Inspired by Barron John's build of the Norman Patent QCTP, I have commenced a build of my own.
Because my lathe has a rather large distance between the top of the cross slide and the centreline of the lathe, I need to build a pretty solid rigid post.
Just happened to have laying around the w'shop a piece that might lend itself nicely.

It is a piece of steel shaft 45mm diam. with what appears to be a pressed on flange which is welded in a machined cavity under the flange. The flange is 15mm thick, 85mm diam.

Question 1. Will that likely be rigid enough, or do I need a thicker base/flange?
Question 2. If the above will be adequate, I am thinking of turning the bottom of the flange out to a depth of about 0.25mm, to about 5mm from the outer edge, so that when the flange/base sits on the cross slide, it will be only contact on the outer 5mm.
The shaft/post will be bored out for a centre bolt, into a "T" nut which will fit the cross slide "T" slot. Tool positioning will be achieved by rotation of the whole unit when the centre bolt is loosened.
I hope that all makes sense. Cheers.


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