PowerPoint to accompany

Technology of Machine Tools

6th Edition

Krar • Gill • Smid

Steady Rests, Follower

Rests, and Mandrels
Unit 56

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 56-2

Steady Rest
• Used to support long, slender work and
prevent it from springing while being
machined between centers or when
machining end of workpiece held in chuck
• Fastened to lathe bed; three jaws provide
support
– Usually soft material to prevent damage to work
– Others have roller attached to jaws for support
 56-3

Procedure to Set Up
a Steady Rest
1. Mount work between centers OR set up
and true work in chuck
2. If work not round, turn true spot on
diameter at point where steady rest will be
supporting work
• If impossible to turn true diameter because of
workpiece shape, mount and adjust a cathead
on the work
 56-4

3. Move carriage to tailstock end of lathe

4. Place steady rest on lathe bed at desired
position
5. Adjust lower two jaws to work diameter,
using paper feeler to provide clearance
between jaws and work
6. Slide steady rest to desired position and
fasten it in place
7. Close top section of steady rest and adjust
top jaw, using paper feeler
 56-5

8. Apply suitable lubricate to diameter at

steady rest jaws
9. Start lathe and carefully adjust each jaw
until it just touches diameter
10. Tighten lock screw on each jaw and then
apply suitable lubricant
11. Before machining, indicate the top and
front of the turned diameter at chuck and
at steady rest to check for alignment
 56-6

Follower Rest
• Mounted on the saddle
• Moves along with carriage to prevent work
from springing up and away from cutting
tool
• Positioned immediately behind cutting tool
• Can be used to support long work for
successive operations (such as thread
cutting)
 56-7

Procedure to Set
Up a Follower Rest
1. Mount work between centers
2. Fasten follower rest to saddle of lathe
3. Position cutting tool in toolpost so that it
is just to left of follower rest jaws
4. Turn work diameter, for approximately
1.50 in. long, to desired size
 56-8

5. Adjust both jaws of follower rest until

they lightly contact turned diameter
6. Tighten lock screw on each jaw
7. Lubricate work and follower rest jaws to
prevent marring finished diameter
8. If successive cuts are required to reduce
diameter of workpiece, readjust the
follower rest jaws as in steps 4 to 7
 56-9

Mandrel
• Precision tool that, when pressed into hole
of workpiece, provides centers for a
machining operation
• Valuable for thin work (flanges, pulleys, etc.)

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 56-10

Characteristics of a
Standard Mandrel
1. Mandrels hardened and ground and tapered .006
to .008 in./ft
2. Nominal size near middle, small end .001 in.
under; large end .004 over nominal size
3. Both ends turned smaller than body and provided
with flat to keep lathe dog from damaging
accuracy of mandrel
4. Size of mandrel stamped on large end
5. Center holes large enough to provide good
bearing surface and to withstand machining strain
 56-11

Solid Mandrel
• Available for most of standard hole sizes
• General-purpose used for variety of
workpieces

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 56-12

Expansion Mandrel
• Consists of sleeve, with four or more slots cut
lengthwise, fitted over solid mandrel
• Taper pin fits into sleeve
to expand it to hold work
• Another form
has slotted bushing
fitting over tapered
mandrel
– Increases range

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 56-13

Gang Mandrel
• Used to hold number of identical parts for
machining operation
• Body parallel and has shoulder or flange
on one end; other end threaded for locking
nut

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 56-14

Threaded Mandrel
• Used for holding workpieces having a
threaded hole
• Undercut at shoulder ensures workpiece
will seat squarely
• Not Canted on threads

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 56-15

Taper-Shank Mandrel
• May be fitted to tapered hold in headstock
spindle
• Projecting portion may be machined to any
desired form to suit workpiece
• Often used for small workpieces or those
that have blind holes

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 56-16

Procedure to Mount Work on a

Plain Mandrel
1. Secure mandrel to fit hole in workpiece
2. Thoroughly
clean and
apply oil 3. Clean and remove
any burrs

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 56-17

4. Start small end of mandrel (large end has

size stamped on it) into hole by hand
5. Place work on arbor
press with machined
surface down so hole is
at right angles to table
surface
6. Press mandrel firmly
into workpiece

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 56-18

Procedure to Turn
Work on a Mandrel
1. Fasten lathe dog on large end of mandrel
• Work held in position by friction
2. Clean lathe and mandrel centers and mount work
3. Use paper feeler between toolbit point and
mandrel for setting toolbit (facing entire side)
4. When turning outside diameter of work, always
cut toward large end of mandrel
5. Take light cuts to prevent work from slipping on
mandrel on large-diameter work
 56-19

Eccentrics
• Shaft that may have two or more turned
diameters parallel to each other
– Not concentric with normal axis of work
• Used in locking devices, in feed mechanism
on some machines, and in crank shaft of
automobiles
– Where necessary to convert rotary motion into
reciprocating motion
 56-20

Eccentric
• Amount of eccentricity (throw) is distance
set of center holes has been offset from
normal work axis
– If center holes offset .250 in. from work axis,
amount of throw would be .250 in and total
travel of eccentric would be .500 in.
 56-21

Three Types of Eccentrics

1. When throw enables all centers to be
located on ends of workpiece
2. When throw is too small to allow all
centers to be located on workpiece at
same time
3. When throw is so great that all centers
cannot be located on workpiece
 56-22

Procedure to Turn Eccentric with

a .375-in. or 10-mm Throw
1. Place work in chuck and face it to length
• If center holes are to be removed later, leave
work .750 in. longer
2. Place work in V-block on surface plate and
apply layout dye to both ends of work
3. Set vernier height gage to top of work and
note reading
4. Subtract half work diameter from reading
and set gage to this dimension
 56-23

5. Scribe centerline on both ends of work

6. Rotate work 90º and scribe another
centerline on both ends at same height-
gage setting

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 56-24

7. Lower or raise height-gage setting .375

in. and scribe lines for offset centers on
both ends
8. Carefully center-punch four scribed
centers and drill center holes in each end
9. Mount work in lathe and turn diameter
with true centers
10. Set work on offset centers and turn
eccentric (center section) to required
diameter
 56-25

Procedure to Cut an Eccentric

With a Small Throw
1. Cut work .750 in. longer than required
2. Face ends and drill one set of center holes in
lathe
3. Mount work between centers and turn large
diameter to size
4. Cut off ends to remove center holes
5. Lay out and drill new set of center holes,
offsetting them from center position to required
throw
6. Turn eccentric diameter to size
 56-26

Procedure to Turn an Eccentric

With a Large Throw
1. Set work on normal centers and turn both ends
to size
2. Secure or make set of support blocks.
• Hole in support block should fit turned ends snugly
3. Align both support blocks parallel on work and
lock them in position
4. Counterbalance lathe to prevent undue vibration
5. Turn various diameters as required
 56-27

Setup Required for Turning an

Eccentric with a Large Throw
A setscrew in each block used to securely fasten support
blocks to the work. The number of centers required should
be laid out and drilled in the support blocks.

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