2' 7"! I don't fancy having to lug 400kg on & off the lathe though, reckon that's a shortcut to a hernia and no mistake.
No - 250mm (maybe 315) is as big as I want to go. At least the Bison chucks are all comfortably rated higher than my lathe's maximum speed...
I guess the next question is; mounting plate... My lathe has a flat plate sticking out of the headstock. The proper Edgwick chucks have a register which fits over this plate, with three studs sticking out the back. These are then fastened with 3 nuts behind the plate.
One option that I always fancied doing, but I'm not sure I've got the skills to do, is to create a Dx camlock backplate, to which I can then obviously attach any matching camlock chuck. I quite like the ability to quickly swap between the 4 & 3 jaw chucks; but if I've got a dead nuts 3-jaw then I will only ever need the 4-jaw for off-set turning...; so, question time:
1) How hard is it to make a camlock backplate?
2) If the answer to (1) is "too hard for me", then I presume that making a dead accurate normal backplate will, mainly, consist of:
a) Turn a "plug" to the exact diameter of the lathe's mounting face. Use an existing chuck to verify accuracy of the plug.
b) Drill/tap mounting holes in mounting plate & attach to lathe.
c) Turn the lathe side of the mounting plate, using the plug to verify accuracy.
d) Re-mount the mounting plate on the lathe, this time on the turned side, now turn the chuck side, using the chuck itself to verify accuracy.
e) Drill/tap holes for chuck & bolt to mounting plate.
Did I miss anything obvious?
Cheers!
Ade.