Dear Machinists:

This is probably a stupid question, but I don't know the answer:

I own a lathe and think I know the basic operations, but I really
can't figure a simple way to finish a piece of rod (say 400mm long)
to its precise length: I can feed it through the spindle hole and
face the first end, then reverse and face the 2nd end, but I cannot
measure the precise length (I own a 600mm caliper) while it is chucked...
If I remove it to measure, then I'll have to locate the end precisely
to cut just a little more... Nothing like when turning to a precise
diameter where, after a cut, I can stop the lathe and measure with a
micrometer without disturbing the position of the work and the bit,
so my next cut can be very accurate...

If I mount the rod "between centers", then I can measure without removing,
but it's difficult to face, and I would need a special dead center on
the tailstock...

I could mount it on the mill, using 2 V-blocks, and mill the ends using
the sides of an end-mill, but I never heard of doing it this way, and I
fear the finish will be much worse than what facing on the lathe will
achieve...

Am I missing something?

Nelson