Author Topic: Is this some kind of lathe tool? (Read 1965 times)

Zulu · « **on:** November 28, 2012, 10:42:51 AM »

Folks talk about lathes here all the time so I guess this is okay.
What is this? Is it a lathe tool? Can I make a cannon with it?

A friend was throwing it away and I grabbed it. I have no idea what it is or what it does.
It says "Cushman" on it and has a serial number.
Any ideas?
Zulu

cannonmn · « **Reply #1 on:** November 28, 2012, 11:00:06 AM »

It can be used on the table of a mill or shaper. It is a moveable center which supports the far end of a workpiece where the other end is held in a chuck on an indexing head, for example. It may have more uses but the one I listed I'm sure of.

Defoe · « **Reply #2 on:** November 28, 2012, 11:03:29 AM »

I see that you have a hammer, water pump pliers, and wd-40, so whatever it is, you don't need it, you have everything.
wish I could help.

de_lok · « **Reply #3 on:** November 28, 2012, 12:03:20 PM »

It is a tailstock usually used with a dividing head. I made a miniature dividing head with matching tailstock, here is a pic of it used to drill tennon holes in the hubb of a 1/4 scale cannon. This illustrates how it is used.
Hope this helps................

Zulu · « **Reply #4 on:** November 28, 2012, 12:58:08 PM »

The point is off centered. How does that work?
Zulu

GGaskill · « **Reply #5 on:** November 28, 2012, 01:14:35 PM »

It is adjustable for both height and angle. For example, if you were milling flats on a tapered octagon rifle barrel, one end would have to be higher than the other to get the taper. The height adjustment allows for the differing heights and the angle adjustment allows the center to be aligned with the bore. The other end (some kind of indexing device, usually) usually cannot have its height changed except by shimming which is not as desirable.

de_lok · « **Reply #6 on:** November 28, 2012, 01:35:35 PM »

Yours can adjust for hieght and swing angles. The point is an included angle to match center holes and is off center vertically (not horizontally) to give it more height.
That is actually a nice (well made) piece of tooling. Cleaned up and painted would make a nice tool for your shop should you aquire a dividing device.

Defoe · « **Reply #7 on:** November 28, 2012, 01:42:22 PM »

there seems to be some talented folks here...

clum sum · « **Reply #8 on:** November 28, 2012, 02:35:41 PM »

I wont one.

GUNNUT in Iowa · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2012, 02:04:29 AM »

Quote from: de_lok on November 28, 2012, 12:03:20 PM

It is a tailstock usually used with a dividing head. I made a miniature dividing head with matching tailstock, here is a pic of it used to drill tennon holes in the hubb of a 1/4 scale cannon. This illustrates how it is used.
Hope this helps................

A dividing head - on a milling machine - to drill holes in a wheel hub !?!?
Hey, that's setting the bar pretty high for us regular folk.

Nice looking setup.

subdjoe · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2012, 05:21:05 AM »

Quote from: comrade wharf rat on November 28, 2012, 11:03:29 AM

I see that you have a hammer, water pump pliers, and wd-40, so whatever it is, you don't need it, you have everything.
wish I could help.

Didn't see any duct tape, so his tool box is still lacking.

de_lok · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2012, 07:31:52 AM »

A dividing head - on a milling machine - to drill holes in a wheel hub !?!?
Hey, that's setting the bar pretty high for us regular folk.

Nice looking setup.

Ha Ha! I made it mainly to cut gears for miniature ic engines and other metal work, but it sure came in handy for the wheels! It was made in 1994 and took approx 150 hours to complete..................

BUGEYE · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2012, 11:30:42 AM »

Quote from: subdjoe on November 29, 2012, 05:21:05 AM

Quote from: comrade wharf rat on November 28, 2012, 11:03:29 AM
I see that you have a hammer, water pump pliers, and wd-40, so whatever it is, you don't need it, you have everything.
wish I could help.

Didn't see any duct tape, so his tool box is still lacking.

LOL, you're right about that... oh, those water pump pliers can also be called slip joint pliers.
I own 3 pair so one is handy anywhere around my place.

freekforge · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2012, 01:50:03 PM »

that tailstock gave me horrible flashbacks of the math involved in gear making

de_lok · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2012, 04:32:52 AM »

Quote from: freekforge on December 04, 2012, 01:50:03 PM

that tailstock gave me horrible flashbacks of the math involved in gear making

Ha ha, come on, it aint that bad...................

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2012, 02:32:28 PM »

Quote from: de_lok on December 05, 2012, 04:32:52 AM

Quote from: freekforge on December 04, 2012, 01:50:03 PM
that tailstock gave me horrible flashbacks of the math involved in gear making

Ha ha, come on, it aint that bad...................

MUCH easier today with CAD and some gear profile generating code.

I once corresponded with a fellow in China who was a whiz at it - had a dozen international patents and designed gears of various shapes (a cheap way of producing a varying speed on a shaft). Square and oval gears too.

AND I did a patent drawing for a VT student that was a variable pitch gear pair. He got the patent and a job.

Joe111 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2012, 04:24:16 AM »

Its not a center. It is a workpiece positioning tool for a mill. Something like this but much more robust.
http://www.edgetechnologyproducts.com/pro-mill-stop.html

shred · « **Reply #17 on:** December 06, 2012, 01:18:50 PM »

It's pretty much functionally identical to the tailstock for my rotary table.

http://www.use-enco.com/1/1/34037-240-005-phase-ii-tail-stock-6-rotary-table.html

freekforge · « **Reply #18 on:** December 06, 2012, 02:07:16 PM »

Quote

MUCH easier today with CAD and some gear profile generating code.

I once corresponded with a fellow in China who was a whiz at it - had a dozen international patents and designed gears of various shapes (a cheap way of producing a varying speed on a shaft). Square and oval gears too.

AND I did a patent drawing for a VT student that was a variable pitch gear pair. He got the patent and a job.

we didn't have CAD the first time we did it it was pencil and paper and all other times it was supposed to be mental math but gear making looks good on a resume

de_lok · « **Reply #19 on:** December 06, 2012, 03:32:28 PM »

Quote from: Joe111 on December 06, 2012, 04:24:16 AM

Its not a center. It is a workpiece positioning tool for a mill. Something like this but much more robust.
http://www.edgetechnologyproducts.com/pro-mill-stop.html

I have been a machinist for 23 years now and worked around a lot of tooling, have used positioning work stops and made them for special jobs, but I'm scratching my head trying to figure out how you came to this conclusion........................

The above piece of tooling is clearly a tailstock/centering devise hence the included angle on its tip and verticle/horizontal adjustments..................

Also work stops/positioners don't require the mass and rigidness built into this unit, even for older tooling......

shred's post should also make that clear

Zulu · « **Reply #20 on:** December 06, 2012, 03:55:01 PM »

Whatever it is and however it's used, it has gone to a good home. I suspect we will see some pictures of it in use at some point.

I'm sure the new owner will shed some light on this also.
Zulu

Joe111 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2012, 06:07:29 PM »

Well, perhaps. But I had a few of them myself that came with a shop I worked at as a kid then bought when the owner retired. He bought them brand new from Cushman for a Shizuoka mill along with a barfeeder.That mill made drilled copper buss bars for almost 35 years until I sold it 2 years ago when I retired. They were used as the bar feed stops.
Im not a lathe guy. Mainly milling for tooling and prototyping. Been doing it for more than 40 years. .

de_lok · « **Reply #22 on:** December 06, 2012, 06:29:20 PM »

Quote from: Joe111 on December 06, 2012, 06:07:29 PM

Well, perhaps. But I had a few of them myself that came with a shop I worked at as a kid then bought when the owner retired. He bought them brand new from Cushman for a Shizuoka mill along with a barfeeder.That mill made drilled copper buss bars for almost 35 years until I sold it 2 years ago when I retired. They were used as the bar feed stops.
Im not a lathe guy. Mainly milling for tooling and prototyping. Been doing it for more than 40 years. .

Ok, I see your logic now. Many tools are used in many different ways other than their original design intended for, sometimes with suprisingly good results. I am guilty of this on a regular basis

. They were put to good use as bar feed stops. I didn't mean to sound condescending, and if so my bad. My intent was to respond to the posters question correctly.

FDC · « **Reply #23 on:** December 09, 2012, 01:09:56 PM »

I see the depth of talent and experience here hasn't diminished since I've been absent. You guys still rock!!

Double D · « **Reply #24 on:** December 09, 2012, 02:05:02 PM »

Click on the globe Icon under De_loks user name and expand your depths..

de_lok · « **Reply #25 on:** December 10, 2012, 08:46:37 AM »

Quote from: Double D on December 09, 2012, 02:05:02 PM

Click on the globe Icon under De_loks user name and expand your depths..

Compliment or sarcasm? (grin

grin) Either way I take it as your approval!

I will add more photos (other than cannon projects) over the next few days to my photo gallery...........................

Double D · « **Reply #26 on:** December 10, 2012, 11:52:25 AM »

Compliment for sure. Sarcasm, no! Envy yes!!

de_lok · « **Reply #27 on:** December 10, 2012, 12:51:47 PM »

Quote from: Double D on December 10, 2012, 11:52:25 AM

Compliment for sure. Sarcasm, no! Envy yes!!

I appreciate the kind remarks, I have added more pics to my photo gallery................................

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #28 on:** December 11, 2012, 12:23:38 AM »

Quote from: shred on December 06, 2012, 01:18:50 PM

It's pretty much functionally identical to the tailstock for my rotary table.

http://www.use-enco.com/1/1/34037-240-005-phase-ii-tail-stock-6-rotary-table.html

Thanks for the pix and the link. It makes it crystal clear as to the fine-adjustment-knob is to be made.