When setting up a metal turning lathe, why is it so important that the lathe bed is set accurately horizontal?
by Lathe on Mar.24, 2009, under Engineering
Bill D asked:
I have been told that setting the lathe bed horizontal is important for the accuracy of the lathe but I cannot understand how it affects it. I understand that the lathe bed should be horizontal but I don’t understand why it is so important to be to be set very accurately.
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I have been told that setting the lathe bed horizontal is important for the accuracy of the lathe but I cannot understand how it affects it. I understand that the lathe bed should be horizontal but I don’t understand why it is so important to be to be set very accurately.
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March 27th, 2009 on 4:53 am
I don’t believe it is necessary
HOWEVER, it is important that the centre line from the head stock and the bed are exactly PARALLEL
Th whole lath could be on a sloping floor BUT if the datum centre line of the head stock and the lathe bed are not true to each other as the tool travels away from the head stock it will be closer or farther away from the centre line of your work piece
As an example : If the Head stock is not exactly 90 deg from the lathe bed ( say its 92 deg i.e. it leans slightly back from the bed) then when you reag the tail stock end of your work piece the diameter would be bigger than the diameter of the cut workpiece at the chuck
March 27th, 2009 on 5:17 pm
variance of cut, there are alignment sites on the machine the machine has to be within.00001 per inch reaSON being if there is any variance its multiplied over a distance. my machine has a 40 foot bed which is
480 inches imkagine 1/10 times 480 b
y the end of the cut it would be way off.
the floor itself doesnt have to be perfectly flat as you set the set screews and align the bed up.
oh is it a vtl or engine lathe.
March 28th, 2009 on 11:59 pm
# Axis of the work-piece and level of the lathe-bed should be perfectly horizontal for accurate machining.
-Other factor is forces.If both are parallel and not levelled , then the lathe will deteriorate considering its life in long run.
#IT IS Your Responsibility To PROPERLY LEVEL THE LATHE BED.
Because:
-A properly leveled lathe is the first essential for accurate work and long service life.
-The built-in accuracy of the lathe can be permanently destroyed by improper leveling.
-Satisfactory performance is impossible if the lathe bed is out of level as little as one thousandth of an inch.
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.
Pl. click on the following link:
March 29th, 2009 on 7:18 am
It is important that the metal turning lathe installedperfectly horizontal so that machined items in the head will be perfectly the same throughout the length of a long shaft. If the lathe is not level,the machined shaft may taper at the opposite end.