Tailstock alignment buttons

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Jul 29, 2016, 11:38 AM
mklotz

Tailstock alignment buttons

Proper alignment of the tailstock axis to the lathe spindle axis is essential to parallel turning on the lathe. Horizontal alignment is far more important than vertical and that is why most tailstocks are fitted with a mechanism for moving the axis horizontally but have no vertical adjustment.

There are numerous ways to calibrate alignment but a simple and effective way is to use alignment buttons, which you can make yourself on the lathe. Let's discuss the tools and their use first and then I'll comment on how to construct them.

The two buttons look like this...

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/f...he/70130-1.jpg

The larger diameter portions are precisely the same diameter.

They have center holes on the smaller diameter ends like this...

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/f...he/70130-2.jpg

In use, the two buttons are mounted between centers using the center holes and the larger diameter parts face-to-face. Now, if the tailstock is misaligned the buttons won't quite align radially. A micrometer placed across the line where they join will show a reading larger than the diameter of the buttons.

One adjusts the tailstock setover until the micrometer reading across the join line is the same as the large diameter. When this is true the tailstock is aligned.

Now, how to make them...

To ensure that the measurement buttons are the same diameter, make the buttons as one piece. Take a piece of stock and center in a 4jaw. Turn down one end and center drill. Reverse in the chuck and recenter, then turn down the other end and center drill. Turn the larger diameter center section.

Cut the piece in half and face the cut ends and you've got your tool.

BONUS HINT:

Lots of folks, myself included, are reluctant to go through the hassle of chuck removal and center mounting to turn a piece between centers.

Leave the 3jaw in place. Put a piece of steel in it and turn a 60 deg point on it by angling the compound rest. As long as you don't remove it and replace it, this center will be as accurate, perhaps more accurate, than the supplied headstock center.

With the chuck jaws there, fabricating a dog to drive the workpiece gets easy. Many times I've drilled a hole in a waste area and inserted a pin long enough to bear on the chuck jaw.
Jul 30, 2016, 07:35 AM
Ed ke6bnl

great post and thanks for the detailed info on order of operation to make these button, for sure on my todo list.
Jul 31, 2016, 05:51 AM
DIYer


Thanks mklotz! We've added your Tailstock Alignment Buttons to our Measuring and Marking category,
as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/tailstock-alignment-buttons"> <img src="/uploads/154733/tailstock-alignment-buttons.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/tailstock-alignment-buttons">Tailstock Alignment Buttons</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/mklotz">mklotz</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/alignment'>alignment</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/tailstock'>tailstock</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
Dec 17, 2017, 06:36 PM
ncollar

Marv
We all need to keep up with you and your mastery of metal. Very nice idea and one more project.
Thank you
Nelson
Dec 17, 2017, 08:18 PM
mklotz

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncollar

Marv
We all need to keep up with you and your mastery of metal. Very nice idea and one more project.
Thank you
Nelson

Thanks. I'll look forward to seeing pictures of your copy soon.
Dec 18, 2017, 08:54 AM
Ralphxyz

I'd like to see a video of them being used. Thanks for posting!!

Ralph
Dec 20, 2017, 08:20 AM
ragsflh

great idea thanks
May 6, 2018, 05:56 PM
zarembak

How you guy's come up with all this good info I don't know. Keep it coming.
May 6, 2018, 05:57 PM
zarembak

I agree. A video would help a lot.
May 6, 2018, 07:34 PM
paulandreasen@gmail.com

To make even more certain they are the exact same diameter, don't turn down both ends. Turn them out of a longer piece and then cut both off off it. Even if everything is done right there is a tiny chance of misalignment between the two end if turned around. Anytime you want EXACT concentricity between multiple parts, especially outside dimensions, make them ALL at one time, on the same piece of stock, THEN cut them out. Even a few tens out from a tighter chuck on one end can cause a difference in alignment. (Yes, home machinists hardly care about that much accuracy, but why settle for less when it is so easy to have NO differences?
Paul Andreasen
May 7, 2018, 08:00 AM
ncollar

Sometimes there are thing that come up that just stir me. WE ARE NONE NASA ENGINEERS or will we be. A few thousands will not hurt anything.
When we look at blueprints they tell us how many of those "0" we can delete. Not everything has to be within 0.0002 - 0.0000
Nelson
Sep 6, 2018, 10:06 PM
Floradawg

Thanks Mklots,

I will make a set. When turning between centers I have always turned a 60 degree angle on a piece of round stock chucked up. It is the easiest way and like you said probably the most accurate. It helps to have a step on it to keep it from moving into the chuck.
Apr 28, 2022, 08:39 PM
Paul Alciatore

I know this is an old post, but it's a great idea. I am glad I ran across it. Thanks!
Apr 29, 2022, 11:12 AM
mklotz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Alciatore

I know this is an old post, but it's a great idea. I am glad I ran across it. Thanks!

Thanks, Paul. It's a great deal quicker than turning a test piece between centers, measuring the resulting taper, and then trying to calculate the required tailstock setover, set up a DI to measure the required movement and then repeat all this until no taper is turned.

Short tapers are best turned using the compound. For longer tapers, an offsetable (is that a word?) tailstock center is worth building if one has more than a few tapers to make. Once I have the tailstock aligned, I hate to offset it so the offsetable style appeals to me.

For the benefit of folks who may not be familiar with them, use Google Images with a search term of

offsetable tailstock center

to see pictures of what I'm on about. [Google seems to understand 'offsetable' so I guess it is a word.]

and, of course, Amazon sells them...

https://www.amazon.com/IMPROVED-TURN...%2C117&sr=8-35

https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Sha...%2C117&sr=8-36
Apr 29, 2022, 06:37 PM
Floradawg

Quote:

Originally Posted by mklotz

Thanks, Paul. It's a great deal quicker than turning a test piece between centers, measuring the resulting taper, and then trying to calculate the required tailstock setover, set up a DI to measure the required movement and then repeat all this until no taper is turned.

Short tapers are best turned using the compound. For longer tapers, an offsetable (is that a word?) tailstock center is worth building if one has more than a few tapers to make. Once I have the tailstock aligned, I hate to offset it so the offsetable style appeals to me.

For the benefit of folks who may not be familiar with them, use Google Images with a search term of

offsetable tailstock center

to see pictures of what I'm on about. [Google seems to understand 'offsetable' so I guess it is a word.]

and, of course, Amazon sells them...

https://www.amazon.com/IMPROVED-TURN...%2C117&sr=8-35

https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Sha...%2C117&sr=8-36

Thanks for the links. I didn't know about these. Might buy the cheaper one.