Datum for Lathe Leveling

[Cadillac]

Shars has a 12” precision level in their monthly sales flyer for 85.00. Sign up for their email list u get 10% off.

 

[Janderso]

I like the 10% off. Good advice.
I'm a Shars owner, 12" precision level!!!!!
Maybe I can detect my twist now.
Thank you very much.

 

[epanzella]

I use the Shars prec lvl on the flats with 1-2-3 blocks. When I first set up my lathe every time I raised a foot off the concrete I had to wait a day for it to come down. I also have an MT5 test bar that plugs right into my spindle bore. Very handy.

 

[rgray]

Have a look at 'Build something cool' on the you tube. has a simple pendulum level very simple and accurate. Then,(opening can of worms), try Rollie's dads method to check alignment.

Definitely try the "Rollie's dads method" if your trying to stop cutting a taper. Amazed me how little change to an adjustment on the feet changes the twist on the lathe bed.
Leveling is not necessary but nice.

 

[ddickey]

I have all six feet bearing load now. I was able to get the HS side level with small adjustment to the outside. Then to get the TS in line I ended up with .005" Shim directly under the two lathe feet (outermost or backside). Took a test cut with no TS support and cut .0005" taper in about 7 inches. Larger on the TS end. I'll let it sit and try again in a few weeks.

 

[Chuck K]

What was the diameter of your test bar. You could easily deflect 0.0005.

 

[ddickey]

3.6"

 

[Chuck K]

Thats a beefy bar, but I would still wonder about deflection. I guess it would depend on the tool and depth of cut.

 

[ddickey]

It was also Aluminum I think 7075. Still pretty beefy.

 

[Richard King 2]

I answered this same question a few weeks back on another forum. I set the level on the top of the saddle and use it as a sled to check the path of the tool after I level the bed long ways. I usually leave the bed slightly higher on headstock end so the coolant in the bed flows toward the tail-stock end where generally the coolant pump is at. Just last week I did a repair on a Sharp 1440 lathe and the saddle inverted V and Tailstock inverted V ways were not the same height, so setting the level on top of the cross-slide flat worked perfect.

On many of the old American Iron like Lodge and Shipley the manuals told you to set a parallel on the saddle wings and put a level on there so you follow the path. Look at figure 8 -- http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/2104/3558.pdf

Has anyone here ever leveled a slant bed lathe?