Thanks, guys. I hope you learn something from this article that is worthwhile.
Here is something that is not in that article and as I mentioned earlier, it was learned from a mistake. I said that the tips must be shaped by using the housing as a mandrel, right? The reason I know that is because I made a shaping mandrel and I was really careful when I made it but those tips had so much run out that you could use it to stir coffee under power! I was trying not to risk marring the housing but eventually found that it was the only way to assure concentricity. Lesson learned.
I also learned a similar lesson when making my knurling tool. When you want two separate pieces to be identical, you must machine them together at the same time using the same process. Trying to machine them any other way will not produce identical pieces, regardless of how careful you are in setting up the cuts. I know because I tried, and I tried hard.
So much in our hobby is trying and making mistakes, then learning how best to proceed. This live center was an incredible learning experience because there were mistakes but there were also valuable lessons. I'm happy to share them but I assure you that the most indelible lessons will come from your own mistakes so don't be afraid to make them.
