setting up a vertical head

I have a Senior M1 milling mc with a std vertical head and when set up to the markinge scribed on the mc it does not cut square to the table but is about 1/2 a degree out of plum. Does anyone know of a quick way to set up a vertical head accuratly?

You could do a lot worse than get one of these.

http://www.machine-dro.co.uk/edge-technology-pro-tram-system.html

Look up "tramming" to tell you a few other methods.

Phil

Hi Tony
Put an accurate square on the quill  from the Machine bed for a start Slapped wrist. !!!!
Nobby

Edited By Nobby on 11/12/2012 22:48:40

Even with suitable test equipment Tony, making the very minute adjustments necessary can be very tedious. The method shown in photograph 5 here enables very small adjustments to be made easily. In simple terms, the table's traverse is used to push, or pull, the head sideways by very small amounts and with the dial indicator showing the results as it is being done . The text explains it in detail.

Harold

I should have added that the machine standards state that the departure from perpendicular should be no more than 0.025mm over 300mm amounting to a maximum angle of 0.005°. Hence my comments about minute adjustments. Again this is explained in the text.

Harold

This the set up I currently use on my Alexander Mill

Phil

Edited By Phil P on 12/12/2012 13:18:24

HI Phil,

I like that My 'sheet of plate glass' approach is very vulnerable to wee bits of swarf on the mill table.

Neil

Thanks all for your helpfull tips, but Nobby the Senior Mill has no quill or machined surface on the head.Thony

Hi Tony
Another slapped wriist . When I clocked (Tramming) the Bridgeport etc using a similar set up as Phil but used a slip to run the dti over.
I did notice the Nut & split on the head can it be wound down ?
Happy Tramming & Xmas
Nobby

Neil

The reason my tramming device is stood on three legs, is so it can sit on the mill table spanning the vice. The three legs are simply adjusted to the same length using a micrometer, that ensures the surface is truly parallel to the table.

I cannot claim any design rights on this tool, I saw this and realised I could make one in about half an hour.

http://www.eztram.com/what.asp

Nobby

The vertical head does have just over two inches of quill movement.

It is an Alexander Master Toolmaker, the UK equivalent of a Deckel FP1

http://www.lathes.co.uk/alexander/index.html

Phil