Unit 047: Advanced Turning

Taper Turning

Starter activity

Starter activity question?

How to cut tapers

There are four ways to cut a taper on a lathe.

• Form tool.

• Offset compound slide.

• Offset tail stock.

• Taper turning attachment.

Form tool

The simplest way to produce a taper is to use a form tool.

• It is limited to very short tapers.

• The angle is dictated to angle of the tool.

• Care is needed to avoid poor finishing.

Compound slide

The second easiest way to produce a taper will be to offset the compound slide.

• It is limited to short tapers.

• The angle set on the compound slide is half the included angle of the taper required.

• Care is needed to avoid poor finishing.

Compound slide

The second easiest way to produce a taper will be to offset the compound slide.

• It is limited to short tapers.

• The angle set on the compound slide is half the included angle of the taper required.

• Care is needed to avoid poor finishing.

Compound slide

Offsetting the tailstock

For tapers on longer shafts, you can offset the tailstock from the centre line.

• The limitations are on the size of taper, it will only be a shallow taper.

• Calculations on the offset will be needed.

• The tailstock must be reset after taper turning, the offset will not be obvious to another user.

Offsetting the tailstock

Offsetting the tailstock

Care on offsetting

One point to consider when offsetting the tailstock is the length of the taper.

The length of the taper determines the taper.

The same offset will alter the taper if the length changes.

Offset centres

To avoid offsetting the tailstock you can use an offset centre.

The centre can be offset by the same amount as the tailstock.

This produces tapers in the same way, so the offset needs to be calculated with regard to its length.

Taper turning attachment

For longer tapers you can use a Taper Turning Attachment.

• They attach to the lathe bed.

• Having set the angle on the attachment, the cross slide is moved producing the taper as the saddle moves along the bed.

Taper turning attachment

Attached to lathe bed

Taper set here

Attached to cross slide

Taper turning attachment

Taper turning attachment

The taper turning attachment is set to the angle required.

Set to turn external

Or

Internal tapers

Taper turning attachment

Assessment for learning

You need be able to know how to turn tapers on lathe.

Completing TUR WS069 will help reinforce your knowledge on the topic?