CENTEC 2B support bracket

Gentlemen, I have a centec 2B. I have the over arm but no support bracket for the outer end of the shaft. Will the one used on the Centec 2 fit ? Noel.

Hi noel,

Yes it will.

As with the vertical heads, arms and brackets from a 2, 2A and 2B will interchange as far as the dovetails go.

The bearing it's self may not exactly line up with the spindle. I have a 2 overarm on my 2A which required making an off centre bearing to get a sliding fit for the arm.

An alternative I used with a Centec I used to own, and for which I had to make a support bracket, would be to re-bore the bracket slightly over-size to take a new but concentric bearing.

Having rough-drilled the bracket, I fitted it to the over-arm, then slacked the over-arm clamps just enough for it to slide.

Next, I carefully clamped the bracket to a slotted angle-plate bolted first to the table, with spacers to allow the boring-tool to emerge.

I could then finish-bore the bracket with a small boring-head, taking only light cuts due to the large off-set loading on the cross-feed - not only the cutting but also pushing the heavy over-arm back.

(Why not keep the arm tight and slide the bracket? To give a much more stable travel.)

I have a Denbigh H4 horizontal mill, of similar size to the Centec but not as refined, and will adopt the same process for the new drop-bracket this needs.