Live Center Rating - What does it really mean?

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November X-ray

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I received a new Medium Duty MT1 Live Center today that I bought off of Ebay last week, it came from Shars and was less than 15 bucks delivered. I bought it to go on my wood lathe to try my hand at metal spinning so cheap was my main criteria. It came with a "manufactures certificate" that says the accuracy is 0.001 and the rated load is 200 pounds. This got me to thinking about what this load rating really means. Does this mean it will hold a workpiece that weighs 200 pounds? Or does it mean it handles 200 pounds worth of radial force? How about the centrifical force (yes I know the lathe would topple over with much imbalance). Considering it is marked "medium duty" it makes me wonder what is the deciding factors for light, medium, and heavy duties?

Just curious as I know this cheap component will serve my limited needs, but I do need a new MT2 live center for my 9 x 20 and I plan on buying a high quality unit for it.

Thanks in advance for your replies!
 
It's always been my understanding that the rating indicates the weight of the workpiece it will safely support. I don't recall seeing any related ratings regarding end thrust, balance of load, but sometimes seems I remember seeing speed mentioned, so I concluded that applied only to the bearing and lube. I'll look around. Have you look at any of the manufacturers sites for definitions of the specifications? Try Royal or Skoda...some place like that.
 
I looked at both Skoda and Royal, and they each give both a workpiece weight limit and other load ratings. Coincidentally, Royal has a "value" series that shows an accuracy of 0.00005 that goes for $186, Skoda has one that sales for $150. Not that it makes that big of a difference to me, but is the Royal unit really worth more than the Skoda?
 
Well, I have a near new Royal that is reserved for critical work that probably does run that close, and an older Skoda that I use pretty rough sometimes, but still runs within 0.001 I dunno about the price, but it may be worth it. The Skoda didn't stay that tight for all that long. It was about as good to begin with.
 
If you're shopping, look at Roofe, and Riten also. Of course, there are many alternatives to the premium brands. Even some of them offer a budget product line, and there are the house brands that MSC and Enco, Travers, Wholesale Tools and all sell. It all depends on how accurate you need, and how long you need it to hold that accuracy.
 
My current MT2 Live Center is about 15 years old and although I do not know the brand, it was around $90 to $100 back then and the last time I used it I noticed it deflected quite a bit as I worked near the tailstock. I unscrewed the covering plate and found shavings inside even though it is sealed. I assume the bearing(s) crapped out and perhaps I can simply install new bearings, but I have to find the replacements and it may be simpler and easier to just throw down on a new skoda for $150.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen!!!
 
You should be to find replacement bearings for it without too much trouble. I'd be picky about the grade, though. I believe bearings selected for centers (the better ones, at least) aren't the utility grade.
 
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