A pair of winding sticks, beloved of cabinet makers, will do the trick. The human eye is still the best known optical device! On 8/07/2011 7:40 AM, John Pagett wrote: > Gents, > > I agree that a lathe doesn't have to be level, it just musn't be twisted, > but here's the thing. If it is level, fore and aft and along the bed, then > it can't be twisted, and you can determine its levelness (levelity??) > relatively easily with a spirit level. How do you determine that a lathe > that is not level isn't also twisted? > > So I think the reason is simply that people haven't understood the rationale > behind the mantra. > > JohnP > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jeff Dayman"<jeffdayman@xxxxxxxxxxxx> > To:<modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 10:07 PM > Subject: [modeleng] Re: A level lathe > > > >> 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 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. >>>> >>>> To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, >>>> modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the >>>> subject >>>> line. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. >>> >>> To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, >>> modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject >>> line. >>> >>> >> MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. >> >> To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, >> modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject >> line. >> > MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, > modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject > line. > > MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.