Lathe Riser Foot Material?

[ACHiPo]

I'm looking for recommendations for material for riser feet for my lathe which weighs ~3000 lbs. I want to lift it up about 6", so was thinking 6" 12L41 or something similar, but can't find 12L41 in big enough diameter. Would aluminum be ok or too soft (the adjustable lathe feet have hemispherical bottoms, so I thought I'd machine a vee in the riser feet that would keep things from moving.

Any suggestions for scrap sources since the material really doesn't matter much as long as it doesn't deform/move.

 

[dpb]

I think if you matched the profile of the adjustable feet to a machined indent in the aluminum, you wouldn’t have any problem. Perhaps it would dig into the aluminum a few thousandths, but I don’t think it would be a continuing problem.
You could also use thick walled steel tubing, and machine a foot for the bottom, and a cap for the top.

 

[dpb]

My lathe (1700 lbs) and mill (2300 lbs) both sit on aluminum feet that I made. Movement is minimal, and I assume it’s seasonal movement of the shop floor, rather than anything to do with the feet themselves.

 

[pontiac428]

You could do something like this using poly mounts. These are for my mill and don't scale well to photography; the poly mount shafts are 3/4" and the bars are 1x2" CRS. Raises the machine 4 to 6" and the poly mounts are around $20/ea. Most large lathes can be set up this way.

 

[mksj]

You could use some 4x4 heavy gauge square tubing, tap and bolt into the top where the current adjustment holes are, get some adjustable steel feet and mount them a bit more outboard. S&W Leveling feet in 1/2 or 5/8" are rigid. My lathe stand and my mill have welded in threaded inserts so I can adjust the height by turning the stud and then just lock a single nut. Something similar to below but your lathe would sit on to of the tubing, 3 pieces going front to back. Should be able to pick up square steel tubing at a local yard for not much.

4" x 4" x 3ga (.250") Steel Square Tube A500 | Online Prices

Buy 4" x 4" x .250"wall Steel Square Tube A500 at the cheapest online prices! You Need it! We will Cut it!

www.metals4uonline.com

Steel Level-It™ (Stud Style, Inch) | S&W Manufacturing

www.swmanufacturing.com

 

[Suzuki4evr]

My big lathe weighs in at 1500Kg (about 3300 pounds) and I used solid HDPE 120mm (4.724") at the base tapered off to the top at 4.724" height. My lathe has 4 setting bolts on both ends of the lathe,8 total. I did this about a year and a half ago and it is still good,but I guess any steel would be more preferable.

Michael

 

[mikey]

Would aluminum be ok or too soft (the adjustable lathe feet have hemispherical bottoms, so I thought I'd machine a vee in the riser feet that would keep things from moving.

If I'm reading this correctly, the adjustable feet of the lathe will bear directly on this riser such that you have the entire weight of the machine loaded on those adjustable bolts. If that is so, I would use steel. Steel is 250% denser than aluminum, is more resistant to abrasion and will not cost a lot more if you can find drops on ebay.

 

[extropic]

You could use some 4x4 heavy gauge square tubing, tap and bolt into the top where the current adjustment holes are, get some adjustable steel feet and mount them a bit more outboard. S&W Leveling feet in 1/2 or 5/8" are rigid. My lathe stand and my mill have welded in threaded inserts so I can adjust the height by turning the stud and then just lock a single nut. Something similar to below but your lathe would sit on to of the tubing, 3 pieces going front to back. Should be able to pick up square steel tubing at a local yard for not much.

4" x 4" x 3ga (.250") Steel Square Tube A500 | Online Prices

Buy 4" x 4" x .250"wall Steel Square Tube A500 at the cheapest online prices! You Need it! We will Cut it!

www.metals4uonline.com

Steel Level-It™ (Stud Style, Inch) | S&W Manufacturing

www.swmanufacturing.com

View attachment 328986

That's a very nice looking mobile base.
I'm wondering why you put the massive block(s?) on top of the caster(s?)?
Please explain the purpose/reason.

 

[Canus]

I used 6" wide flange beam to raise my 16" Southbend. Worked fine.

 

[ACHiPo]

Good input all! Will search for eBay drops. My preference is steel, but I think aluminum could work ok.