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Mike Turner Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 293 Gender:	Step Centers Needed 05/08/12 at 02:11:14 I make a few flutes and would like to have a drive step center and tailstock step center center in at least 3/4", 13/16" and 7/8" . I need #2 Morse Taper or a way to fit the Jet 1442vs lathe I have. Any suggestions on this would be appreciated. I tried to make a wooden version but it just wasnt exactly as smooth as I like. Thanks !!
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john Taylor

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Re: Step Centers Needed
Reply #1 - 05/08/12 at 06:14:16

This might be a possible answer. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

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With a Beal 1x8 tap, you can make any type or size center by tapping a close-grained block (maple?) then threading it on the headstock to turn whatever center you desire. Threaded on the live center, you have stepped, cone, or whatever live fixture you need.

I have a number of interchangabe centers that I made using this 'tool'. The 1x8 connector makes this live center stronger than almost any other interchangable center system I have seen.

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Larry Matchett WR Supporter Offline Be One with your Tool! Posts: 922 Gender:	Re: Step Centers Needed Reply #2 - 05/08/12 at 07:45:04 Try this page also. You can probably find what you need. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or
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Ken Vaughan

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Re: Step Centers Needed
Reply #3 - 05/08/12 at 16:32:45

Step or Steb??

Sorby produced and sells the Steb center. The knockoffs by PSI and WoodRiver are not in the same sizes. The timing of changes in size fo the knockoffs suggest that Sorby won one. Both Sorby and the knockoff firms sell a live center with similar sizes. Sorby brand are 1/2, 7/8 and 1 1/4 and are sold by the usual vendors for about $65

5/8 and 1 inch PSI are much much less costly from Amazon.com -- about $14 and $16.

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Scott glass WR Addict Offline Wood is my Gold! Posts: 1589 Gender:	Re: Step Centers Needed Reply #4 - 05/08/12 at 18:01:52 I bought both of mine from amazon and free shipping. They are better quality than I thought they would be. I would be nice to buy the sorby's, but the cost is a little to high for me right now.
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Rev. Doug Miller

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Re: Step Centers Needed
Reply #5 - 05/10/12 at 12:08:41

You guys are giving good information on Steb centers, but he is looking for "step" centers, both drive and tail.

I cannot be for certain, but I believe you are going to have to turn those yourself. You said that you turned some wood ones but that they just didn't get for you. You might try some plastic or some of the softer metals. Even nylon or acrylic would do a good job for you. Your possibilities are many.
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Re: Step Centers Needed
Reply #6 - 05/10/12 at 14:55:41

Rev. Doug Miller wrote on 05/10/12 at 12:08:41:

You guys are giving good information on Steb centers, but he is looking for "step" centers, both drive and tail.

I cannot be for certain, but I believe you are going to have to turn those yourself. You said that you turned some wood ones but that they just didn't get for you. You might try some plastic or some of the softer metals. Even nylon or acrylic would do a good job for you. Your possibilities are many.
Cool

Doug's right. The OP is looking for stepped centers of varying diameters. The closest thing I've seen are light pull drives like this, but it doesn't have the diameters Mike's looking for:

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I suspect making one is going to be the only solution. A machine shop could make a metal one, but self-made wood or plastic should work if it's accurately turned.

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Mike Mills

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Re: Step Centers Needed
Reply #7 - 05/10/12 at 16:22:04

Maybe others can give you a low down on derlin. I'm going to try it for custom collets and a few other things. It is very hard and is used for bushings etc so I hope it holds up well.
I bought from this guy on the bay
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I have nothing to do with him but he shipped promply.
There are a couple of good video's on youtube for turning an 2MT and it looks simple. He does have 3/4 and 7/8 listed but you may need to turn down in-between sizes.

Can you just use a cone center in the tailstock?

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« Last Edit: 05/10/12 at 16:34:03 by Mike Mills »

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Ken Vaughan

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Re: Step Centers Needed
Reply #8 - 05/10/12 at 17:15:51

I have used centers made for recess like peppermills - but have not thought of them as "step centers", as much as friction drives --

The "rubber chucky" folks do use that term with the pepper mill gear the sell.

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They also sell expansion chucks that may be usable.

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There are some Nova step jaws in the drawer -- nova says they go from 0.79 inch to 1.63 inches in expansion mode (20 mm mini jaws).

Nova Live center and Oneway/Jet Live center has the ability to make custom fittings for the tail stock side -- and the rubber chucky uses that capability

I use blank MT2 arbors from the little machne shop with drill and taps to make interchangable drives too.

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« Last Edit: 05/10/12 at 17:19:42 by Ken Vaughan »

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Scott glass WR Addict Offline Wood is my Gold! Posts: 1589 Gender:	Re: Step Centers Needed Reply #9 - 05/10/12 at 17:26:52 Mike I like that stuff and could be handy to have around. I have made on bushing from wood once but this would be better. I would guess it is fairly easy to turn?
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Mike Mills

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Re: Step Centers Needed
Reply #10 - 05/10/12 at 18:33:21

Scott, I’m not sure how easy it is to turn. Per web sources they state it is easy with either carbide or HSS. I hope to find out next weekend and I hope they are right.
As far as sizes I assume your would have to fully turn each one for a step type operation since you would want a lip for it to seat against. So a 3/4" would take a 1-1/4 in order to have a ¼” lip.
I’m not sure it was this forum but several years ago someone posted compression collets turned from thick cutting boards. Allows a lot of sizes and non-marring for cheap. I’ve had that itch ever since and could never find thick (1/2” or+) cutting boards.

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Scott glass WR Addict Offline Wood is my Gold! Posts: 1589 Gender:	Re: Step Centers Needed Reply #11 - 05/10/12 at 19:25:28 Sometimes I like to a try a pen kit or two I don't have. But don't feel like spending 6 bucks on bushing. I can see a lot of uses for this stuff. Please let us know how it works out. Also I can see making step's like Mike Tuner wants.
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Ken Vaughan

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Re: Step Centers Needed
Reply #12 - 05/10/12 at 22:43:36

Mike Mills wrote on 05/10/12 at 18:33:21:

Scott, I’m not sure how easy it is to turn....

It is pretty soft and turns easily. With hand held tools, it is difficult to control sizes/dimensions because it needs to be cut, abrasives and scraping are not effective.

With a metal lathe, it is like cutting butter, and the tool control with even the micro lathes will handle these plastics without any strain.

Most breadboards are either polycarbonite (lexan) or polyethylene. Polyethylene is very easy cut and the ultra high density polyethylee is a snap to machine. I have a few blocks of 1 1/2 inch thick UHDPE. Drop me a PM and a bit make it your way.

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Ken Vaughan

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Re: Step Centers Needed
Reply #13 - 05/11/12 at 08:29:49

Hate it when I get off on the wrong tangent - but I did on this one.

Went out to the shop last night and dug out a jig I got from Don Pencil and it may help you, depending on the size of through holes you use.

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The jig is a 3/4 steel rod with a MT2 taper on one end and a hole on the other for an additional fixture or live center cone (I use the 60 degree center on my nova live center). It came with an aluminum ring and set screw. One side has a flat milled along it for the grub screw to bear against.

Aluminum may be your friend for making end fittings for your flutes. Soft metals like brass and aluminum can be turned with high speed steel tools reasonably well. Files can be uses with the lathe turning at slow speed with frequent cleaning on a file card. Metals can be abrade for finer fits after file work. Steel can be worked with files too. While any machinist will advise you that drilling will not make a true circular hole, boring on your wood lathe may well be close enough, and I have filed brass and aluminum in a 4 jaw scroll chuck. On the other hand, if you know a machinist or have a metal lathe, life is good.

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