Lathe Setup Problems

[jonathan01]

Hello, I am new to machining, and I am running into a few problems setting my lathe up. I bought these manson ml-3 pads to give them a try for my lathe. Looking at these instructions, it looks like you use the bolt to level the lathe, which the only way I see the pads raising the lathe, is by the bolt bulging the bottom of the pad out, which in turn makes that pad thicker. If the pads are use like this, than i need to get shorter bolts or cut these down, because the pockets for the bolts are too short. I don't know is i am making and sense here, but any help is good.

here are some pictures of the mounts. I have one showing the way i think it is supposed to be, but the bolts are too long for the pocket. I also have it in a way that i could level them by raising the the low end with the nut.

Thanks for any help yall can give me,

Jonathan

 

[jonathan01]

Jonathan,

It appears these are designed to be used in a threaded mounting hole. In your case, this isn't true.

If you add another nut and washer to each bolt, you can hold the bolt and raise or lower the bottom nut to adjust the lathe height. Once you get it correct, tighten the top nut to hold it in place.

That's the way I plan to do it if I don't find out how these are made to work.

Thanks

 

[Bill Gruby]

Yup --- you got the wrong ones. Those do require the mounting hole to be threaded. As said just add another nut and bolt and you will be good to go.

"Billy G" :thinking:

 

[jonathan01]

Ok, thanks I will add another nut, and use them like that.

I am sure I week be adding some more problem questions here over the next week.

Thanks,
Jonathan

 

[Bill Gruby]

That is what we are here for Jonathan. We will be here.

"Billy G" )

 

[Tony Wells]

Little tip that helps makes this process easier, especially on heavy machines. With the machine elevated, like while on a forklift, run the leveling screws all the way down. Then as you level the machine, you are lowering it, much easier that jacking it up with a wrench. Of course, if you miss level a few times, you may end up all the way down anyway, but at least you have a few chances to hit it on the way down where the weight isn't a hindrance.

Also, it's good practice to recheck level a week or so later, then a month, and about every 6 months. Things sometimes change.

 

[Tom Griffin]

Guys, those mounts will work fine. The problem is they only have 5/8" of travel and the gap he is trying to use them in is much larger.


Johnathan, use them as follows:

1) Remove the bolt and slide the mount under the machine. If there is more than 5/8" gap above the mount, use a shim to raise it up (The shim should be larger than the mount).

2) Run the nut and washer on the bolt and screw the bolt in through the hole in the foot of the lathe until it bottoms out in the mount.

3) Continuing to screw the bolt into the mount will raise the mount up to 5/8".

4) Adjust the mounts until the machine is level, then run the nut and washer down against the top of the foot to lock the mount in place. The bolt is supposed to stick through.

I'm not sure why there is such a large gap under the feet. Is the floor that uneven? The last photo in your post is how they are to be used, you just need to shim them up or lower the lathe until it rests on the yellow part of the mounts.

Tom

 

[Hawkeye]

I got the same interpretation as Tom from the drawings. Too bad they didn't think it necessary to show how their parts work with your parts.

I'm thinking the large gap above the pad may be due to the machine being jacked up to install the pads.

 

[jonathan01]

Yes, the base is on a 2x4 standing on edge, so i can install the mounts.

So, the mounts should work how they should up to 5/8", if I get 2" bolts instead of the 3.5" bolts that came with it, because the pockets in my bases are only 2.5".

Thanks, I should have it now, I just need to find some 2" bolts in the garage.

 

[jonathan01]

...Also, it's good practice to recheck level a week or so later, then a month, and about every 6 months. Things sometimes change.

I will do that, I planed to check it the next day, than every week for 3 or 4 weeks, than once a month after that. If I am not seeing any changes, than i will go to every six months.

Thanks again, I am going out of town this weekend, so I will try install these pads and leveling it either sunday evening or monday evening.