FILENAMES: PartCarrierForSteadyRest.jpg DESCRIPTION: This is a picture of a lathe steady rest accessory. Posted by BillDarby . Bill provided the following description: ======================================================================== BACKGROUND This jpg ( PartCarrierForSteadyRest.jpg) Is an illustration of an idea that I've have had for several years and was discussed in the following post. Subject: Re: Steadies Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 14:17:22 -0400 From: BillDarby In effect this part carrier acts much like a four jaw chuck, having it's own spindle out in the steady rest. It is free to rotate (as driven by the actual spindle)on it's own bearings. PURPOSE The carrier is designed to function within the standard steady rest. It must itself be centered in the steady and once centered should remained so until disturbed. The carrier will accmodate: Normal symmetrical stock, IE that which could be carried by any normal steady. The advantage being that one need not concern himself with lubrication and maintaining an appropriate tension on the adjusters. Slotted parts since the part is not turning on the adjusters, slots in the part are of no concern. Parts with knurled or textured finishes. Again the adjusters do not slide on the surface so surface texture would be no more problem then being clamped in a four jaw. Odd shaped parts, (square, hex, oval, etc) need only be adjusted to turn on the desired center. IE the main bearing on a crank could be offset enough to turn a crank throw. The greatest advantage that I see is that it lets you turn all sorts of shapes with diameters much in excess of the through hole in your spindle AND it allows you to select the desired center just as if it were in a four jaw on the spindle. CONSTRUCTION 1. Construction is very simple. I have not yet constructed the carrier but the idea is as follows: 2. Determine the maximum diameter your steady rest can accommodate and obtain as large a sealed bearing as the rest will take. 3. Cut a short length of heavy wall pipe and turn it as a press fit into the sealed bearing leaving a slight shoulder to ensure correct alignment in pressing. 4. Depending on the actual size of your carrier it will be possible to drill and tap at least four adjuster holes, eight would be better but that is much a matter of preference. (One might wish to have three , six or twelve adjusters) or perhaps build both a three and a four (multiple) DRAWBACKS The major drawback with using this device is that it is not inherently accurate. The steady rest by itself is inherently accurate. That is to say that if you have the adjusters on a steady, snug and the part is round then any hole turned in the end of it will be exactly concentric and round. ********The carrier must be centered in the steady rest but of even more importance the part must be adjusted in the carrier so that the desired center is precisely on the center of rotation. (As one does when setting up to drill a hole in a part held in a four jaw)