An industry-standard self-holding taper used extensively on drill presses and lathe tailstocks. The shallow angle creates intense friction when seated, locking the tool firmly in place to transmit torque without needing a drawbar. They are removed by driving a wedge into a slot behind the taper.
Heard on the job
Grab a number three Morse taper drill chuck for the tailstock so we can center drill this shaft.
Insider tip
Always wipe both the male taper and the female socket with a clean rag before seating them.
Also heard as
- MT