Thread: Laguna 12/16 Lathe Centering.

Skeetas, a lot of lathes have this issue. Part of the basic set up of a lathe is to align the headstock with the tailstock.

I use the Teknatool "Morse Taper Aligner" tool to help clear this issue.

Possible causes include, Headstock not square to the ways (bed), Tailstock not square, Ways not level on all planes, Footing not level, floor not level, etc, etc, etc

The alignment on my 12/16 was perfect as delivered in Nov 2020 and it hasn't moved since but it would be handy to know the "fix" if it ever does deviate. Please post it.
Chris

Sorry Pat, the pic may have been misleading as it was a lateral shot not vertical.

The adjustment is not easily accomplished as it entails accessing the headstock through the pulley change and inspection housing
which has small capacity to manipulate Allen keys.

1. Tools required - 3/32nd" and 5/16" Allen keys, Feeler gauges.

2. Remove pulley belt and tuck it up over top pulleys to improve the working space.

3. with 5/16" Allen key remove three of the four mounting Socket Head Cap Screw with lock washers.

4. Loosen remaining cap screw.

5. Adjust adjacent grub set screws to each Cap screw with 3/32nd" Allen key according to whether the tail stock is higher or lower than the headstock -place feeler gauges under the headstock to help ease the adjustment of the alignment. My Lathe also had some brass shims placed under the headstock during the lathe manufacture.
When facing the front of the lathe adjust the set screws on the left if the tailstock is lower, if the tailstock is higher adjust the two right hand set screws.
When you are satisfied with the adjustment place all cap head screws back and tighten them down.Recheck alignment; (Laguna observed ' it may take a couple attempts to get it dialled in' ).
I included a copy of the pic illustration in the Laguna manual.


I found none of this info. in the manual and it is hard to discern on their Lathe parts exploded diagram.
On the 12/16 model there is no adjustment available on the tailstock.

Doragus, the importer assured me that of the 80 lathes he had imported, I was the only one that had reported misalignment.

What a pain!

Looks complicated. Glad mine didn't have the problem. Thanks skeetas.

Seems like it is reasonably easy to get the centres to line up but during the process you could also get the centreline of the headstock out of parallel with the bed if you are not familiar with what you are doing.

Originally Posted by skeetas

Has anyone on the Forum found the Headstock and tailstock misaligned?

Thanks for posting Skeetas.

One out of 80 wouldn't be too bad in an economy lathe, but in the $2k and above price bracket I would expect a new lathe to come aligned. Posting your experience here will help to keep the manufacturer's attention on their quality assurance, particularly given that this manufacturer is also competing right up into the $7k price bracket where reputations is hard won and quickly lost.

While you are checking you might like to read my thread on other alignment issues besides horizontal and vertical misalignment.

Checking centre alignment on a new or secondhand lathe