Morse Taper Sleeve Q

[Aurelius]

Hi All,
I want to start turning between centers on my PM-1228.
Since my machine is apparently one of the few that PM sells without a face plate, I picked up a D1-4 drive plate that is a46mm thick and fits beautifully. My issue is if I use the dead center that came with the lathe, it sticks out about 40mm past the face of the plate. I've read about people using a morse taper reducing sleeve and a smaller dead center but I can't seem to find measurements for those. As I understand it, I want the point of the center to be about even with the face of the plate or maybe just a bit beyond but I can't seem to find anything with dimensions to inform which size to get.

My question is, what size should I be looking at? Would an mt2 or mt3 be better?

Thanks!

 

[ddickey]

What taper is your headstock?

 

[Aurelius]

Sorry, It's MT5.
The MT5 dead center I have is 8" long

 

[ddickey]

MT3 is what you want.
The MT5 to 3 headstock adapter sleeves though are quite short.
Something like this.

MT4 to MT3 Morse Taper Adapter Morse Center Sleeve 4MT to 3MT in Prime Quality 737452111878 | eBay

Outside Morse Taper 4. Inside Morse taper 3. We also have other size of morse center sleeves For Sale: MT2-1, MT3-1, MT3-2, Mt4-2, MT4-3, MT5-2, MT5-3, MT5-4, MT6-3, MT6-4, and MT6-5. Run out: 0.0001".

www.ebay.com

 

[extropic]

Hi All,
I want to start turning between centers on my PM-1228.
Since my machine is apparently one of the few that PM sells without a face plate, I picked up a D1-4 drive plate that is a46mm thick and fits beautifully. My issue is if I use the dead center that came with the lathe, it sticks out about 40mm past the face of the plate. I've read about people using a morse taper reducing sleeve and a smaller dead center but I can't seem to find measurements for those. As I understand it, I want the point of the center to be about even with the face of the plate or maybe just a bit beyond but I can't seem to find anything with dimensions to inform which size to get.

My question is, what size should I be looking at? Would an mt2 or mt3 be better?

Thanks!

I think the size of center you want depends on the diameter/weight of the workpiece.

I would want a range of options so I would start with buying an MT5 x MT4 sleeve plus an MT5 x MT3 sleeve. If those are too large for your liking, buy an MT3 x MT2 sleeve (which may also be used in your tailstock if needed) and stack the sleeves.

If you're not aware, you want soft (soft enough to recut the 60° point) for the headstock center(s) because you want to clean it up every time you install/use it. That way the runout at the center will be essentially zero, regardless of any runout in the stack of tapers. The center gets a little shorter each time you clean it up so don't be overly concerned with getting a super short projection.

 

[ddickey]

If you turn a center and use that in your chuck then you should clean it up everytime you use it.
In the spindle there is no reason to clean up the center. Not saying you couldn't if you want to just that I've never seen that done.

 

[darkzero]

Two reasons for the spindle type MT reducing sleeve.

First reason as you know cause a full size center that matches your spindle taper will most likely stick out too much. Yes you can still use it but most off the shelf bent lathe dogs won't be long enough to reach the drive plate. You could make your own custom dogs or modify the bent arm to reach or use straight dogs with a post attached to the drive plate.

Second reason is it simply makes it convenient to use the same size center that goes in your tailstock for the headstock with the reducing sleeve. I'm surprised your lathe came with a MT5 center instead of a MT5 to MT3? sleeve, usually new lathes these days do.

I'm not sure if there are industry standard specs for spindle reducing sleeves. But as mentioned you want the style like ddickey posted for the spindle with the through hole & are shorter. If you use a MT reducing sleeve that are usually labeled as drill chuck arbor adapters that have the tang, you'll most likely have the same stick out issue.

So you want one like this for the spindle:


Not like this:


The one I use I bought from zlivecenter. Grizzly also sells them (as a replacement part) & my lathe did come with one but I wasn't happy with either of them.


MT5 center


MT3 center w/ sleeve

 

[Aurelius]

Thanks everyone! This is exactly what I needed.
I checked the listing @ddickey posted and it was zlivecenter's ebay account so I just went to their site.
Everything is ordered and I should be set now. I'll post if there are any issues once they arrive, but I doubt it.
Thanks again.