Small fixed steady

[sbwhart]

I've been asked by a fellow model engineer if I could help out with a tricky bit of machining that he just doesn't have the kit for. Its a long slender 5/32 screw cut butress thread, that needs a fixed steady to make.
 
The fixed steadies you get suplied with most lathes are far too big for small slender jobs, so I decided to make my own, I've seen this design someware before so its not mine just my interpretation on it.

This is it quite simple realy.



It just clamps to the running centre, this is how you use it.



I'll post a few more pics when I cut the thread, fingers crossed. 

Stew

[tomrux]

what a bril idea.
if you made it with 2 fingers and put a small bearing on each.
definately on my list.
dont have any steadies at all. dont see me needing much more than this

Tom

[sbwhart]

Hi Tom

To get the best use out of it you need to make yourself one of these,

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=1208.0

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=1239.0

Fitting bearings would be a Rolls Royce job not sure if it would work any better though.

Stew

[sbwhart]

Just completed screw cutting the butress thread with the steady worked like a dream.



And just to show it wasn't a fluke



Made a few extra.

As I had to under cut the rod for tool run out I'm going to cut the threaded part off turn a small spiggot on it and join it back onto the main rod with silver solder.

Stew

[Stilldrillin]

Oohhh.....  STEW! 

I really, really like that. 

Blummin well done! 

David D

[DICKEYBIRD]

I like that one; a great idea!  I need to make one of your little centers too.

I cobbled up this rig a couple weekends ago when I needed a couple feet of 5/16" aluminum rod and the only thing I could find on a Sunday was 3/8".  I mounted a scrap of 1/2" HDME onto the carriage with a bit of steel angle, drilled & reamed a 3/8" hole in the plastic with the drill & reamer mounted in the chuck and voila!  Cheap & cheerful follow rest.  I switched to a sharp HSS bit after the pic because the carbide bit caused too much deflection to make the .063" cut on a single pass.

[sbwhart]

Nice bit of fixing there Mr Bird, that ones filed away.

Stew

[arnoldb]

Nice one Stew 
And good threads as well  - how were the nuts done ?

 , Arnold

[saw]

Nice work, I like it. 

[sbwhart]

Thanks Chaps

Arnold I made a tap like this

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=4384.0

Stew

[John Hill]

My old Drummond lathe has a steady that you put wooden blocks in to support the workpiece. Just clamp in a block or two and drill it out to fit the work.  Such a simple idea, fits any size and would not mark the work (I assume).