Spring loaded device used in conjunction with a standard dial indicator facilitates centering a workpiece in an independent four-jaw lathe chuck

Prater, L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

July 1966	 Brief 66-10277 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U. S. space 
program and to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Device Facilitates Centering of Workpieces in Lathe Chuck 
Workpiece End 
Dial Indicator
h	 \ZYflE 
,	 -, --
I
i 
The problem: 
To provide a device that will facilitate centering 
a workpiece in an independent (four-jaw) lathe 
chuck. Present methods of centering a workpiece in 
such a chuck, which involve either visual sighting 
of the intersection of layout lines on the workpiece 
to a tailstock center or the use of a wiggler are time 
consuming and unreliable. 
The solution: 
A spring loaded device used in conjunction with 
a standard dial indicator.
Tailstock End 
How it's done: 
In using the device to center a workpiece in an 
independent chuck, the pointed end of the device 
is set on the punched center of the layout lines on 
the workpiece and the drilled end is positioned to 
engage with the lathe tailstock center. The device 
is held in place by advancing the tailstock until the 
spring is partially compressed. The ball end of the 
feeler arm of a dial indicator mounted on the cross-
feed tool turret is then brought to touch the periphery 
of the centering device near its pointed end. The 
(continued overleaO 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19660000276 2020-03-11T17:38:25+00:00Z
chuck is rotated by hand and the four jaws are sequen-
tially adjusted until the desired readout is obtained 
on the dial indicator, denoting that the center of the 
workpiece is aligned with the center of the chuck. 
The centering device is released after use by grasping 
the barrel and exerting an axial push toward the 
tailstock. 
Note: 
Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama, 35812 
Reference: B66-10277
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: Lee Prater 
of North American Aviation, Inc.

under contract to
Marshall Space Flight Center 
(M-FS-685) 
Brief 66-10277	 Category 05


Device facilitates centering of workpieces in lathe chuck

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server