tailstock depth system- DSG

M. Moore · Oct 6, 2010

First post for the DSG guys (or anybody).
On my vintage DSG 13x42 lathe there is no tailstock depth micrometer. I would like to see how others have adapted their own machine to add a depth mic to the tailstock.

I was surprised when I got the lathe setup that on such a well built machine there was no depth mic on the tailstock, is there a reason they did not put one on? Very handy when drilling to a rough depth etc. Thoughts?

Thanks

Michael

daryl bane · Oct 7, 2010

Not a DSG, but here ya go. The rod is a piece of keyed shafting, and there is a setscrew pin in the dial indicator body that rides in the key groove to keep the unit in its vertical position.

Ray Behner · Oct 7, 2010

This is the way I did it. You'll have full movement without moving an indicator.

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/south-bend-lathes/tailstock-travel-indicator-ideas-211467/

K Battenbough · Oct 7, 2010

Very similar to Daryl's, this is my mates setup, this is his gunsmithing lathe so not much travel on the quill required

KB

daryl bane · Oct 7, 2010

Actually that setup on the DSG pictured, is where I got the inspiration for mine. I have pics of that lathe in my tool porn file.

M. Moore · Oct 7, 2010

daryl bane, that is the nicest tailstock I have ever seen. Drool.

Ray I like your design very much.

I like the ideas so far. My biggest problem is that the tailstock quill fully retracts into the headstock in order to release the taper shanks. I am thinking that to rig up a mic of some sort I will have to fix that problem by extending the leadscrew end.

The tailstock on my machine is curvier than K Batt's but I don't think that will be a problem. I am definitely in favor of altering the machine to make improvements.

I also saw on Ray B's link a pic of someone who added a dial (?) mic to the handwheel on their lathe. That is very doable on mine as well. And seems like a fun job for the indexing head and the slotting attachment for the K&T......except I have to make a driver for the slotter and on and on it goes. Oh well one job at a time.

Keep em coming!

Michael

number 2 · Oct 7, 2010

How does that work? If i read it right you only get the indicators travel maximum depth.

Personally i think the best one is marking on the drill itself. If the tailstock slips ur mic is out. But if that isnt an issue then its mint.

rimcanyon · Oct 11, 2010

Daryl, I love it! Just like Monarch would have designed it. The coolest touch is the lock lever styled after the lock lever on the cross feed dial. thanks for showing it. How about some more shots of the lathe, and what you are still working on.

-Dave

daryl bane · Oct 12, 2010

Thanks Dave. PM sent

Clive603 · Oct 12, 2010

I guess a grown up version of the Geo.H Thomas tail stock micrometer dial designed to fit the Myford hand wheel would do the deed quite nicely. Very similar in concept and layout to the one fitted to my Smart & Brown 1024 VSL, which works well. As does the dial on the saddle traverse.

Tail stock and saddle travel dials seem to have been a surprisingly late innovation. Seem to have been considered pretty remarkable things to design in prior to mid 1960's or there about's. Even on lathes of the very highest class. My P&W model B doesn't have either. Elliot / Cardiff seem to me to have been around the first to consider them as normal fitment on a shop lathe.

Clive

donie · Oct 13, 2010

Just for the sake of very odd, is this tail stock dial on the Inch/Metric Monarch 10EE.
Unlike the other dials, the I and M scales are fixed together, the dial is geared so it rotates much slower then the hand wheel, and indicates total travel of the quill.
Large and nicely made, but, on the inch scale it reads in 1/64"!!!

RDL · Oct 14, 2010

M. Moore said:
...My biggest problem is that the tailstock quill fully retracts into the headstock in order to release the taper shanks.
Michael

I considered drilling and tapping two opposing holes on the face of the Tailstock Quill so that it would hold a .125" thick Dial Gauge Stop. The examples shown look so good that I will attempt to emulate the look.

I look forward to your solution.

Raymond

rbertalotto · Oct 15, 2010

I have to agree, the machine work and the "art" of that first tailstock is amazing....Great work!

Here is my set-up. Mostly for gunsmithing. I used an inexpensive digital caliper that I cut and shaped. (You can simply buy a digital scale)

M. Moore · Oct 15, 2010

Keep them coming!

I think my first project will be a dial for the hand-wheel. Simple and reasonably fast with the accuracy I need at the moment. Digital might come later.

Michael

dharnell · Oct 16, 2010

Hi,

This is the solution I currently use. I have a clamp that fits on the spindle and indicate from that. Some limitations to this setup though, the indicator only has 2" of travel, sometimes the clamp gets in the way.

Currently if the hole has to be more precise I hold a drill chuck in my QCTP and use the carriage to drill.

I recently purchased a new DRO for my lathe and I ordered it with a 3rd axis. I'm going to attach a low profile glass scale to the tail stock and I'll be able to use the 3rd axis of the DRO to measure hole depth. Hope to have it prototyped soon.

Dave

donie · Oct 16, 2010

Dave,

Is that a Kawasaki drill chuck?

dharnell · Oct 16, 2010

Yes it is.

My dad used to go to machinery surplus stores in Toronto when I was younger. I went with him when I was older, that's how I got into metal working. (When I was growing up didn't understand why my friends basements weren't filled with metal working stuff!)

One day he came home with a box of chucks made by Kawasaki. Must of been in the early 70s. I have them on my drill press, lathe, and mill, a really well made chuck.

Dave

donie · Oct 16, 2010

I got one of those with a SB bench lathe 30yrs ago, got rid of the lathe and kept the chuck.
That drill chuck never slips, always ran true, and does not seem to wear out.
I have not been able to find another.
Maybe we should not tell how good they are!

dharnell · Oct 16, 2010

Donie,

I was initially surprised that you could tell what type of chuck it was , simply by the small portion visible in the photo. They do have a distinctive knurl pattern don't they? I have to agree, they are a well made chuck, have to work hard to get the drill to slip.

In case anybody is interested in what they look like....

Dave

donie · Oct 16, 2010

Yes,
Nothing else looks like that. I wonder why they didnt catch on. They are shorter then the other keyless chucks.
I guess they were made for a short time, some 40yrs ago.

tailstock depth system- DSG

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