Looking for info, Clausing 8520 needs x-y DRO

Mine is a stock TA. The lathe was apparently purchased with just about every option available. The only things missing when I got it were 4-jaw chuck and follower rest. On a Heavy 10, the cross-slide tail-piece (connecting bar) is bolted on instead of integral, making it much easier to mount a TA on a lathe that didn't come with one.

View attachment 361584
SB sure had a way of simply providing attachments ! That 10” sure looks good.
I don’t however, have room for any thing other than the 9” I have. Anyway i have enough now in this small shop !
Had to rid myself of several other machines which were out in the weather in the carport. Always had an affinity for collecting redundant equipment I had a desire for but no use for ! An appetite for what was useful in my youth but now don’t have time or energy to use ! So goes age and retirement !
Thanks for sharing !
 
Finished 2 axis on the 8525 Clausing Mill, posting pics today. Did all the planing in AutoCad and turned out excellently.
(If any one wants I can provide dwg’s for references)
I have to make a longer gib lock for the X axis due to clearances. the stock gib lock would interfere with the reader.
The Y axis is mounted on a casting boss that was already machined by the factory on the right side of the main column. You can see in the pic’s that I mounted it on a 1/2” alum bar then fastened the scale to that bar.
Had to make some brackets for both the X & Y readers. Those were custom made, not easy !
I used the front “t” slot on the deck to mount blocks on X axis then mounted the scale on them.
Done, now I need to mount the Z axis on the knee, this will be a little more complicated !
Ignore the notes written on the parts, forgot to wash them off !
 

Attachments

  • 360E3EC2-9967-4FA1-9284-E19509779C08.jpeg
    360E3EC2-9967-4FA1-9284-E19509779C08.jpeg
    696.5 KB · Views: 104
  • 2C754EBA-0ED6-4598-9AD9-401613F3230B.jpeg
    2C754EBA-0ED6-4598-9AD9-401613F3230B.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 102
  • 2600466C-3C12-40BF-89DA-8429F5D81608.jpeg
    2600466C-3C12-40BF-89DA-8429F5D81608.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 96
  • 657B6A68-82C4-493A-9AA0-F819989912BA.jpeg
    657B6A68-82C4-493A-9AA0-F819989912BA.jpeg
    1.5 MB · Views: 103
Last edited:
Finished 2 axis on the 8525 Clausing Mill, posting pics today. Did all the planing in AutoCad and turned out excellently.
(If any one wants I can provide dwg’s for references)
I have to make a longer gib lock for the X axis due to clearances. the stock gib lock would interfere with the reader.
The Y axis is mounted on a casting boss that was already machined by the factory on the right side of main column. You can see in the pic’s that I mounted on a 1/2” alum bar then fastened the scale to that bar.
Had to make some brackets for both the X & Y readers. Those were custom made, not easy !
I used the front “t” slot on the deck to mount blocks on X axis then mounted the scale on them.
Done, now I need to mount the Z axis on the knee, this will be a little more complicated !
Ignore the notes written on the parts, forgot to wash them off !
Nicely done, very clean.
Have you been able to check the DRO for accuracy and repeatability?
 
Have compared the index on my vise, it’s showing .0000” run out on the screen, I originally set it up with a 10th indicator so I think the “X” axis is right on ! Haven’t checked the “Y” axis as yet.
If there is any discrepancy it will show up when I make the “Z” axis mountings. How about that ?
 
Have compared the index on my vise, it’s showing .0000” run out on the screen, I originally set it up with a 10th indicator so I think the “X” axis is right on ! Haven’t checked the “Y” axis as yet.
If there is any discrepancy it will show up when I make the “Z” axis mountings. How about that ?
I was thinking of something like this to check the DRO itself. Specifically, the use of 1-2-3 blocks and an indicator to check accuracy (reading over distance) and repeatability (returning to the same reading repeatedly).

 
Yes I will try that as soon as I get finished with the ”Z” axis. Good suggestion ! I have some 2 4 6 blocks along with 1 2 3 ’s . also have a 300 angstrom 18“ square to check ”Z” axis travel. All will show how accurate this mill is ! I think I will be surprised when done as this machine has never been abused or used for production. Thanks for the suggestions !
 
Last edited:
Finally finished the “Z” axis, all three are now fully functional. I have also run many tests to check the accuracy of the system and have found all to be well within the tolerances advertised by the manufacturer.
The price I paid to setup this Clausing 8520 mill with a DRO has been very frugal and well worth the effort ! !
I have not been disappointed in any way !
I will post pic’s of the “Z” axis later today.
All the design of the brackets and mountings have been done in AutoCad 14.1 solid modeling. If any one wants to they can pm me and I’ll share the work In AutoCad format (.dwg or .dxf)
Only one minor modification was done on the machine, but it was only replacing a gib locking handle with a longer one to clear an interference in the mounting of the reader on the “X” axis. Not really a mod on the machine itself.
The mounting‘s on the “Z” axis shortens the overall travel by 1~1/2“, which to me is not a problem. However I need to always be aware of not bumping at the max travel. Just need to be cautious ! ! And aware !
Please excuse the cluttered shop it’s in sad array at this stage of development !
 

Attachments

  • 79AA55B7-42D9-4F91-8A74-ACE6C3C871C6.jpeg
    79AA55B7-42D9-4F91-8A74-ACE6C3C871C6.jpeg
    1.4 MB · Views: 103
  • 12EA27EF-8716-4B26-A79F-D270E3DFD63D.jpeg
    12EA27EF-8716-4B26-A79F-D270E3DFD63D.jpeg
    1.4 MB · Views: 96
  • DA7FD5F1-F142-4798-8BBD-1EB20761B0E8.jpeg
    DA7FD5F1-F142-4798-8BBD-1EB20761B0E8.jpeg
    1.4 MB · Views: 93
  • 1EE818D6-3054-4B98-9245-E0D587CD6C29.jpeg
    1EE818D6-3054-4B98-9245-E0D587CD6C29.jpeg
    1.6 MB · Views: 104
Last edited:
Congrats, Frank! Glad to see you worked out an installation that required minimal mods to the machine. Is there any way to rig a hard stop to prevent over-travel on the Z? Awareness is all well and good until something else grabs it.

edit: Wow, that mill is really shoe-horned in there!
 
Last edited:
Yes I can rig stops at both ends, which will be done in a short while !
shoe horned in ? Yes, the shop is only 9 x 15 and has two lathes, a mill and a drill press along with 3 tool boxes and 2 desk’s !
strictly a one person shop ! !
 
Back
Top