Am i asking too much from my lathe??

[biguglycaprice]

I've got an old atlas 10x48 that I'm having some trouble with. I'm turning down a 2" round that is 18" long, it's cr 1018. I have it in a 4 jaw chuck and a live center. I have the babbit bearings shimmed correctly, all the gibs are adjusted, using a quick-change tool post, and I am using sharp tools (hss and carbide, doesn't make much of a difference) centered on the work piece.

My problem is chatter. I'm fine for the first 8" and the last 3", but the 5" in the middle are currently unmachineable.

I've tried all the different spindle speeds, feed speeds, and cutting depths.

So have I asked too much of the lathe???

The only thing I can think of is flipping it around in the chuck to finish the piece.

thanks

 

[Old Iron]

I was having that problem the other day turning the same stuff, After trying everything else I tightened the pressure on the tail stock and it was ok. You mite give that a try.

Paul

 

[biguglycaprice]

I tried that as well thinking that was all it needed, no such luck. The only other thing I can think of is that I need to mount the lathe more securely, but since I'm moving in a month, that's not going to happen for this piece. Right now it's bolted to an old door that's on top of a tool box and some very large concrete pipes that are used as columns.

 

[biguglycaprice]

I figured it out... Spindle end-play and it wasn't off by more than a 1/12th of a rotation. I don't normally turn real long thick rounds so this is one of those that slipped by me.

And I do have some wear on the ways that will need to be dealt with at some point, the saddle binds a little towards the end of the bed on the edges where you can still see all the factory crosshatching.


Thanks