Saddle Type Machine Bed Grinding

Visitors to the W/S facility were always fascinated to see the manner in which the bedways of the saddle type turret lathes were ground.

After induction hardening of the way surfaces on a converted planer mill (after the rough machining of the bed ways) the bed was placed upon a planer mill which had been converted to a grinder by the addition of added coolant supply, grinding spindles, etc. The bed was carefully leveled and supported on three points. First grinding passes were at slow feeds with little stock removal, to hold down temperature and thereby avoid any distortion. Final passes were made with a different grinding wheel and employed a technique that left a surface finish capable of supporting a film of oil, for longer bed way life.

Jack,

That's interesting that only 3 points were used to set up on the way grinder. Does that mean the same 3 points were used to suport the finished machine at installation?

Seems to me that all geometries would be based upon replicating the way the machine rests in service, starting from the bed on up.

Ferrous,my 315 Uni weighs just short of ten tons and sits on three points.The book tells you not to bother levelling it unless you have bother with the coolant running out the conveyor in which case they tell you to level the conveyor with its own adjusting screws.They also tell you if its being installed on a wood floor that it would be better to put three 12" x 12" plates under the feetregards,Mark.