I was doing some tests on an Iscar r8 er16 collet chuck today and I stumbled on a very minor issue today.
I found out that locking my X axis travel is slightly lifting my table. It's only up to 0.001" if the locks are quite snug. I worked through the gib and it was set very nicely.
I re-trammed my table with the x and y locks off and the Z locks on. I loosened the Z locks with zero table movement. I noticed a couple tenths of movement locking the Y and about 0.0005" lightly locking the X.
With no locks on at all I could not see any table wiggle pulling up and down on the ends of the table.
I believe the X table lock lift is actually distortion of the casting it rests on and nothing to do with the gib settings or locks themselves.
Quick tip: unscrew the locks and look at the ends of the threaded part. They are rough as heck. I threw mine in the lathe and faced and chamfered them. They work so much nicer now.
I found out that locking my X axis travel is slightly lifting my table. It's only up to 0.001" if the locks are quite snug. I worked through the gib and it was set very nicely.
I re-trammed my table with the x and y locks off and the Z locks on. I loosened the Z locks with zero table movement. I noticed a couple tenths of movement locking the Y and about 0.0005" lightly locking the X.
With no locks on at all I could not see any table wiggle pulling up and down on the ends of the table.
I believe the X table lock lift is actually distortion of the casting it rests on and nothing to do with the gib settings or locks themselves.
Quick tip: unscrew the locks and look at the ends of the threaded part. They are rough as heck. I threw mine in the lathe and faced and chamfered them. They work so much nicer now.