Millwright Level 1 Practice Exam 2025 - Free Millwright Practice Questions and Study Guide

The Morse taper is the standard type commonly found in the tailstock of lathes and other machinery that require precise alignment and secure tool holding. It features a special design where the taper has a ratio of 1:20, meaning that for every 20 units of length, the diameter decreases by 1 unit. This configuration ensures a strong, self-locking fit, making it ideal for securely holding tooling such as drill bits or live centers.

Using a Morse taper provides consistent performance due to its ability to withstand radial and axial forces encountered during machining operations. When inserted into the tailstock, the taper provides a stable and reliable connection that requires no additional locking mechanism, simplifying setup and operation. The other types of tapers, such as conical, Acme, or metric tapers, are used in different applications and do not match the specific requirements for the tailstock interface effectively.