Leveling / aligning a lathe and 2 collar test

[Richard King]

Here is the instructions I told you about on How to level and align a lathe. If you do not have a precision level use the 2 collar test.
These instructions are for a large heavy casting machine, but the principal is the same for a small mini machine. If it is bolted to a bench, shim between the bed and table. Read the 2 collar test last. They attached on here backwards. View attachment LatheLevelingand2collartest.pdfView attachment LatheLevelingvsAlignmenttest.pdf

 

[Richard King]

Check this out. Great Pictures and explanation on the last post.

http://www.hobby-machinist.com/show...pindle-bent-or-headstock-mis-aligned?p=102478

 

[Splat]

Check this out. Great Pictures and explanation on the last post.

http://www.hobby-machinist.com/show...pindle-bent-or-headstock-mis-aligned?p=102478

Thanks for the link, Richard. I usually don't go into other brand lathe subforums so I wouldn't have seen that whole writeup.

 

[Splat]

Richard et al, I now have the headstock off my Heavy 10 to refurbish it. Would it be prudent to level the lathe as best as possible via a machinist level using the bed portion of the bedway where the headstock normally sits since that part of the bed is in like-new condition? This would be obviously before doing the 2-collar test (after I'm done refurbing).

PS, then again...after more pondering I would guess the weight variation of headstock on vs off the bed would change the leveling.... ?