TJR Precision Technology offers three types of tailstocks (manual, automatic, strong) for utilization with their rotary tables and indexers.
Manual
The TJ/TTJ is the most popular series of manual tailstocks. Both series use a Morse tapered center to enable the support of a long workpiece on a rotary table during the machining process. The center is easily moved forward and backward by rotating the handle on the rear of the tailstock.
Automatic
The ATTJ/HTTJ series automatic tailstocks functions just as the manual tailstock but is pneumatically or hydraulically actuated.
Rotary
The rotary tailstock is ideal for applications that involve large heavy workpieces or for use with a tombstone or fixture plate. The rotary tailstock uses a pneumatic or hydraulic brake system to ensure the workpiece or fixture remains rigid during the machining process.
Contact CNC Indexing & Feeding Technologies for help selecting the proper tailstock for your application.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tailstocks
Tailstocks are used to support long parts on a lathe or rotary table.
The answer depends on the length of the piece. For short-length pieces, you can get by without a tailstock. However, a tailstock for long, slender pieces — such as a rifle barrel — a tailstock is vital to ensure accurate machining without distortion or chatter. Read more
The center of the tailstock is aligned with the center of the spindle if it comes from the factory. If the tailstock is added to a rotary table, the center height of the tailstock is matched to the center height of the rotary table. If you want to check the alignment, you would use an indicator sweep of the tailstock quill. Indicators can be mounted to either the lathe spindle or the rotary table faceplate. Tailstocks can be adjusted side to side, but if the center height is off you will either need to add shims if it is low or remove material if it is high.
There are manual, hydraulic, pneumatic tailstocks, and there are tailstocks with built in live centers. In the case of rotary tables, you can also get a heavy duty tailstock which looks more like a another rotary table to support heavy parts.
There are dead centers and live centers. Dead centers that do not turn are almost always used on manual machine tools or rotary table tailstocks. Live centers, with built in bearings, are commonly used on CNC machines and where higher RPMs are required.
