Master precision Machinist level

tim81 said:
Hi guys,

I was looking into the measuring tools for lathe/mill and I found this”

Accusize Industrial Tools 12'' Master Precision Level in Fitted Box, Accuracy 0.0002''/10'', S908-C687”​

while venturing on Amazon:


Do I need to get a precision machinist level at my very very early stages of learning.

=Tim
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One thing to keep in mind and everyone likely knows this but I'll mention it anyway, being level with the earth is nice but not the goal, the real goal is to get the ways level with themselves, it your lathe is off level by (sloping to the back) .001 at the head stock and off level by(sloping to the back) .001 at the tail stock end you're okay.
 
Im very new to machine work
I often ask myself
$130 for a new precision level .0002” accuracy? Can I find a better Used unit for the same costs?

Much of it comes down to cost/need/want and budget

I have very little budget for new tools or equipment so I make do.

I have a 1990s smithy 1220 and its not capable of anything great in my hands. I called upon a friends dad, retired machinist who worked at the long closed ship yard. I knew he had levels and set up large lathes.
When he came to inspect my little lathe he laughed at me me about “leveling” my lathe.
He says its in a shed on floating on a crushed stone foundation ,
Along with the way rails being so short. Your going to fight deflection in this small lathe more than any leveling will help. He installed his test rod set up some indicators and said as it sits it will deliver the accuracy the machine claims IF you can.

I did pick up one of those small staretts for short money. I have not used it yet….
 
mac1911 said:
He says its in a shed on floating on a crushed stone foundations
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I'm not quite sure what he means by this. Is he talking about a literal perpendicularity to gravity's pull? That's kinda irrelevant.

Is he talking about day to day, month to month, year to year variation? If the lathe is bolted to a sufficiently rigid surface(the required rigidity being in proportion to the mass of the lathe), the lathe's level with reference to itself (i.e., bed twist etc.) will depend on that rigid surface not the variation of the foundations (absent some serious tectonic shift :D)
mac1911 said:
Your going to fight deflection in this small lathe more than any leveling will help.
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He's certainly got a point there, but if one is aiming to measure deviation from expected performance (as we all want to, when setting up any machine tool; or else we'd not bother with DTIs :D) it's handy to at least have a go at removing as many variables as one can.
 
I'd like to buy a decent level, but with so much bashing on the extreme accuracy units, I'm afraid to pull the trigger. @Choiliefan , the only VIS units on eBay currently, are all quite expensive. Where are the "made in Taiwan" (or similar decent quality, but not crazy expensive) units?
 
Nesse1 I keep a few active searches of items I'm looking for on ebay and am notified of new auctions as they are added for things like Federal dial indicators, Sherline lathe accessories, black Levis in my size, etc. It's usually worth the wait.
 
RJSakowski said:
I used my lathes for almost fifty years before buying a precision machinists level.
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I’d say that’s the most relevant information for the OP, who is brand spanking new and wondering if he needs to throw money at an extremely rarely needed item.

I might even go so far as to say RJSakowsi completely predictably made good parts for the whole fifty years…without a precision level.
 
jwmay said:
I’d say that’s the most relevant information for the OP, who is brand spanking new and wondering if he needs to throw money at an extremely rarely needed item.

I might even go so far as to say RJSakowsi completely predictably made good parts for the whole fifty years…without a precision level.
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Hahahahhahahaha you guys are awesome. Whiteout you guys it would have been an uphill battle of lost money and useless purchases.


Thanks to all of you :)
 
Getting twist out (leveling) your lathe is one thing you can do to chase precision. It’s far
from the only thing though.

Not sure anyone has mentioned it yet but this matters more the longer the parts you make are. If you’re turning a precision axle that will be ruined if it’s off by .001” over 2 ft. then it’s going to matter. If your part is 3” long and can be within .005” then not so much.

I haven’t leveled my lathe even though I purchased one of those fancy precision levels a while back. It makes parts as good as I could expect with my skills.

For your chicken feeder project I think you’ll be just fine without the fancy level.


John
 
matthewsx said:
Getting twist out (leveling) your lathe is one thing you can do to chase precision. It’s far
from the only thing though.

Not sure anyone has mentioned it yet but this matters more the longer the parts you make are. If you’re turning a precision axle that will be ruined if it’s off by .001” over 2 ft. then it’s going to matter. If your part is 3” long and can be within .005” then not so much.

I haven’t leveled my lathe even though I purchased one of those fancy precision levels a while back. It makes parts as good as I could expect with my skills.

For your chicken feeder project I think you’ll be just fine without the fanc
matthewsx said:
Getting twist out (leveling) your lathe is one thing you can do to chase precision. It’s far
from the only thing though.

Not sure anyone has mentioned it yet but this matters more the longer the parts you make are. If you’re turning a precision axle that will be ruined if it’s off by .001” over 2 ft. then it’s going to matter. If your part is 3” long and can be within .005” then not so much.

I haven’t leveled my lathe even though I purchased one of those fancy precision levels a while back. It makes parts as good as I could expect with my skills.

For your chicken feeder project I think you’ll be just fine without the fancy level.


John
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
hshahahaahahadd I am getting the drift man ;)
 
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