Tailstock mt taper

[God mode restorations]

Hi guys .
Just a question .is it possible to change the taper on a tailstock. For instance an mt1 to an mt3 . I have seen taper conversion bits but wondering if it's possible to re machine .

 

[Spark plug]

If there is enough meat in the barrel I don’t see why it couldn’t be done, but to go from a 1mt to a 3mt is a big jump.

 

[Bill Edwards]

You must have a pretty thick and long tailstock if there's room for a MT3 when originally it was a 1.
But if there's space it's just a matter of holding the job accurately and turning the correct angle, or you can get reamers for the MT size which should get it bang on.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I agree with the above posts, I wouldn't have thought there will be enough metal for such a big jump. If using a converter the torque is still being transmitted back to the number one.

 

[optima21]

if its a 1MT socket, you'd need to drill/bore it out and then use a 3MT reamer to cut the new taper

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catal...Reamers/Morse-Taper-Finishing-Machine-Reamers

 

[Shox Dr]

Replacing the whole quill would be a damn sight cheaper. You might be lucky and find a ER series straight extension the same dia as your quill

 

[brightspark]

if the lathe only had a 1mt it wont be a massive machine. id just bore it out and ream to a no 2. if 3 was needed now and then just get a no 2 to 3 adaptor . they work fine unless u need to drill something that is long and haven't the length

 

[Spark plug]

Also on another note, to do it you would also have to overcome the issue of the tail stock screw ejecting the taper before the barrel is fully retracted, as the longer taper will be ejected earlier.

 

[frank horton]

similar answer to the above BUT if the machine was never fitted with an MT2or3 taper, it's not heavy enough anyway......most manufacturers always go the bigger route where poss as tooling is cheaper on the bigger sizes.......
Suppose a later model may have an MT2, then see if u can get a later model tailstock that fits.......

 

[Bill Edwards]

Thinking about it I think I'd probably look at making a new tailstock quill that had the extra length to ensure you had a good range of travel with correct ejection. When wound in it would be a little longer than the original but with the full range of travel, plus the bonus of keeping the original if you ever need it. I'm thinking it must be a pretty small lathe so at some point the length may be important?

Why do you want to go to MT3, have you got loads of tooling for that size already?

 

[God mode restorations]

Also on another note, to do it you would also have to overcome the issue of the tail stock screw ejecting the taper before the barrel is fully retracted, as the longer taper will be ejected earlier.

It's an mt1 taper. But it ejecting just before the quill is fully retracted

 

[God mode restorations]

Sorry for the late reply.
I have a selection of different tooling with different tapers. From mt1 to mt3. I have adapters to use different tapers .the original Mellor lathe has mt1. It's not an issue but would prefer to have all tooling the same taper and as more is available for mt2 mt3. I was wondering if to get a new quill machined .but probably restricted to my diamiter of quill

 

[Bill Edwards]

So the difference in length between the two sizes would be how much earlier the tailstock would eject, I reckon.
But first do some careful measuring, I really would be surprised if there's space for this.

Might end up turning down all the mt2/3 stuff to 1

 

[brightspark]

So the difference in length between the two sizes would be how much earlier the tailstock would eject, I reckon.
But first do some careful measuring, I really would be surprised if there's space for this.

Might end up turning down all the mt2/3 stuff to 1

a lot of stuff wont grip on 1mt specially taper drills over half inch

 

[Bill Edwards]

a lot of stuff wont grip on 1mt specially taper drills over half inch

Hit it in harder with the soft hammer

It might be possible to go up in size, at least a bit.
But consideration to how big a drill it can handle needs to be considered, a bigger centre, drill chuck etc is fine but how big a drill can the machine actually handle?

There's the obvious of how powerful the motor and drivetrain is when it comes to removing lots of metal, but also how good is the chuck able to grip the workpiece?
When metal is to be removed for bigger holes on a small machine there's got to be a point where it's time to use a boring bar to take reasonable sized bites.

 

[brightspark]

half a dozen slips soon wreck your taper. u can only clean it up with a taper reamer a few times

 

[Seadog]

I have a selection of different tooling with different tapers. From mt1 to mt3. I have adapters to use different tapers .the original Mellor lathe has mt1. It's not an issue but would prefer to have all tooling the same taper and as more is available for mt2 mt3. I was wondering if to get a new quill machined

You need another lathe Spencer

 

[God mode restorations]

You need another lathe Spencer

Yes. A bigger one. Something a bit bigger than the Colchester student

 

[addjunkie]

You need another lathe Spencer

Maybe two....

 

[zx9]

Yes. A bigger one. Something a bit bigger than the Colchester student

Does the Colchester only have a 1MT tailstock? I had assumed it was the ML10 you were trying to modify.