On my web site someone posted this comment concerning lathe centers: >
> "I may be wrong but I was taught years ago that the difference between a
> live center and a dead center was whether there was power to it. A center
> is a center. Calling a ball bearing center a "live" center, I was taught
> is not correct. The headstock center is a live center, the tailstock
> center is a dead center, ball bearings or not. Anybody have a better take > on this?"
"The Lathe Book" by Ernie Conover says "There are two types of tailstock centers: dead centers and live centers".
He then goes on to to describe and explain the differences and advantages/disadvantages of each.
The "drive center" goes in the headstock and is different from dead centers and live centers.
-Doug