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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    48

    Default Taper Turning Attachment Installation

    Hi,

    I was lucky enough to get hold of a Hercus Taper Turning Attachment from Fleabay.

    Now that I have the beast, does anyone have any instructions on how to install this onto my 9a.

    The back of the cross slide does not have any screw holes so it is pretty much a green field site.

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Regards,
    Rodd.
    Last edited by Rodd Perrin; 8th Mar 2010 at 09:05 AM. Reason: Added Picture

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    You will need to mount it onto the lathe carriage if theres not allready 2 holes there you will have to markout and drill,(I HOPE YOU HAVE USED ONE BEFORE ).

    You maybe able to reuse your Cross Slide Nut but im not 100% sure.

    You will have to remove your Cross Slide Screw and either make or use the Correct one for the Attachment.

    Saw how much it went for hope you have a lot of use for it.

    When it comes time for you to cut Tapers (if you dont know how to use it) if you search for instructions on attachments you should find some info,most of these type of set ups work very similar,was David able to supply an instruction sheet or maybe even Hercus might have one.

    It would be very similar if not the same as the 260.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Rodd,
    I would suggest you have a cross slide base not machined for the taper turning attachment. That is not to say that it can't be modified by cutting a slot for the square pin and drilling and tapping some holes, 5/16th I think. My assumption is that your cross slide will have provision for it, but it is certainly a job for milling machine. It may be worth approaching Hercus for a new cross slide base. Bugger when you pay nearly $1K for it.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Hello Rodd,

    I have a 1959 9" Model A which has a different taper attachment mount to that found on my 1969 Model A. The earlier saddle rear has a flat face incorporating a keyway to accurately locate the saddle bracket. The later saddle features two protruding pads, again with a keyway for the bracket mount.

    The latter saddle positions the saddle bracket about 3mm further away from the lathe bed centreline.

    The attachment you bought appears to be a late model, given the position of the compound locking screws. You could modify your saddle but there is a good chance that you will have to also modify the bed clamp, shown on the right hand side of your photo, to prevent binding because it may be too long.

    If you are interested, I could accurately measure the older saddle.

    To use the attachment, the crossfeed screw is removed and the compound slide used for tool feed. Again, if you are interested, I could scan the pages in Peter Hercus' Textbook of Turning, pertaining to the attachment, and email them to you.

    Regards Bob.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Hello again Rodd,

    The taper attachment cross slide that I have measures approximately 0.775" from the top of the dovetail to the machined top face. The standard cross slide (non taper) measures approximately 0.645".

    My taper attachment is for a 260 and works beautifully on the '69 lathe but with a reduction of swing over the saddle.

    I had a look through some old correspondence I've had with Hercus and back in 2004, Steve Durden informed me that " ...9" lathes with a serial number preceeding 6969 did not have mounting pads on the back of the saddle, unless specified, and therefore would be very difficult to mount"

    Derek"Bitza500" might have the saddle you need for sale.

    Regards Bob.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    48

    Default

    Hi Bob,

    Thanks for the info. I was able to find a couple of installation guides on the net for the South Bend taper attachements (they made two types - one like I have and one that bolts to the back of the top slide!) so have some good guidance what to look for when I install it and an appreciation of how it works (what is critical etc). The attachment fits tightly on the existing top slide saddle (it may need some scraping to get them both fitting just so) and all the bits seem to line up OK when offered up to the mounted locations.

    Interesting point about the pads at the back of the top slide saddle. My lathe is a '47 model, but it has two machined flats on the back of the top slide mount, but no slot? I noted the key with the taper attachment, but was interested to see that the southbend variant uses dowels to locate the attachment to the top slide.

    I was not planning to make the taper attachment a permanant thing, so maybe as you suggested some bits from Derek may be a way of keeping the lathe original (and not mucking things up too much if I stuff up the fitting.) I notice that Derek has some relevant bits on fleabay at the moment (how convenient!).

    I have my mill up and running now so am fairly happy to machine what is required, I just need to be sure I am removing the right bits of metal.

    Just something else to keep me off the streets!

    Rodd.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Mallacoota,VIC,Australia
    Age
    53
    Posts
    1,010

    Default

    HI Rodd Perrin,
    I came across this yesterday while searching the Internet.I thought it might interest you Machine Shop 2 - Lathes - Tapers with a Taper Attachment .
    All The Best steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Age
    79
    Posts
    4

    Default Taper attachment

    Hi Rodd

    This might be a bit late but I am attaching the page out of the original Handbook it might help

    Hope it helps as I am a newbe to this

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    48

    Default It Works....

    Hi Guys,

    Thanks for all the responses and help I got with info and setting up the attachment.

    I ended up getting a spare cross slide saddle from Derek which was already machined for the attachment, so fitting it became really easy. As an aside, I can recommend dropping by Derek's place if you are after bits for your Hercus.

    The first picture shows the differences in the rear of the two saddles. The original is on the left, the one machined for the taper attachment is on the right.

    The second picture is the attachment installed on my lathe (all the colours make it a bit of a 'Franken-lathe' - must fix that up when I strip and clean it!)

    The third shot shows the attachment in use. It was *really* easy to cut the taper using the power feeds once you had the angle dialled in. I cut a few spare tapers while I had it set up.

    The only down side with the attachment is with it attached, the travel up and down the bed is not great, so I will keep the original saddle installed and only install the attachment when I need it. The spare saddle makes this fairly painless.

    All in all, happy with what I got and that it works nicely
    Regards,
    Rodd.

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