Unibody lathe spindle liner

A method of minimizing out-of-concentric rotation of a workpiece within a hollow spindle of a turning machine during a machining process, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a workpiece, said workpiece being defined by a piece of tubular or bar stock;
• b. providing a unibody, elongated tubular member having a central though-opening extending along its entire length and concentric with the spindle, said liner having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the spindle to provide minimal play between the liner and the spindle, said central through-opening of said liner being formed for mating with said workpiece, so as to slidably receive the workpiece within the central though-opening with minimal play between the workpiece and the liner, and a flanged shoulder portion arranged at one end thereof for securing said liner to the terminus end of the spindle, said liner being of a unitary construction;
• c. placing aid liner within the hollow spindle of said turning machine and securing the flange of said liner to the terminus end of the spindle;
• and
• d. slidably placing the workpiece through the central through-opening of said liner such that the distal end of the workpiece extends beyond the distal end of said liner such that the distal end of the workpiece may be machined and contacting the workpiece substantially along its length within the liner to minimize wobble of the workpiece during the machining process.

A method of protecting a workpiece from damage within a hollow spindle of a turning machine during a machining process, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a workpiece, said workpiece being defined by a piece of tubular or bar metal stock;
• b. providing a generally elongated tubular member having a central through-opening extending along its entire length, said member having an outer diameter smaller than the interior diameter of the spindle to provide minimal play between the member and the spindle, said central through-opening of said member being formed for mating with said workpiece, so as to slidably receive the workpiece within the central through-opening with minimal play between the workpiece and the member, the cross-sectional shapes of the central though-opening and of the workpiece being immaterial so long as the workpiece is receivable within the central through-opening of said member, and a flanged shoulder portion arranged at one end thereof for securing said liner to the terminus end of the spindle, said spindle member being constructed of plastic material;
• c. placing said member within the hollow spindle of said turning machine and securing the flange of said liner to the terminus end of the spindle;
• and
• d. slidably placing the workpiece through the central through-opening of said member such that the distal end of the workpiece extends beyond the distal end of said member such that the distal end of the workpiece may be machined, and contacting the workpiece substantially along its length within the member to prevent the workpiece from contacting the interior wall of the spindle during the machining process.