So it's taken almost a year, but I'm now taking the calibration cuts on the lathe, and getting some lovely results. Variations are very small, and aligns with what is expected in the ML7 inspection sheet.
Taking some very nice cuts using hand-ground HSS on steel bar.
A couple of photos can seen below and the full story with photos and video of the runout tests over a 6" piece of bar can be see here.
I'll post up a full set of finished photos when I have had a chance to collate them.
Many thanks to all the people who helped with advice on these forums!
Matt

