the centers and tighten the tailstock spindle clamp.

3. Mount a dial indicator in the tool post or on the lathe carriage.

Note: The contact point should be on center and the indicator plunger should be in a
horizontal position.

4. Adjust the cross-slide so that the indicator needle registers about one-half a revolution on
diameter A at the tailstock end.

5. Move the carriage to the left by hand until the indicator registers on diameter B at the
headstock end. Note the indicator reading.

6. If the readings are not the same, move the carriage until the indicator again registers on
diameter A.

7. Loosen the tailstock clamp nut.

8. By means of the tailstock adjusting screws, move the tailstock in the proper direction the
difference between the indicator readings at sections A and B.

9. Tighten the loose adjusting screw to lock the upper part of the tailstock in place.

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Centers may be aligned quickly and

accurately by mean of a test bar and dial
indicator

10. Tighten the tailstock clamp nut and recheck to make sure that the test bar still fits snugly
between centers.

11. Repeat steps 4 to 10 until the indicator readings at sections A and 8 are the same.

v. Procedure: Aligning the Centers Using a Micro-set Adjustable Center

Procedure;

A micro-set adjustable center, which fits into the tailstock spindle, provides a fast and
accurate method of aligning lathe centers. Some of these centers contain an eccentric, while
others contain a dovetail slide which permits a slight adjustment of the center itself to correct
alignment.

1. Use either the trial cut or test bar and dial indicator method to determine the accuracy of
the center alignment.

2. Adjust the micro-set adjustable center the amount the centers are out of line.

A micro-set adjustable center allows lathe centers

to be aligned quickly and accurately

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Question sheet

1. Why is center-alignment very important for lathe machines?

………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………...

2. Why do we need test bar in center-alignment?

……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..

3. What would happen to the workpiece if the alignment is a little bit out of track?

…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Why the two methods visual method and Tailstock graduations method are not
considered accurate and precise method to align the lathe center?

…………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………….

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Aswer sheet

1. Why is center-alignment very important for lathe machines?

………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………...

2. Why do we need test bar in center-alignment?

……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..

3. What would happen to the workpiece if the alignment is a little bit out of track?

…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Why the two methods visual method and Tailstock graduations method are not
considered accurate and precise method to align the lathe center?

…………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………….

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