Thread: Help!! Will a Hercus 9" cam lock tail stock fit a 260?

Originally Posted by ml018

Thanks!
I have taken a look its 12467.

I have numbers around it registered but that one's owner hasn't registered a machine yet.

Originally Posted by allterrain50

I have numbers around it registered but that one's owner hasn't registered a machine yet.

I bought it from someone who parted their entire machine.

Originally Posted by ml018

Maybe you should read posts 2-3 times before jumping to a conclusion.
The serial number I provided is a machine number, which has nothing to do with the 9" tail stock (wondered if anyone knew what year the machine was made in).
I originally asked if the 9" tail-stock would fit the bed of the 260 lathe, which it did very well.
Being told that the 9" tail-stock was too low, I still went with it and 3D printed a fairly sturdy adaptor plate which is screwed down into the bottom of the 9" base.
This raises the top half by about 13.6 mm and almost perfectly centres the tail-stock with the spindle.
This is enough precision to make the machine usable, and by having the approximate missing height, I can machine a metal version of the plate.

If you are a very experienced member who knows everything, what process would you recommend for measuring the minimal error in alignment of the tail stock other than getting a new one?

According to the forum algorithm I am an intermediate member, which is not an indication of expertise. I am sure I do not know everything, other than the location of serial numbers. It so happens that I read posts several times then I jump to confusion, mixed with conclusions.

In my opinion, the sentence reading "what process would you recommend for measuring the minimal error in alignment of the tail stock other than getting a new one ?" while not exactly making sense, is answered by the earlier post #14 refering to the use of a "waisted cylindrical test bar". I could be wrong, as I do not know everything, but I think people in general don't know what they don't know.

"There is only very minimal offset when I bored a small hole using the tail stock, about less than 0.1mm on the small test piece." That's very good, incredibly good, considering what it sounds like you are doing. But I am not clear on what you did there, as I can only read your description not see it.

An 0.1mm error is about 4 thousandths of an inch, which I suspect will double in error to 8 thousandths of an inch on the workpiece near the tailstock when you turn something, if you are using the tailstock in the turning process.

It is also not clear to me what you will do to work around the "set over screw" adjustment, as the tailstock alignment occurs in two dimensions, one dimension the height corrected via your 3D printed spacer, and the second dimension corrected via the set over screw(s). If you put a spacer plate between the top and bottom halves of the tailstock I have the sneaking suspicion the set over screw(s) will not mate (screw together through the side, for lateral adjustment) from the top through to the bottom halves of the tailstock. I could be wrong about this, I do not have an Hercus tailstock anywhere near me to look at inside. Intuition, which could be wrong, suggests to me that if you have two chunks of metal with a set over screw running through both, after you raise the upper chunk of metal by 13.6mm or by ½" the screw may or may not be going to go in very far before it bottoms out. I do not remember what is the geometry / mechanism inside the tailstock for the sliding lateral adjustment of the top versus the bottom halves.

DT

Originally Posted by ml018

I bought it from someone who parted their entire machine.

.

I think I know who you mean, he has no idea what he's doing. Well at least I can register it as wrecked, bit of a shame though.
Did you check the link I sent by private message?

Originally Posted by allterrain50

.

I think I know who you mean, he has no idea what he's doing. Well at least I can register it as wrecked, bit of a shame though.
Did you check the link I sent by private message?

Yes I did, I will do some more tests and get some pictures up.

To anyone who hasn't seen this bush method of Tubal Cain, the link I supplied was TAILSTOCK ALIGNMENT on LOGAN HARDINGE South Bend Lathes Part 2 - YouTube It works quite well. Not just the setover screws but gives the height difference as well.

Hi ml018

Was this the DGM that was on Gumtree with the broken headstock casting?