Thread: Leveling a Nuttall Lathe

lol bollie7 I'd forgotten about that. The floors in our EWP rooms were wood as well.
I think us new lathe owners may be a little to worried about it. Still I'd rather be to worried now than be worried in 5 years because I didnt.

I'm liking Graziano's idea, easy to adjust if it needs it and easy to move.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to level this lathe?

How far out of level is the floor ? Is the high point the at the headstock end or the tailstock end ?
Or does the lathe tip to one side , towards or away from the operator ?

Currently there is a slight tip towards the operator.

But apart from that is it sitting flat to the floor on all bolt down contact points ?

Yes, contact between the feet and the floor is good. As I alluded to previously, the bolt down points don't actually contact the floor, it's the skirt of the feet that does.

And is that how the feet were constructed by the manufacturer ?

Yes, I would assume so. I don't believe they have been modified.

So whats the problem ?
Bolt it down to the floor as it stands

Because I don't what to go and bolt the lathe down, only to find that I need to unbolt it and do some other type of mounting system, so that I can then remove twist.

A bit of for thought now might save me a lot of stuffing around later. I'd rather do it right the first time.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Because I don't what to go and bolt the lathe down, only to find that I need to unbolt it and do some other type of mounting system, so that I can then remove twist.

A bit of for thought now might save me a lot of stuffing around later. I'd rather do it right the first time.

What twist ? You said the there is full contact with the floor .

Originally Posted by Manuka Jock

What twist ? You said the there is full contact with the floor .

Yes it has full contact with the floor, but I fail to see how that means that there won't be any twist in the bed. If the floor isn't exactly flat, the weight of the lathe may force the feet to sit flat by twisting the bed.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Yes it has full contact with the floor, but I fail to see how that means that there won't be any twist in the bed. If the floor isn't exactly flat, the weight of the lathe may force the feet to sit flat by twisting the bed.

Is the floor flat , on an even plane ?
If , without being bolted down to the floor , the machine does not rock wobble etc . then it is generally ok.
When it is bolted down , it is done so be taking up the slack in the thread , and then gently tightening the nuts much in the manner of tightening wheel nuts .

Does the lathe work ok as it is , no vibration , doesn't walk across the floor , centers line up etc ?

Originally Posted by Manuka Jock

Is the floor flat , on an even plane ?

It's a concrete shed floor and for all intents and purposes it's flat ... but would I use it as a reference point for a prescion machine ... NO.

Originally Posted by Manuka Jock

If , without being bolted down to the floor , the machine does not rock wobble etc . then it is generally ok.

I'm after better than "generally ok".

Originally Posted by Manuka Jock

Does the lathe work ok as it is , no vibration , doesn't walk across the floor , centers line up etc ?

No it doesn't walk and the centres line up as far as I can tell ... but does that mean the bed is not twisted ... NO.

I'm not setting up a wood lathe here.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

It's a concrete shed floor and for all intents and purposes it's flat ... but would I use it as a reference point for a prescion machine ... NO.
I'm after better than "generally ok".
No it doesn't walk and the centres line up as far as I can tell ... but does that mean the bed is not twisted ... NO.

I'm not setting up a wood lathe here.

I have no idea what the wood lathe comment is about .
I can see by the photo that the Nuttall is a metal lathe,

Tell me , how many pieces of heavy machinery have you installed in workshops ?