Tailstock Alignment on Micromark 7x14 Mini Lathe

[mrequivocal]

Hey, Thank you for the video. It helped me quite a bit. Keep up the GREAT work!

[marekszczur]

new Brown and sharp co-axial inicator $300 but the best

[123HURST]

Were you locking the tailstock quill when it was cranked all the way out?

[saunixcomp]

@123HURST Cannot remember - but I don't think so.

[fgleich]

@saunixcomp yes you did, rewatch the vid

[Schmetty87]

Ill give you credit for going through the trouble of getting your machine set accurate but why not spend the money on a quality machine with some actual power and capacity such as a Hardinge chucker

[saunixcomp]

@Schmetty87 Why? Because, at the time, this lathe was in my 2BR manhattan hi-rise apartment!

[applejak2000]

@Schmetty87

Some people are homeshop machinists (like me for example) who might build things like 1/4 scale internal combustion engines, steam engines etc so buying a Hardinge Chucker with all your so-called power and capacity would be major overkill and a complete waste of money. If you were doing a little landscaping and needed to move a few yards of soil, of would you buy a dumptruck? Why don't you study the homeshop machinist market before making dunderhead comments.

[colt4667]

Not good practice to indicate off the body of a jacobs chuck. Put a short piece of drill rod in the chuck and indicate off the rod. Regards.

[powershop1903]

Indicating a jacobs chuck? Try again. Just take a cut.

[powershop1903]

Indicating a jacobs chuck? Try again.

[kcelery]

For the rest of us, a coax is a luxury. May be some instrument company could come up with a digital indicator which beams out the reading. Then we don't need this coax indicator any more. Just tighten an indicator to the chuck and allow it to rotate. The reading could be read by interpreting the signal from the digital indicator.

[applejak2000]

@kcelery

Coaxial indicators are really not that expensive, maybe $60 on amazon. Since you can use it for so many tasks on the lathe AND the mill, I really can't imagine why you call it a luxury, unless you're very poor.

[alehax27]

where did you purchase your coax indicator?

[spudzwon]

Did you forget to take the storage ring off the left side of the body? That will restrict the range of movement.

[trailblazer33079]

if you want a tip from a journeyman tool and die maker here it is. When you indicate something in a 4 jaw. You need to make sure it is straight as well. just indicating it in one spot for roundness is not a good way to make sure your chucked piece is running completely true. You need to either check the diameter in two different spots or check the diameter and face of the piece.

[saunixcomp]

I appreciate it - thanks!

[trailblazer33079]

if you have any questions just ask.

[KevinMillard68]

@saunixcomp if your eyes are really good still you can also use a dead centre in the tail stock and in the chuck , this is how i still do it while my eyes are still good and mine is bang on its a bit tricky but works as well, you are also on the right track to

[saunixcomp]

@KevinMillard68 Sounds like it's less of a hassle, but I can't imagine relying on my eyes!

[Doggitter]

and your tailstock alignment will probably change when you bolt the lathe to a table

[EvilWeevilAnime]

... really you should only focus on the horizontal and dial it in a 0.0005 or less. The vertical really isn't that important and 0.002 - 0.003 is perfectly acceptable.

[EvilWeevilAnime]

I've seen it done that with a 5C collet and coax indicator but that is pretty slick using a 4-jaw.

Nice mini lathe .... one of the nicer ones I've seen.

[tiredfingers22]

If I install a precision rod in the headstock with a half thousandth inch run out, wont I get a much larger run out when I measure towards the tailstock?

[saunixcomp]

FYI - I just posted a follow-up video to this video where I use both a dial indicator and a dial test indicator mounted on the carriage to check alignment of the tailstock.

[baccus61]

Some handy tips for small lathe users.

Keep up the good work.

Now lets see what good stuff you can make with it.