Question 150General Subjects - QMED

The correct answer is A) 3/8 inch. To obtain a 1/2 inch per foot taper on an 18 inch work piece, the tailstock of the lathe must be set over 3/8 inch. This is because the taper is calculated as 1/2 inch per foot, and on an 18 inch workpiece, 1/2 inch per foot would equate to a total taper of 3/8 inch over the 18 inch length. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the 1/2 inch per foot taper requirement on an 18 inch workpiece. Setting the tailstock over 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch, or 7/8 inch would produce tapers that are either too large or too small for the given specifications.