[modeleng] Re: A level lathe

  • From: Jeff Dayman <jeffdayman@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 17:07:09 -0400

I do agree AJ.

My old South Bend lathe has a neat feature which helps eliminate twist - the 
tailstock end rests on a pivot foot, which allows the bed to settle without 
twisting. This allows the lathe to be bolted to wood or metal benches that 
may be a long way off level and or twisted but the lathe bed remains rigid 
and true.

Lathe leveling is a similar religion among some ME's along the lines of 
worshipping the god Myford and making extremely complicated tool and cutter 
grinders to sharpen $5.00 throwaway millling cutters and 50 cent drills. 
 >ahem< to each his own, however.

Cheers Jeff Dayman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Terry Lane" <tel.47@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 5:03 PM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: A level lathe


> Dead right you are AJ - a level machine means absolutely nothing, the
> lathe can be tilted fore and aft, or side to side to almost any angle
> and it won't make a scrap of difference, as long, as you say, there is
> no twist in the bed.
> On 8/07/2011 5:43 AM, Alan Stepney wrote:
>> I am sure we have all seen lengthy discussions on the best way to ensure
>> that a lathe is level.
>> Why?
>>
>> I dont believe that they need to be level at all.
>> I have a lathe that came off a Royal Navy Cruiser, and the one thing I 
>> can
>> guarantee is that, at times, the sea isnt level!
>>
>> The main thing is to ensure that the bed is not twisted in any way,  and 
>> the
>> headstock and tailstock in line, whether or not that line is level with 
>> the
>> surface of the earth or not, makes no difference.
>>
>> If it did, vertical borers  etc wouldnt work. Or rather, wouldnt give
>> accurate results, which they do.
>> The same would apply to face milling or fly cutting with a vetical mill.
>>
>>
>> Does anyone agree or disagree with me?
>>
>> Alan
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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