Gallery, Projects and General > How do I??

Leveling Denford lathe - has no levelling screws?

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loply:
Thanks for the advice everyone.

I got the precision level out today and checked the bed properly, it was twisted when bolted down just fingertight, with the tailstock end being I think about 0.3mm/m higher on the operator side.

Turns out I could undo this twist simply by tightening the bolts different amounts, so perhaps I don't need any adjuster screws after all! I think the sheet metal chip pan not being flat means it kind of acts like a spring.

The rest of the lathe is in bits so I can't check the headstock alignment at the moment.

Kjelle:
As several others has said, check with a precision level if the bed is twisted. Also, if you are interested, there are loads og threads on Practical Machinist about twisted lathe beds and leveling... I'm not an expert, but I'm inclined to think that the bed/head intersection has some kind of problem, if the head has been off. It don't take much to upset the alignment there.

Kjelle (giving my 2 €-cent)

bertie_bassett:
hmm you've got me wondering what my viceroy has now, wil have to brave the elements and get down in to the workshop!

I know it has three bolts through the base into the concrete floor, and I thought it had levelling feet on the actual lathe, but those "washers" look awfully familiar :s

DavidA:
Just been reading through my manual again.

I can't find any reference to alignment of the headstock to the bed.

There is the usual stuff about tailstock  and cross slide gibs etc, but not a mention that the headstock is in any way adjustable.
There is a mention of adjusting the main shaft bearings.
I suspect that the headstock is fixed.
Tomorrow I'll also brave the cold and go into the shed and have a good look at the machine.

Dave.

loply:
Hi folks,

Sorry about the confusion, the headstock has never been removed as far as I know, I just said that the bed had been removed from the steel stand.

The headstock is bolted down onto the bed with 4 cap screws which you can access via the rear cover, on my old Viceroy there were then two taper pins hammered in, on my new one there is a bar bolted across the bedways in front of the headstock, plus there appears to be some kind of tight fitting key between the headstock and the bed at the rear end too.

I'm rebuilding the whole lathe at present & servicing all parts, once it's back up and running I'll take another test cut and check the head alignment.

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