Mounting lathe to the bench

[mickri]

I am getting close to when I can start using my lathe again. One thing I want to do is to be able to adjust the height of the lathe mounting bolts instead of using shims to remove twist from the lathe bed and to get the lathe bed at least close to being level. Twist and level are different. A lathe doesn't need to be level. It just can't have twist in the bed.

The bench top for my lathe is almost 2" thick. This doesn't include the top of the work bench the lathe sits on. First plan was to drill all the way through the lathe bench top and the work bench and run long bolts with a nut to hold the bolt to the bench and another nut to adjust the height of the lathe. This seems like overkill to me. And would have the lathe sitting over an inch above the bench top. Going back to my experience with sailboats it is common to set mounting bolts in epoxy where you don't have access to put a nut on the end of the bolt. Why couldn't I do this to mount my lathe to the bench. Drill an oversize hole in the bench top. Then fill the hole with epoxy and threaded rod. If I don't put mold release wax on the threaded rod the threaded rod will be glued to the bench top. Would only need an adjusting nut. This would keep the lathe closer to the bench top and reduce any lateral forces on the threaded rod.

Is this another one of my crazy ideas that needs to relegated to the dust bin?

 

[Aukai]

Use 1/2 nuts maybe....

 

[silence dogood]

I don't see why not. I replaced the bolts that held the column to my mill with studs. Placed nuts on the bottom side of the column flange and nuts on the top side of the flange. Makes it a lot easier to tram, instead of using shims. One thing that you might consider is add riser blocks under the feet of the lathe. Raised my lathe an inch and a quarter. Made it a lot easier to clean up and find a dropped part.

 

[mikey]

Chuck, I would use the following config from Emco if you can:

 

[silence dogood]

Chuck, I would use the following config from Emco if you can:

View attachment 400807

Perfect!

 

[mickri]

I don't know if the emco config would work on my lathe. Except for where the mounting holes are the bottom of the bed of the lathe is only about 3/8" wide. Where the mounting holes are is about 1.25" diameter. I will have to think about it. It's going to be a couple of weeks before I can do anything. The kitchen cabinets for my new place arrive next Thursday. I have to remove the old cabinets and possibly level the floor before the new cabinets arrive. The old kitchen cabinets are going into the laundry room. I had to do a complete remodel of the laundry. It is almost done. All that is left is to plumb the drain on the outlet box, close up the wall and ceiling, and install the plug for the dryer. That way as I remove the old cabinets from the kitchen I can hang them in the laundry.

Remodeling a house is a never ending project.

 

[Bi11Hudson]

Remodeling a house is a never ending project.

Been "remodeling" mine for nearly 50 years now. The house outlasted me, I can't walk now and there's still work needs doing. Ces't la vie, wife is a Canuck. . . Sh// Stuff happens. . . Actually, she is US born but over half her family (both sides) lives in Quebec.

Mounting the lathe has a number of possibilities. Facing your problems, I would use long carriage bolts with enough excess length to add shims. For machines with single mounting points, the below is a good system, allowing for jacking screws instead of shims. Just be sure to add lock nuts. . .

Chuck, I would use the following config from Emco if you can:

View attachment 400807

My personal mount includes a homemade chip pan and risers.(6ft3in) All that is mounted on a steel frame. I designed it but had it built commercially.(too much overtime) Essentially, it resembles the Atlas cast steel frame, just taller.

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