Lathes on casters

I'm not against old-chestnuts coming up repeatedly because it's in the nature of an internet forum - a bunch of like-minded folk chat in an electronic club. What we typed yesterday, let alone last month, is easily missed by anyone other than regulars, sadly regular readers are bored by repetition. Taking the rough with the smooth, I put up with that, seeing the forum as a way of helping others, even though the same subjects come up over and over again.

The forum is brilliant at answering questions but it's a poor look-up reference, even when the user has super Google-foo skills! Wikipedia is a much better reference, but it doesn't allow questions. If Model Engineers were more organised, we would get the best of both worlds by producing peer-reviewed Wikipedia articles on subjects like levelling and lathe alignment, with links to this forum and others, where people could go for Q&A help.

Unfortunately most of what I know about machining is self-taught. In the absence of Model Engineering information on the web, I read, misread, and misunderstand my random collection of engineering books. Many, many times, I've only understood what a book meant after the point was discussed on the forum. Thanks everyone!

Dave

PS on the subject of casters, I wouldn't unless mobility was really important.  The problem is they reduce rigidity - the lathe will vibrate much more on casters than if it were bolted down on a concrete floor.   But engineering is all about compromise.  I move my lathe with an engine crane, and it's a right pain.  If I had to move it frequently casters, with brakes, and even better jack-stands, would be fitted!

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 20/01/2023 11:58:31

Some good points made there, Dave. Probably picked what I have learnt, the same way as you.

My only disagreement would be with the wheels on a lathe. Almost everything I make or use has wheels...it's probably an age thing. The wheels possibly could make the lathe less rigid I guess, but if it ever caused a problem, there would have to be a re-think Still, it's been Ok for 38 yrs so far.

Pete

Schlesinger's work is for machine tool manufacturers, not home workshops. Makes a simple job harder for the average bodger.

Casters to move it about, but not while in use. Some sort of jacking when in use would help with stability, especially if the jack screws were in front and behind the bed. Lathes are top heavy and not very deep sectioned front to back.

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Page25 is about refurbishment

MichaelG.

Mine has 4 castors, but when retracted, it sits on the floor in 3 places. Works a treat.

What on earth is Schlesinger doing using a spirit level? I thought that was verboten!

I find a pair of winding sticks ( as taught by my woodworking instructor many decades ago.) to be much more satisfactory. For our purposes these can be as simple as two good quality rulers.

In use, set one on edge across the lathe bed at each end. Sight along the lathe bed and any twist will become immediately apparent and can be adjusted out. This method is remarkably accurate ( assuming your sight is OK ) and It doesn't matter whether the lathe is sloping end for end or front to back. This technique will still work.

Pero

And if you use three foot rulers it would be even more accurate. Although you might have to allow some for sag over that length, but as both would be the same, alignment should be unaffected when you think about it. Two long pieces of ground tubing would be ideal. Motorcycle fork tubes would be perfect. One on each end of the bed and take a sighting along the ends.

Edited By Hopper on 21/01/2023 05:00:21

Flashing-back to Pete Rimmer’s post … it becomes obvious why this matter will never be laid to rest.

The two ‘sides’ hold such different views, and much of World History has been driven by ‘Religious’ Wars.

MichaelG.

Afraid I fail to see the parallel at all. Pete Rimmer is reporting his personal experience, measured objectively with a dial indicator, as someone who got out of the armchair and did something relevant to the topic under discussion.

I thnik that the reason it will never be concluded is because people work to limits and standards that they find acceptable to themselves. Perhaps through informed choice, apathy, lack of experience/understanding or any other reason. If your lathe is turning out parts that work for you and make you happy then why put more effort in?

BTW I also had my Eagle surface grinder on casters. The casters were fixed to a 12mm thick square steel plate and the grinder on top of that. I used to wheel the grider out of the corner, do some grinding and then push it back into the corner to save space. I figured that since the grinder had a chunky square base and single column, it would not be affected by this. One day I was part-way through grinding some part or other, I had to stop and move the grinder on it's casters to get access to something. When I went back to grinding the whole grinding pattern had changed. Now, I have the machine fixed in it's position on the solid floor.

My fairly recently aquired ML7 came on an original Myford stand that had been fitted with casters. It also came with a small "speed jack" and two blocks. The jack is 1" square tube formed in a unequal U with two small wheels at the corner and a notch in the end of the short arm. It fits under the end of the stand from the front. The bottom edge of the stand end panel fits in the nottch and lifts it enough to get the block under that side front to rear. Lower onto block and repeat for other side.

I'd like to claim it was my idea but it was the previous keeper of the lathe.

Robert G8RPI

Are castors going the same way as drawers?

Did they used to be drawors?

**LINK**

Seems to be the transatlantic divide at work.

What I'd like to know is how do they squeeze the oil out of them to make Castrol R?

Should they more properly be called draws in cabinetry.
Bit like rule rather than ruler.

regards Martin

Edited By Martin Kyte on 21/01/2023 11:42:21

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My point was that, at one extreme, Pete can demonstrate that a substantial lathe will twist enough to be significant, yet at the other extreme you and Pero are discussing checks with winding sticks.

Presumably your closing line is intended as a personal insult. … Whereas my opinion has always been that there should be room on a forum for people to express an opinion from any perspective: It’s how we collectively learn.

MichaelG.

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Edit: __ corrected a typo lean learn

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 21/01/2023 11:46:11

Not according to my Shorter OED. Caster and castor have been valid alternative spellings in British English since the 17th century. The dictionary suggests 'castor' may have started as the preferred spelling when used in instruments, but the spellings rapidly became interchangeable.

As usual a number of meanings, my favourite: Castor is an oily, brown, odorous substance obtained from glands in the groin of the beaver.

Dave