Camlock Tail-Stock

[eartaker]

Well after looking around and getting really tired of using a wrench every time I needed to move the tail-stock it was time for some modification. I wanted to try the camlock on the HF 7X10 befor modig the 9x30 in case I didn't like the results, but I now wish I would have done this along time ago. I used the original plate that clamps to the bottom of the bed, made the block and piston out of 7075 Aluminum and the cam is made from steel. I reused the handle that is used to changing the gears from high to low so I didn't have to make a new one. For the 9X30 I will also use the block that clamps to the bottom of the bead but I will have to make the handle this time along with all of the other parts.

Here are some photos of everything I made. The machine work is very rough because I used mainly the lathe and a drill press to do this and it was only a test run.

This is the block I made, the cam holes are 1/2" and the hole for the piston is 7/8". There is a angle cut on the bottom to match the slope on the bottom of the tailstock where is sits.


This is the piston. the cam hole is again 1/2" and the bottom is threaded for the original clamping plate.


Here is the cam. to get the offset I mounted it in a 4 jaw chuck.


Here is the handle holder I re-used. You can see that the handle screws through the mount to act as a setscrew on the cam. This keeps the cam from sliding out.


And here it is all put together. I cut a grove on the other end of the cam and places a lock ring around it.



Here is a video of it in action.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XynlJ5DKbFI"]YouTube - Cam lock Tail Stock[/nomedia]

[sansbury]

Looks very nice! One thought, you might want to replace the bottom plate (the clamping part) with something thicker and flatter. I did this when I made my cam-lock and it really helped with the tailstock repeatability.

[rusel]

know what you mean by wrench time. Always think about when the wrench is in ones hand but it soon forgotten once you put it down and move onto something else.
Now i have a new excuse broke a timing belt and can find no replacement see;
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/genera...ble_lathe.html

next excuse is i will cnc the lathe this might include the tail stock

Russell

[eartaker]

LOL that is true, every time I picked up that wrench I thought to myself "Damn wrench if only I had a camlock..." then a few minutes later I wasn't thinking about it.

[eartaker]

Looks very nice! One thought, you might want to replace the bottom plate (the clamping part) with something thicker and flatter. I did this when I made my cam-lock and it really helped with the tailstock repeatability.

I might replace the plate in the future but for now it will work. I only use the little lathe when I have something mounted in the 9X30 or the 4 jaw chuck mounted and I need to turn something small with the 3 jaw. The bottom plate on the 9X30 isn't a plate at all. It is a block with ways cut into it. I will sand it down and mill the ways to make it parallel though.

[knudsen]

Nice work, ear. If you take the original plate to the grinder and bevel the edges, plus round off the corners on the leading edge, the original plate is 100 X less annoying. The block on the 9 x 20 is the right way to do it. If I were to do anything short of grinding the plate, I would try to mimic the block style.

[blades]

Sorry for the non value-added post, but this is just a friendly reminder for someone to clean out their PM box so they can receive PM's.

[eartaker]

Yeah only think I plan on doing to the larger block is cleaning it up.

[knudsen]

Sorry for the non value-added post, but this is just a friendly reminder for someone to clean out their PM box so they can receive PM's.

[eartaker]

knudsen,

I'm guessing you are in the AF but where are you stationed?

[knudsen]

I'm a Navy vet. Was stationed in Memphis for school, then 5 years in the Philippines as an avionics tech, some 20 years ago. The avatar is my brother, who is still in, made captain (O-6), and was the CAG (Commander, Air Group) leading 8 squadrons and over 2000 enlisted. He slightly out did my E-5 ass. He's done flying now and has a desk job for now, then going to run a ROTC unit near Chicago, then retire at 30 years or a few more. He was an F-18 jockey.

[eartaker]

Ahh nice. I'm currently an E-5 in the Army looking to get my 6 in a few months. I am an administrator for a satellite backbone network. When have over 1000 users when fully operating. people need there internet lol