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Nichols Lathe Tailstock

C

craterdog

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Aug 21, 2007
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I recently bought a used Nichols lathe with a 40" swing and am in the process of getting it set up and tuned up. I'm having a problem getting the tailstock adjusted so it's lined up with the spindle properly. I can get a live center point to line up with the point of a drive spur but I think the tailstock is not properly aligned on the ways of the bed. The reason for this is if I chuck a piece on the lathe and bring the tailstock up to support the piece, the point of the live center is off of the center of the piece. I've checked the spindle in the headstock and it's running true. Is it a trial and error process to adjust the tailstock or are there a set of steps to take to make the adjustment? Could it be as simple as chucking a piece of wood on another lathe and making sure the centers are clearly marked and then moving it over to the Nichols and adjusting the tailstock to fit the established centers? Many thanks for any suggestions.
Tim Carter
 
Hello Craterdog.......(great name....what's the story?)

Are you saying the alignment between drive spur and revolving tailstock center are in spec at that distance, but not so for other distances between centers?

If you are using a piece of wood clamped into the jaws of your chuck to verify your findings, that will naturally introduce some amount of natural variation......a straight steel bar would be better for the purposes of checking alignment.

let us know

ooc
 
You don't say how far off center the tail stock and live center point are. A couple of things from my experience are:

  • Live centers can sometimes not be manufactured true to the Morse taper. Try bringing the center point to your piece, making a dimple, then retracting it. Knock it out carefully and reinsert it about 180 degrees from where it was. Bring it back to the piece and see if the point of contact matches.
  • Large lathe beds do flex a small amount if they aren't placed level on the floor. This is a common issue with Stubby 750's as the steel stand can flex causing the cast iron frame to flex, etc., etc. Fixed bed lathes of any brand will do this in some amount as well. I imagine a Nichols would flex some if one leg were off the same plane as the others.
 
Centers lined up ?? Why

If the centers do not line up you will be turning a taper......if you are using a carriage. But if this is a wood lathe it would not have a carriage, I don't think.

I would think the machine should be level and all corners down firmly on to the floor, best to be bolted to the floor. I don't think that if the centers don't line up I can't see how it would make any difference.

I once saw two (2) PM 3520B's head stock to head stock not lined up more than eyeball. both attached to one giant log. One ran forward the other ran in reverse. and the operator did a beautiful job.

Good Luck and Happy Turning.

Dave
 
On most lathes, when the centers aren't lined up, it's because the bed is twisted, as Waltben pointed out. In your case, it's probably more difficult. As a fabricated "weldors" lathe, your headstock spindle and/or the tailstock quill aren't aligned with the bed axis and each other, and may be twisted as well.

I have fixed a couple of these. As I recall, I turned a long cylinder in a chuck, without the tailstock. You could chuck a piece of pipe or similar and fiddle with it until it runs pretty true. Stand on a stool or ladder and sight down the cylinder along the bed. You can see the mis-alignment, and can loosen the pillow blocks and shift the spindle to align it. You can extend the tailstock quill an sight along it the same way.

Remember that just because the points touch at some point doesn't mean a thing, and that the axis of the tailstock and spindle must be the same, and parallel to the bed axis.

ALL lathes are susceptible to twist, including lathes like the Oneway with their reputed stiffness. Put the lathe on a floor that's not level and it will twist. Each leg needs to be adjusted and should touch the floor evenly.

John
 
Thank you, very much for all of the suggestions! I'm going to make sure the lathe is level and then check to make sure both spindles are in line and parallel to the axis of the bed.
Tim Carter
 
Another possibility is to use a laser in a drill chuck on the tail stock. I use a laser finder from these guys in milling and it may work here.

http://www.lasercenteredgefinder.com/

If the bed isn't perpendicular to the head, you will have a real hard time aligning though.
 
I have Nichols lathe also.

When purchased from John Nichols, the lathes were provided with a video on setting up the lathe and alighing the centers.

Like you, I purchase mine used. If anybody know the existance of the tape, Tim & I would like a copy. I am sure John Nichols would be OK with making a copy for us!
 
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