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engineers level

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bogstandard:
Jason,

I think you will find that the two level areas on the bed are ground at the same height.

A pair of 1-2-3 blocks or thick parallels would allow you to straddle the angly sticky up bits (prismatic faces).

So now getting even more expensive, level, blocks (paras), cabinet stand to keep everything rigid, concrete base to stand everything on, new glasses so you can see the minute changes etc, etc.



I know exactly how you feel. You only want to do a quickie job, but finances are holding you back, and family should always come first.

Been there, got the t-shirt, just about to get the baseball cap. I've got a big space on my bench for a small CNC mill, but paying the mortgage and eating has priority. One fine day I will be able to fill the hole, but not yet.

It is a shame I or any other member wasn't a little closer, sharing tools on these rare occasions can save a lot of cash.

Now for a bit of preaching.
 
It's nice if you have old (or new) tooling you will never use, to be passed on to someone who can. Or offer it at a price that suits both parties, rather than an auction price.

Stew did it with me with the die filer, other friends come here also bearing gifts, and I do it all the time when things come in to me from my contacts or if I upgrade tooling. If it helps someone else, and it cost you nothing in the first place, or is now redundant to your needs, pass it on.
 
Goodwill always exceeds the cash value, plus it allows the recipient to do things he would never have been able to afford normally, and of course, your shop doesn't end up filled with stuff you will never use.

Bogs

sbwhart:
I've got Johns level on loan done the mill next job the lathe  :thumbup:

Its a case of helping each other.

Stew

ja2on:
I will keep looking one will turn up at the right price sooner or later

I was going to go for a machine stand but i'm having my doubts since I received the drip tray from the same people that sell the stand
my mind is drifting towards a 3'x3' or 4'x4' planed timber frame with 40mm worktop is this really to be avoided  :scratch:

bogstandard:
Jason,

Machine levelling is a very debatable thing, some saying it does no good, others saying, if you don't do it, you aren't getting the best from your lathe.

I am from the second school of thought. The first school are usually the ones who have no engineering background to begin with and are most probably lucky in they get some semblance of accuracy with their lathe.

When you actually come to level a lathe, you soon find that all lathes bend, some like a banana, a few very little, but they all do bend and flex. Basically, the heavier and more massive the main castings, the less it will bend and twist.

The more rigid a frame you mount it on, the better for the lathe not to go out of shape.

In the early days, they would recommend a stand from say 4" lumber with a 2" thick wooden top.

Nowadays, the 4" lumber for the legs is reasonable in price, but the 2" top would need a second mortgage, and after a time it would most probably warp, as modern wood is not like the old outdoor seasoned timber.

My personal suggestion to you would be as you suggest. Modern worktops are very stable as long as you have a good frame under it, plus you have the advantage of the wipe and stay clean surface, a big advantage where you can have oils and coolants splashing about. I have used it throughout my shop.

This is Bandit, my joiner, who integrated the 4" x 2" frame into the secret room in my concrete bunker.




Uncle Bogs, testing out the strength of the kitchen worktops he used on the wooden frame. If it can take my weight leaning on it, your little lathe will be a piece of cake.




A wooden stand, by the time you have purchased everything, won't be much cheaper than a dedicated machine stand. But in your situation, it would be a great advantage, as you can have one full length of worktop, with the lathe on one part and the rest for all your other stuff. Also, if you integrate it into your shed frame, you will find both structures will stiffen up a lot.

John

ja2on:
That has put my mind at ease thanks John  :thumbup:

now I just need to get busy  :dremel:

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