A tailstock is usually made of a heavy, durable material, such as for making rifle barrels.
A tailstock is a device found on both motor and wood lathes, and occasionally on different types of milling machines. Tailstocks run along the longitudinal axis or X-axis of the lathe base. They have the ability to serve a wide variety of purposes, but are generally used to convert a piece of metal between centers. Not only does this improve the accuracy of the turning process, but it can also help prevent chatter, which occurs when metal begins to bend as it is turned.
Tailstocks run along the longitudinal axis or X-axis of the lathe base.
Counterpoint generally consists of five different components. The first component is the body, which makes up the majority of the device. The body is attached to an adjustable base below it, which runs the length of the vise bed. A feed screw is used to drive the tailstock, which is rotated by a handwheel located at the rear of the fixture.
On some lathes, the speed at which the device travels along the platform can be controlled with built-in reduction gears. Once the device has been moved to a desired location, it is locked into place with a lever. The workpiece is then attached to the tailstock shaft, which holds the workpiece in place at its center of rotation.
A tailstock is usually made of a heavy and durable material, such as cast iron, due to its frequent use and importance. During use, a center vise is mounted on the inner end of the device, helping to hold the workpiece while it is turning. This is especially useful for larger lathes where the capacity between centers is exceptionally long. This allows longer workpieces, such as rifle barrels, to be properly clamped during machining. Long pieces of unshielded material can not only cause vibration, but can also affect turning accuracy.
While the tailstock is primarily used to rotate between centers, it can also serve other equally important purposes. Tailstocks can be equipped with different types of bits and tools. This makes the tailstocks capable of drilling, boring and tapping.
A tailstock drill consists of a bit set in the same area where the spindle would be. As the piece rotates, the tailstock remains stationary. It can then be used to drill holes into the workpiece as it moves up and down on the lathe base. For finishing or larger jobs, a boring bar can be mounted in the same manner and used for boring procedures.
To thread the ends of the stock, a tailstock die can also be used. This is similar to what you would find in a tap and die set, but these are specially made with set screws to hold them securely in place. Like the drilling and boring processes, the tailstock remains stationary while the workpiece rotates. However, during this type of procedure, the part typically rotates at much lower speeds.