Drive centre for motor shaft mount

[Gazbo]

Hi all.
Anyone know where I might find a 4 spur drive centre, to fit over/ onto a 1/2" motor shaft
( grubscrewed to the flat on the shaft). Looking for around inch and a half -ish spur, but must be 1/2" (12.7mm) parallel spindle mount. Thought I'd seen them before, now I want one, I can't find one anywhere ! Thanks in advance.

 

[okeydokey]

I know this isn't the answer but maybe someone could cut/drill a 1/2" hole in a MT3 spur centre if the item you want isn't available.

 

[Gazbo]

Yeah -I'd thought that too. could have done that here, except my little lathe bed isnt long enough to mount it and get a drill/ream in the tailstock !
(In fact I'll be lucky to mount the tailstock at all).
That idea was always going to be my last resort option.
I could make my own from scratch, , but my little lathe is around 120 years old.
She's fine working with brass and ally, but struggles quite a bit with steel.
Lost contact with all me old engineering mates now too.
Fatha was a machine shop foreman, but he's long retired, and most of his mates are too busy propping up subterranean oak lids these days.
I'll keep looking though.
Thanks for the good idea.

 

[ChaiLatte]

Maybe consider one of these, as they are shorter than a Morse-tapered version and might thus fit in your machine. With careful set up, you could drill and ream them in a drill press. Bolt a piece of plywood to the table, screw another piece to the top of it. Bore a hole the diameter of the drive centre in the top piece of ply. Unscrew it. Cut split in it. Screw back onto lower piece. Clamp centre into it. Centre is now concentric with drill spindle.

https://www.machinery4wood.co.uk/Charnwood-VIPERDC-4-Prong-Drive-Centre-for-Chucks/P7332https://www.axminstertools.com/axminster-four-prong-parallel-drive-centre-410052

 

[Gazbo]

That could be a better option, assuming the back end isn"t hardened. Looks to be around 55 mm long, which will go nose-first into my metal lathe chuck.
Thanks guys.

 

[Fergie 307]

That could be a better option, assuming the back end isn"t hardened. Looks to be around 55 mm long, which will go nose-first into my metal lathe chuck.
Thanks guys.

If its too hard for your normal tools get a carbide end mill, that should do the job.

 

[ChaiLatte]

That could be a better option, assuming the back end isn"t hardened.

A standard Morse taper one could be shortened by a hacksaw or grinder to achieve the length you want, and might be cheaper than the more specialised ones above. Trying the hacksaw first would show you if it is hardened or not. Whatever its hardness state, the Morse taper version is highly unlikely to be through-hardened. There is a slim possibility of case (surface) hardening, but the centre of the cut end, where you need to do the surgery to make it fit the motor shaft will be below the hard zone.

Given that you have already described the condition and capabilities of your lathe above, the suggestion of carbide is not appropriate.

 

[Gazbo]

Thanks all.
Deeper in thought now.
Think I have some carbide end mills. ( little boxes stashed everywhere !)I will have a rummage