Any one care to share their design or experience modifing conventional live centers to accomodate shaft turning. Dedicated Logan 11x36 with PC laminate trimmer running on permanent shaft or butt bars using both 3-wing or 2 flute cutters. The short travel 36" CtoC requires the cutter to clear the 30" full shaft cut without touching the turning centers. This lathe tail stock quill is #2MT so I drilled and reamed a 0.3125" hole about 2.5" centered into a 2MT center...dropped a 5/16 OD steel ball in to the hole then a 6" x 0.3125" pointed drill rod for centering. Works OK but still has about 0.002 TIR at the support when running as a live center against the steel ball. When I put a spring and stop collar on the center rod it lifts the rod off the ball and dosen't spin apparently due to the friction of the spring ends. So... whats more important... spring loading or free spin if I can't have both...maybe neither...sandpaper still takes any chatter the router leaves.. Thanks lazy qsmith Ken Ken Quarters @ Q-Spot Billiards, Tulsa, OK.
spring loaded live center
- Thread starter ken ken quarter
- Start date
Use a smaller center hole in the wood and just use a live center designed to be held with the 2MT. If you want (need) a little extra room at the tail end use a live center designed to be used in a cnc application. These have a longer point. ENCO is a good source. I just use a regular live center and all is good.