> I am looking for an official drawing or spec sheet on a taper that isn't
> listed in the Machinery Handbook and doesn't seem to exist on the
> Google-search-braintrust called the Internet...
>
> It's apparently known as the A-O (aye-ooh) taper and is short for
> American Optics.
>
> Apparently, it's a taper that has been around for 50+ years and used by
> folks in the optical industry to hold specialized tooling. But because
> the tooling is hand loaded in many cases (not for long if I have
> something to say about it), the taper isn't all that precise.
>
> Well... In my industry, precision is key so if a drawing(s) exist
> anywhere, I'd love to compare them.
>
> Problem is, I can't find a single one.
>
> Any A-O taper experts out there with links to drawings?
There is an Electro-Optical Engineer on news:sci.electronics.design named Phil Hobbs that might be able to help you. I added the group, since there are a lot of knowledgeable people on that group.