We have a problem with the Morse 5 socket on out Gilbert boring mill. Tools are not seating properly. The plan is to ream it to get a better contact area. My question is how do maintain good alignment of the reamer? The thought is to use a tailstock for a dividing head setup on the table to hold the back end of the reamer steady. But how do I indicate the center of the tailstock to the spindle? The best I can figure is to mount an indicator to the spindle and sweep around the center point. Would I be missing anything if I did that? Are there other considerations?
To make matters worse the Morse 5 reamer we have bottoms out in the socket. So either we cut the reamer down or bore out the socket more.
Dan
That reamer should not be used for much more than removing a burr, and even that carefully and by hand.
It also should not be bottoming.
My 5 MT reamer does not, and the AB5/S Drillpress - unlike lighter DP's - has much the same arrangement of locking-wedge slot plus ejector-drift slot as the photo of your mill's spindle shows.
Edges of either are among "the usual suspects" for heavy burrs raised by Bubba, his wedge or drift, and the wrong BFH for the job.
If you do not already have such, there are gentler release tools available than the loose drifts, cheaply so, and more than worth having.
Sounds like you need to get something nano-camera-ish at that bore to see what the inside and arse-deep end of it is hiding from you before you do anything drastic.
Ex: Happens I have a few 5 MT with no tang. Threads for drawbars I do NOT have, rather.
Sooo I also have separate tangs that thread INTO those holders. IF I were to have used such, not Loctited, was running an op in reverse.. and backed-out the 5 MT, such that the tang adaptor was left in the spindle? It could prevent my 5 MT reamer seating.
Unless it is nothing more exotic than some tramp metal munged in, grinding suggestion seconded.
Not an operation needed but once in scores of years, so best to insure it is done as properly as can be.
Read: "get an experienced and well-equipped specialist" if you suspect you have to grind at all. Expect that individual to advise how best to proceed after an assessment has been made.