Thread: lathe levelling

You are right in that they are talking about using a level for twist, and leveling the lathe is only important for coolant runoff.

Dave

Originally Posted by YarrD

Perhaps a very stupid question. I constantly read references to lathe levelling in relation to setting up lathe. I can understand the need to have the lathe feet in the same plane (so that no twist is imparted to the lathe bed/ways). Are the references to lathe levelling literally that...level as in spirit level? If so, why the need to be LEVEL?

David

You've basically answered your own question . It doesn't need to be level as such. But 'level' gives you a easily available reference point to measure from when checking that headstock and tailstock are in the same plane.

Incidentally, while a carpenters spirit level will get you in the ballpark, when in the pursuit of getting more accuracy from a lathe, most will use a machinists level, which will read down to 0.05 or 0.02mm difference over a metre.

*edit* Dave J beat me. Lol.

Just like Jekyll and Hyde said above about the centre of the vial being a reference point, make sure the bubble doesn't touch one end of the vial or it will give a false reading.
A few people fall into this trap and wonder whats going on.

Dave

You should make the lathe level/flat first before trying to do any test cutting.
By level/flat I mean the base that the lathe is sitting on,whether that be a cabinet ,legs,frame etc.
If this base is not level the lathe will wobble,move rattle when it is working.
For a quick and easy way to see if your attempts at getting the lathe flat/level put a piece of material into your 4 jaw offset (not running true),run it at around 600 rpm and see if anything moves.