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Morse taper hardness

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Morse taper hardness

#1

Morse taper hardness

Robert Cox

>Are Morse tapers hardened?

I ask because I bought a screw center from sears and I know it is not hardened because it has been to the nachine shop for a larger screw and we tested it before we worked on it.

I am wondering about the drive center that comes with my Jet. And other things I might order.

This is an issue because every time I use the screw center I have to beat the heck out of it to get it out again. And it is marked up where it has slipped.

Starting to worry about my bearings.

Re: Morse taper hardness

#2

Re: Morse taper hardness

Bill Howatt

>It is my understanding they are hardened but there are varying degrees of hardness. They also may be case hardened which doesn't harden the interior and therefore makes the item less brittle.

If you are having trouble getting the center out try removing it immediately when you are finished turning, that is, while it is still warm. If it cools down the spindle will contract on it possibly making it harder to remove.

Give it a very good sharp rap. Don't beat it to death with love taps; they don't do much.

Bill

Re: Morse taper hardness

#3

Keith Tompkins

Re: Morse taper hardness

Keith Tompkins

>Robert, if you are encountering slippage using the screw center, the morse taper is actually being forced tightly into the headstock.

It seems the center is inadequate for the job you are asking it to do. Maybe a better alternative would be a faceplate, or a chuck with the screw-center installed.

I would be afraid of scoring the MT of my headstock.

Re: Morse taper hardness

#4

Re: Morse taper hardness

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>Robert,

What you are describing is called "Galling" where small bits of dirt get lodged in the taper and actually cause scratches and pits which will act like keys and make the insert very hard to remove and will cause serious damage to the precisely machined surfaces.

First, ask your machine shop to lend you their taper hone, which you will use to very carefully remove any ridges and galls in the spindle taper. You will need to then thoroughly swab out the section with an oiled cloth to make sure you remove all debris and abrasive grit. Then very carefully file (not sand) the galls off of your appliances (drive center, ect.). Lastly get and use a taper cleaner (Packard sells them as TaperMate) to clean your taper every time BEFORE you insert something.

This goes for your tailstock taper as well.

Hope this helps

MM

-2=mail

Re: Morse taper hardness

#5

Re: Morse taper hardness

Pete L

>Morse tapers are not necessarily hardened, but "toughened" at best, therefore they will gaul. To what the other replies indicate, make sure your spindle and attachment's mating surfaces are CLEAN and BURR FREE each time they are assembled. Also, make sure not to put a cold part into a hot spindle taper. The taper, compounded with a heat-shrinking effect once the two normalize, will put too good of hold on the accessory. You should never drive an accesssory in with a hammer either. Line it up and slam it in to seat it with hand pressure. Should be all it needs.