After leveling, I checked headstock alignment by cutting a test bar that protruded 4" from the chuck. It was .001" larger at the chuck that it was toward the tailstock.
I read the instructions in the manual on how to adjust the headstock, the called PM to make sure I understood what I was doing. The PM Tech said to not try to adjust the headstock. He said to put a shim between the stand and the lathe on the tailstock side away from me.
I asked how much shim and he said it would be such a small shim that it would be very hard to do. He then said .001" over 4" was fine.
I asked Bruce about this and he thought that was fine for the 1440GT because it was such a small and lightweight lathe. He said he thought it would keep moving on me and that I would wind up chasing it and never really get it better.
Conversely, he said the 3500lb Kingston was capable of holding a tighter tolerance and he would make sure it was set up that way.
I suppose a quarter thousandth over a typical .75 to 1" long tenon isn't a big deal. However, I do now better see the value in a heavy lathe. I wish I could find a 2000 lb stand for both the 1440GT and my 1340GT at home. It still wouldn't be quality as rigid as the Kingston, but I think it would help.
Not that any of this will make any of my rifles shoot better...........
What is the black piece on the tailstock used for?I bought that to use on the Haas. 5C collet holder on the tool post and let the machine do everything. I saw that setup at Surgeon Rifles in Prague OK before I bought my machine. Worked well. I didn't go in that direction.
Here's a pic of the setup.
View attachment 1403251
Keep stuff out when I blow out the chamber. I don't use the tailstock for much of anything.What is the black piece on the tailstock used for?
Each time you move it...How often is it necessary to check the headstock and tailstock for parallel axial alignment when using a ridged holder?
All it would take is a chip.
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View attachment 1400328
The PTG corrects for angular missalignment only. The Dave Manson corrects for axial missalignment only.
You can get the edge tailstock alignment rod and it takes seconds. I even have the edge toolholder mounted indicator to make it even faster
.0002. Id say its better than we can measure outside a metrology labHow "precision" do you think that bar is?
Watch the videos on their siteHA. I went to buy one and Amazon says I already did a few months ago. Guess I need to try it out!
Dang Skippy! You can sure feel the "grain" in the steel as it is cutting, and a Major thing, how well your cutting fluid is reducing friction in the cut.I actually like holding the handle so i can feel rotational forces, let it slip if i need to plus let it spin as i stop the lathe and not withdraw it under power. Youd be surprised at how you get to know a reamer and how it cuts and when it needs sharpened