New to forum with question

[Lone Watie]

Hello all - I just joined the forum and have bought a micro mark 7x16 mini-lathe and just got it set up this evening and have a question about the 2MT short to 33JT Arbor for the drill chuck for the tail stock: when sliding the arbor into the chuck and the tail stock is it supposed to be clamped down by anything, or is pressure the only thing keeping that secured in there? I couldn't find any info on that, and although I like the lathe, it is a little short on explanations, as is the drill chuck from little machine shop, which didn't come with any instructions at all, making me guess that it's not rocket science, and that pressure is the only thing keeping it in the tail stock and chuck.

Thanks.

[Geof]

The 2MT taper just locks in because it is a shallow taper. Similarly the chuck locks onto the arbor because it also is a shallow taper.

In the case of the chuck to arbor taper you don't want this to ever come off so don't use anything to lubricate when it is assembled. Just perfectly clean and a good rap on the end of the MT taper with a plastic hammer to drive the JT taper home in the chuck is all that is needed. Althougn I have to admit I once cinched one together a tiny bit in a big vise.

You do want to be able to remove the MT taper from the tailstock so a bit of light mineral oil is a good idea here and a gentle rap with the plastic hammer.

Before inserting the MT taper you should, however, crank the tailstock forward a few turns on the handwheel. The tailstock should have a protrusion on the end of the screw that will push the MT taper out when it is fully retracted.

[Lone Watie]

Thank you for the help on this.