A tailstock for supporting a workpiece along a vertical rotary axis includes a base member, and a housing having a wall including a first end, and a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a central passage extending between the first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis. The second end is coupled to the base member. A workpiece support extends through the central passage. The workpiece support includes a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. A linear bearing is coupled to the base member in the central passage. The linear bearing slideably receives the second end of the workpiece support. A displacement sensor assembly includes a stationary portion mounted relative to one of the base member and the housing, and a moveable portion mounted to the second end of the workpiece support.

A method of supporting a rotating member of a tailstock includes rotating a rotating member coupled to a workpiece support slidably mounted in a housing of the tailstock, causing the rotating member to shift along a longitudinal axis in a first direction, and measuring an amount of vertical displacement of the rotating member.

A method of processing a workpiece includes supporting the workpiece on a tailstock extending along an axis, thermally processing the workpiece with a processing device, and displacing a portion of the tailstock assembly in response to thermal expansion of the workpiece as a result of processing with the thermal processing device.

A method of processing a workpiece includes supporting the workpiece on a tailstock extending along an axis, thermally processing the workpiece with a processing device, and displacing a portion of the tailstock assembly in response to thermal expansion of the workpiece as a result of processing with the thermal processing device.

An adjustable pipe center; the lathe-center may be useful for supporting the end of a rotating workpiece having a hollow along an axis upon which the workpiece is rotating. The adjustable pipe center includes a shaft, a center-head having keyways, a plurality of bearing-fins, and a plurality of power-screws. The center-head is fixed to the shaft and is able to fit within the hollow of the workpiece. The plurality of bearing-fins is able to fit and slide within the keyways, with each having a bearing-surface for contacting the workpiece. The bearing-surface is disposed at an angle to the shaft-axis between zero and ninety degrees. The bearing-fins may be translated, functioning as an inclined plane to displace a workpiece resting against it. When the bearing-fins are collectively translated as desired, it may laterally adjust the position of the workpiece-axis relative to the shaft-axis.

A center for use on a tailstock of a lathe is disclosed. The center comprises an elongated shaft having a proximal end to be secured in a tailstock of a lathe, and a distal end that includes a conical tip for insertion into a center hole in a workpiece. The center also comprises a pivotable arm having a proximal arm end that is rotatably and slidingly secured to the elongated shaft. The pivotable arm has a distal arm end that is rotatable into a position atop the conical tip. The distal arm end has a distal side that includes a center drill, and a proximal side that includes a recess that is seatable onto the conical tip. The conical tip and the center drill have the same rotational centerpoint when the distal arm end is positioned over the conical tip and the conical tip is placed within the recess.

A method of supporting a rotating member of a tailstock includes rotating a rotating member coupled to a workpiece support slidably mounted in a housing of the tailstock, causing the rotating member to shift along a longitudinal axis in a first direction, and measuring an amount of vertical displacement of the rotating member.

An adjustable pipe center; the lathe-center may be useful for supporting the end of a rotating workpiece having a hollow along an axis upon which the workpiece is rotating. The adjustable pipe center includes a shaft, a center-head having keyways, a plurality of bearing-fins, and a plurality of power-screws. The center-head is fixed to the shaft and is able to fit within the hollow of the workpiece. The plurality of bearing-fins is able to fit and slide within the keyways, with each having a bearing-surface for contacting the workpiece. The bearing-surface is disposed at an angle to the shaft-axis between zero and ninety degrees. The bearing-fins may be translated, functioning as an inclined plane to displace a workpiece resting against it. When the bearing-fins are collectively translated as desired, it may laterally adjust the position of the workpiece-axis relative to the shaft-axis.

A machining apparatus includes a processor configured to control an actuator to move a tailstock in a first direction at a first speed, to detect a contact between the tailstock and a workpiece based on a change in an input amount to the actuator while the actuator is controlled to move the tailstock at the first speed, to control the actuator to stop moving the tailstock when the contact is detected, to control the actuator to move the tailstock by a first distance in a second direction, to control the actuator to move the tailstock in the first direction at a second speed lower than the first speed, and to control the actuator to stop moving the tailstock, when the input amount to the actuator becomes a value corresponding to the target pressing force while the actuator is controlled to move the tailstock at the second speed.