live center

American  

[lahyv sen-ter] / ˈlaɪv ˌsɛn tər /

noun

Machinery.

1. a tapered rod, mounted in the headstock spindle of a lathe, upon which the work to be turned is placed.

---

Etymology

Origin of live center

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Work the cone pulley by hand at the same time, so that the cup or dead center will be forced deeply into the wood, so deeply that the live center will not continue to turn.

From A Course In Wood Turning by Milton, Archie S.

Never drive the wood onto the live center while in the spindle because serious injury may be done the machine by such practice.

From A Course In Wood Turning by Milton, Archie S.

The dead center end, which has been scored heavily before cutting off at the live center, is then removed by holding the grind of the chisel flat on the end of the cylinder.

From A Course In Wood Turning by Milton, Archie S.

I heard him observe, yesterday, that if he could only get his hands on enough ready money he’d like to swing into land business in a live center like Calgary.

From The Prairie Child by Ward. E. F. (Edmund Franklin)

Then replace the live center by taking the stock and center and forcing it into the spindle by a sudden push of the hand.

From A Course In Wood Turning by Milton, Archie S.