Question about a dead center

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triw51

triw51

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Feb 14, 2012
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407 East Cottonwood Drive, Cottonwood AZ
I would like to try turning between centers and am looking for a non morse taper dead center. I am using an Atlas metal lathe which has a 3 jaw chuck for the head. The only dead centers I have or have found on line have morse tapers. No matter how hard I try I cannot get the dead center to fit in the 3 jaw chuck with out wobble. Any ideas?
 
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RHerrel made one for me that fits into a 3/4 ER32 collet. I forgot the price, but I remember it being quiet reasonably prices. This center would also fit into a scroll chuck. It works perfectly for me.

Your post reminds me that I could use another of these as a spare, as mine gets used daily.
 
You could buy a "Turret Socket/Sleeve" to hold your MT dead center, its sleeve that has a morse taper hole, and is straight on the outside. You just hold it in your chuck.

Did a quick search and found this page as an example but they are not in the states, but there are more suppliers that have them.

precision live centre revolving centre,drill drift,drill sleeves,extension sockets,solid sockets,turret sockets,threaded shank for boring,manufacturer,manufacturers,suppliers,supplier,exporter,exporters,india

Bottom of the page.

You can also look at machinery suppliers in your area, maybe second hand or used machinery sales. Used to use them a lot on turret lathes.
Or just make a dead center might be easier.
 
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You could put a piece of doweling in the chuck and turn the dowel to fit your pen tube.

OR slope it, so it is universal fit.
 
triw51 said:
I would like to try turning between centers and am looking for a non morse taper dead center. I am using an Atlas metal lathe which has a 3 jaw chuck for the head. The only dead centers I have or have found on line have morse tapers. No matter how hard I try I cannot get the dead center to fit in the 3 jaw chuck with out wobble. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Get one of these:
TAPER SOCKET
stick your dead center in it.
you'll be set as long as your chuck can accept the 1" o.d. of the adapter.
I have one and use it for the same purpose as what you want to do.

as a side note, the dead center I use has a short cylindrical section just behind the nose angle, it can be chucked on also.
It does make a short protrusion though, which can be a pain.

John
 
which atlas lathe do you have? Or do you just not want to take the 3 jaw chuck off to use the dead center?
 
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Why not just make one? you have a metal lathe with a 3 jaw chuck, so why not get a piece of 1 inch or 3/4 round, about 2 inches long, chuck up about an inch, Set your compound to 30 degrees and start turning, Oh the first thing I would do is turn the 1 inch piece to 3/4 for about an inch, This is the end you'll hold in your chuck you can leave a 16th or so clear of the jaws, and turn a good square shoulder, chuck up on the 3/4 inch and THEN start turning it down for your dead center. Any steel will work, cold rolled, or 12l14 will be easier to turn, especially the 12l14 you can get it from online metals . com, or swing by a machine shop, they should have some scrap they will give you.Donughts are a good bribe, really make friends and give some one there a pen.
 
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