Is there any such thing as a stock shaft material?

[gavztheouch]

I'm in the process of designing a prototype machine that has a few large say 2-3m shafts @ 25mm-32mm diameter. I do not have a lathe big enough to machine the ends of the shaft to fit bearings and taper locks bushing. Is it possible to buy a stock piece of steel that is ground or turned to take a standard size of bearing. What would you call this stock and where would you buy it?

Thanks

[Clive S]

I'm in the process of designing a prototype machine that has a few large say 2-3m shafts @ 25mm-32mm diameter. I do not have a lathe big enough to machine the ends of the shaft to fit bearings and taper locks bushing. Is it possible to buy a stock piece of steel that is ground or turned to take a standard size of bearing. What would you call this stock and where would you buy it?

Thanks

Could you not have it machined at the local engineers machine shop 32mm is not that big for an engineering company to deal with.

[Neale]

If you do a search for ground bar stock you will find some suppliers. It seems to be available up to 3m lengths fairly easily and a range of diameters. You might be able to find a local supplier.

[dodgygeeza]

Zapp have ground shaft and i think they will be able to machine the ends for you.
this is a link.
http://www.zappautomation.co.uk/mech...-rail-385.html

[magicniner]

Stock material for shafts is called shafting, google, for instance, 25mm shafting

- Nick

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[Jonathan]

Perhaps you could get round the small lathe problem by machining it in separate pieces? Machine the ends you require on something shorter, then join it to the steel bar (e.g. press fit, key, etc)? Unless the runout required is really strict (seems unlikely due to the length), that should be fine...

Or just find someone with a not tiny lathe. Mine has a 38mm spindle bore. Not sure about 3m long though - there may be a wall in the way!