Subject: 9" Chinese lathes headstock mod for alignment

From: "w.j.ward" <[email-masked]>
Date: 24 Sep 1996 01:36:08 GMT

I have one of those Taiwanese 9X20 inch lathes (Grizzly) similar to the one
described by Peter Nolan in the September 1996 issue of HSM.  I don't like
the way the headstock is aligned with the bed either.  On page 23, photo 2
shows the bottom of the headstock.  Photo 4 shows how it sits on the lathe.
 I was wondering about using my mill/drill to machine an alignment V-groove
as Frank McLean does as described in the article on page 41 of the same
magazine.  I was considering machining the slot shown on the right side of
photo 2 (pg. 23) parallel to the headstock spindle.  (Setup for this would
be undeniably tricky for a novice like me.)  Then, I would somehow secure a
strip of brass in the slot.  Finally, I would cut a 90 degree V-groove to
fit over the rear V on the lathe bed.

The slot is 1/4" deep, about 6 inches long.  Any suggestions?  (Yeah, I
know, "buy a better lathe".)
-- 
(Remember..if it doesn't work,  Microsoft doesn't care.
And Compaq charges $35 to ask "why?".)
W.J.Ward

---

From: [email-masked] (PnP Nolan)
Date: 25 Sep 1996 09:48:23 -0400

>fit over the rear V on the lathe bed.

I had already considered that but decided that the alignment would be way
to tricky. Three alternatives...

1. Machine up a round shaft that is the same size as the spindle bearing
hole in the headstock casting and set it up on large Vee blocks on the
mill. True it up and slip the headstock over it and clamp the sucker. Much
too hard.

2. Mount the headstock vertically on parallels on the mill and bore the
spindle bearing hole true. Then using a horizontal attachment to the
milling machine head cut the slot for the insert vertically using the
knee. The insert would not need to be brass as it is fixed in position so
any old stuff would really do.

3. Buy a real lathe, which is what I plan to do this time.

Sometime you might like to ask me about my Harbor Freight Mill/Drill or my
Enco copy of a Kurtz vice. Seems like I am a very slow learner on a tight
budget.

In my own defense I will say that I tried desperately to locate a used SB
or a Myford before I bought the Jet. Would I buy another Jet or
Chinese/Taiwanese? Just don't ask if you don't like strong language.

Peter Nolan
Getting more wise but cash-poor with every passing day.

---

From: [email-masked] (Jhko)
Date: 25 Sep 1996 22:19:56 -0400

Hey Peter and W.J.:

Hey, at least you guys didn't spend megabucks on an Emco-Maier lathe, like
I did, which has *exactly* the same headstock design as the Chinese 9"
lathes. Why not just be happy with what you bought? After you align it, it
works doesn't it? By the way, any ideas on aligning a cheap drill/mill?
After my expensive lathe experience I bought one of those, and when I
swing a dial indicator in a 6" circle, the reading is off by .002" or so,
side to side (front to back is within about .0003'). Should I shim the
column? How? Any good rules of thumb?

Anyway, I don't think you guys did so bad on the cheap lathes.

Joe O.
[email-masked]

---

From: John Stewart <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 13:00:36 -0400

Jhko wrote:
> works doesn't it? 

My Emco Compact-8 must be different than yours, as mine already has
the allignment method that they appear to be talking about; mine is
alligned by the rear vee, (if my memory is correct), not with set
screws pushing on clamping screws, or some such. 

ie - I got a Compact-8, used, for what the 9" lathes cost from the
local Enco-equivalent (Busy Bee), and I don't have the hassles that
these guys are trying to fix.

For those who want to know, I purchased it with chucks, tooling, etc,
for GBP 750.00 used; the latest model engineer has a Warco 918 lathe
for GBP 899.00

What is 750 pounds in US$ - about a thousand bucks??? I know that
Busy Bee is selling these kinds of lathes for (from memory again)
$1600 canadian + 15% taxes.

Thanks;

John Stewart
[email-masked]

---

From: John Stewart <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 09:46:17 -0400

> screws pushing on clamping screws, or some such.

Well, I was wrong. After cleaning up the swarf around the headstock,
I can slide a shim completely along the "alligment Vee" (the front
vee), and see, once the cover is off, that the allignment is indeed
by 4 setscrews working on the hold down bolts.

You live and learn. My first thought was "oh s**t", but then, the
lathe is 20 years old, is more accurate than I am, so the system
must work. It is also better than "Mr. Chatterbox", my 9" Sebastian
lathe from the 1890s, so I guess that I should not complain.

Sorry for the mis-information.