Lathe beginners

[Joe 90]

Does a lathe need bolted to the floor?
It's on a cabinet and it's sitting flat on 2 lumps of 3 x 6 timber to raise it up to a nice height. I've been watching YouTube videos on how to adjust the bed etc but I don't see any mention on if it needs bolted down.
Surely if the floors not perfect then bolting it down will make it worse.
So then is it a process of putting in shims and using a spirit level.
Maybe the cabinet isn't even perfect.
All 4 bolt holes in the cabinet are over my 2 lumps of timber and its not rocking on it so what's OK before I start trying to make adjustments to the bed.

 

[Other Daniel]

I shall probably be hauled up, virtually flogged and publicly humiliated by those
that know better, but my lathe isn't bolted down.
Not rocking is a very good start, then checking that the ways are in the same plane
(ie: no twist). Maybe you could actually screw the feet to the timber, if only to ensure
that the timber doesn't slip out through vibrations, etc.
Apart from that just get on and enjoy it.

 

[redlig]

Does a lathe need bolted to the floor?
It's on a cabinet and it's sitting flat on 2 lumps of 3 x 6 timber to raise it up to a nice height. I've been watching YouTube videos on how to adjust the bed etc but I don't see any mention on if it needs bolted down.
Surely if the floors not perfect then bolting it down will make it worse.
So then is it a process of putting in shims and using a spirit level.
Maybe the cabinet isn't even perfect.
All 4 bolt holes in the cabinet are over my 2 lumps of timber and its not rocking on it so what's OK before I start trying to make adjustments to the bed.

I am definitely no expert and i'm sure one will shoot me down. I don't think level is vital within reason but the important thing is to be sure that whatever you secure the lathe to isn't pulling the bed out of square. A few test cuts on a long piece of bar will soon tell you if all is well.

 

[Barking Mat]

No, mines not bolted to the floor either, don't know anyone who has one bolted down.

Vaguely levelled too.

 

[redlig]

No, mines not bolted to the floor either, don't know anyone who has one bolted down.

Vaguely levelled too.

That's three lazy B*******s then.

 

[Barking Mat]

That's three lazy B*******s then.

My lathe weighs 1.4 tons, it's not going anywhere.

 

[prepman]

I shall probably be hauled up, virtually flogged and publicly humiliated by those
that know better, but my lathe isn't bolted down.
Not rocking is a very good start, then checking that the ways are in the same plane
(ie: no twist). Maybe you could actually screw the feet to the timber, if only to ensure
that the timber doesn't slip out through vibrations, etc.
Apart from that just get on and enjoy it.

Not by me anyway....neither Student or ML7 bolted. Levelled and packed that's it. And I....work to a millionth of inch +/- nano. A mm is a millionth of an inch.....right?
NB the shaper is DEFINITELY bolted to floor and the floor is bolted to the workshop and.....

 

[Richiew]

That's three lazy B*******s then.

Four!

 

[RichardM]

Mine's on machine feet, standing on a concrete floor, not bolted down. If it's onto the wood I would be worried that it would sink in with time.

 

[Windy Miller]

Four!

Five!

 

[Porkypine]

I had a Boxford on its steel cabinet, resting on scaff boards to spread the weight, never bolted it down, it was fine.

 

[Seadog]

No, a lathe does not need to be bolted to the ground. Mine never has been, and it's never shown a desire to fall over in the 32 years that I've had it.

 

[500e]

None that I have owned were either.
Level is good Check across ways for twist then do test cut on long bar

 

[Arc Tourist]

I have a Boxford, which weighs around 300 kilos. I have it raised 8" and shimmed level, but don't have it bolted down.

 

[gaz1]

lathes can walk rather well if they are spun off set to dead center

i presume alot of members lathe stuff dead center than actually lathe items that are off set like a cam shaft

mines on top of an old wood cabinets with steel strengtheners at the front

 

[Barking Mat]

Food for thought.

To bolt the lathe to the floor or not to ???? - The Home Shop Machinist & Machinist's Workshop Magazine's BBS

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Six!

 

[Seadog]

Mine's on machine feet, standing on a concrete floor, not bolted down. If it's onto the wood I would be worried that it would sink in with time.

Mine's on machine feet on 18mm ply. It's not going anywhere.

 

[brightspark]

mines free standing and goes nowhere. if u were turning something off center un ballanced id just add a counterweight to off set it

 

[My Old Landy]

I have two lathes and neither are bolted down. They both weigh over 500kgs each. I have machined in the four jaw, off centre items, and it may vibrate but it has not moved anywhere!