The lathe tailstock supports the workpiece and prevents wobbling. It can accommodate different length parts and has various center points. A live center rotates with the stock, while a dead center is fixed. The tailstock can be removed when turning a bowl.
The tailstock of the lathe is used to keep the end of the workpiece opposite the drive plate from wobbling. Commonly having a center point fitted with bearings, the lathe tailstock allows pressure to be exerted against the rotating workpiece without creating an unbalanced condition. Because it is adjustable and able to slide back and forth on the bed of the lathe, the tailstock can accommodate a wide selection of different length parts on the machine. Many lathe owners keep two or more tailstocks on hand, each equipped with a different type of faceplate or center point to facilitate different types of turning operations. Tailstocks are changed by loosening a single block and sliding the assembly off the bed end of the lathe and reversing the process for replacement.
A lathe is used to, among other things, turn a square piece into a round piece. The lathe tailstock is used to support the workpiece and keep it solid and straight in the lathe as it spins at high speed. Without the tailstock, the long pieces of the stock would simply deflect away when a cutting tool was driven into it in an attempt to cut or shape it. By locking both ends of the stock between the drive plate or spindle and the tailstock, the stock stays straight and true even with a lot of tooling or honing pressure against it.
There are many different styles of center points used in a lathe tailstock, with a live center and dead center being the two most commonly used. A live center point consists of a steel body containing a center point fitted with bearings which allows the point to rotate with the roundhouse stock. This avoids any burning of the material and allows for a more stable rotation of the piece. The dead center is a steel point that is locked tightly in the tailstock and does not turn. Often, the lathe operator will place a drop of petroleum jelly or other lubricant on the center point to avoid burning the stock as it is being turned.
When turning a bowl or similar object on a faceplate, the tailstock of the lathe is commonly slid to the end of the bed of the lathe and held away. The tailstock can be used to support the weight of the bowl during the initial shaping and turning stages. Once it’s time to empty the bowl, the tailstock is slid off.
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