IT IS Your Responsibility To PROPERLY LEVEL THE LATHE BED
Do It RIGHT! Keep It RIGHT!
Because:AN IMPROPERLY LEVELED LATHE WILL
- CHATTER
- TURN TAPER
- BORE TAPER
- FACE CONVEX OR CONCAVE
- SCORE BED AND CARRIAGE WAYS
- SCORE SPINDLE
- RUIN SPINDLE BEARINGS
- MAKE CARRIAGE BIND
- TWIST HEADSTOCK AND SPINDLE, BED, CARRIAGE AND TAILSTOCK OUT OF ALIGNMENT RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE UNEVEN WEAR.
WHAT IS A PROPERLY LEVELED LATHE? On an accurately leveled lathe the bed ways are parallel or level with each other both lengthwise and crosswise.
1. A rigid bench or floor stand must be used for mounting the lathe. Bench top must have a clear semi-hard or hardwood top at least 1-5/8" thick, cleated or well doweled to form a rigid table. Do not use soft woods or boards not cleated together.
2. Bench legs should be of heavy construction, preferably 4" x 4" lumber, well braced and securely anchored to bench top. Provide legs with lugs for bolting bench securely to floor. Overall height of bench should be approximately 30 or 32 inches.
3. Level the floor stand or bench before mounting lathe, this will omit excessive shimming when leveling lathe bed. Use a precision machinists level, placing skims as required between bench legs and floor to accurately level bench top. BOLT BENCH TO FLOOR.
4. Mount the lathe on the floor stand or bench. If bench is used, mark and drill four 3/8" diameter holes in bench top under corresponding holes in lathe legs. Do not bolt lathe securely in position.
1. Using only a precision machinist spirit level, check level readings at the positions shown in Figure 1 above. A VERY SENSITIVE LEVEL MUST BE USED. A sensitive level should move the bubble approximately 1/8" when a .003" shim is placed under one end of lathe.
2. Level readings in the four positions must be identical. Compensate variations of bubble readings with thin metal shims placed around bolts between lathe legs and bench top until bubble readings are identical. See Figure 2 for approximate size of shim.
3. Shim should be the only contact point with the bench top. If outer or inner edges of bench legs bear on bench top, bed is apt to be bowed or twisted when lathe is bolted down.
4. Bolt lathe securely in position and recheck level readings. Variations in bolt pressure may twist the lathe bed out of level.
5. The levelness of the lathe should be inspected at frequent intervals, especially before and after machining heavy work.
IF SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE IS NOT OBTAINED OR OPERATING INACCURACIES OCCUR, CHECK THE LATHE BED AND MAKE SURE IT IS PERFECTLY LEVEL.