Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Lathe Setup Question

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Southeastern CT
    Posts
    141

    Lathe Setup Question

    So I got the new Revo 18-36 setup today, and I have a question.

    Is this small amount of misalignment something I need to adjust? The photo is taken horizontally, the points are aligned when looking down vertically.

    Thanks,

    Mike

    PS: For some reason the forum rotated my photo, as stated this was taken looking horizontally at the points.

    Edit: On second look they aren’t aligned when looking down from the top either.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by John K Jordan; 01-18-2020 at 9:04 PM. Reason: rotated the photo

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    E TN, near Knoxville
    Posts
    12,298
    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Hollis View Post
    So I got the new Revo 18-36 setup today, and I have a question.

    Is this small amount of misalignment something I need to adjust? The photo is taken horizontally, the points are aligned when looking down vertically.

    Thanks,

    Mike

    PS: For some reason the forum rotated my photo, as stated this was taken looking horizontally at the points.

    Edit: On second look they aren’t aligned when looking down from the top either.
    I took the liberty to rotate the photo.

    The first thing I try when points are not aligned is adjust the leveler of (or shim) one leg of the stand. In your case, I would crank the right front leg up a little and see if that brought the points into alignment when viewed from the top. This has worked in all lathes I've tried it on, one in a the middle of a demo when Mark StLeger said the misalignment would mess with the next step in his demo. The cast iron bed is actually flexible and adjusting one leg will twist the entire bed a little.

    I don't have experience with the vertical misalignment. Usually just the horizontal is out. Maybe adjust it will change the other, I don't know.

    BTW, is the misalignment consistent as you rotate the center in the headstock spindle or the live center taper in the tailstock? If not, maybe check for debris or a burr. A taper cleaner is handy.

    JKJ
    Last edited by John K Jordan; 01-18-2020 at 9:12 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    E TN, near Knoxville
    Posts
    12,298
    I forgot to say the misalignment doesn't make much difference on long spindles but can cause problems with smaller, precision work where the tailstock is closer to the headstock.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Lebanon, TN
    Posts
    1,719
    It looks like you can adjust the side to side alignment on both the headstock and tailstock, page 35-36 of the 24-36 manual, probably a fee pages earlier in the 18-36 manual.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Posts
    1,561
    Blog Entries
    1
    You can buy various thicknesses of steel shims. 002", .003" and so forth.
    I'd give that a try.
    Last edited by Bill Jobe; 01-19-2020 at 8:28 AM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Haubstadt (Evansville), Indiana
    Posts
    1,294
    Well you don’t know if it is the lathe or your revolving center. I never like using a revolving center to check the alignment. If you have another spur center use that or borrow one. You can adjust that lathe, but wouldn’t until you can further check.
    When working I had more money than time. In retirement I have more time than money. Love the time, miss the money.

  7. #7
    My 18/36 was out a bit when I got it. When I turned it by hand I could see that the pointed pin in the spur center was bent a bit. Laguna sent me a new spur center and everything was fine after that...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    Greeley, CO
    Posts
    192
    That small amount of mis-alignment could be some particles in the MT taper. I'd leave it be and start turning and burning.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Lummi Island, WA
    Posts
    665
    as JKJ mentioned - I’d check the bed for level and twist. Cast iron beds are easily flexed by not leveling the feet. Check both across the ways and along the ways and get it level before doing anything like shimming - you may just find that its back in alignment. Also well worth making sure your centers are accurate and the tapers are clean and free of burrs.

  10. #10
    The revo has steel beds but are still adjustable for twist. Just try and level both ways on the bed, mine after levelling was true out of the box

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •