DocsMachine
Titanium
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2005
- Location
- Southcentral, AK
Long story short, I sent a large lathe bed and some other pieces off to be ground some twenty months ago. The grinder has had them for sixteen months and can no longer complete the job. I've decided to bite the bullet and have the pieces shipped to Shaffer in Los Angeles.
What do I need to know or have ready to tell Shaffer? I was relying a bit on the previous shop's experience, as I've never had anything ground like this before. I understand Shaffer is experienced at this sort of thing, but I'm sure I still need to tell them exactly what I want.
The big one is a lathe bed, for my Springfield lathe. Some 11 feet long and 1,500 lb. Standard two prismatic ways, probably 30-40 thou of wear. I plan to build the saddle back up with Moglice, using Shapeaholic's method. I'd rather not have to mill, grind or scrape the headstock to match if I don't have to- the previous shop suggested not grinding under where the headstock goes, as the grinding would narrow the V-way.
I was under the impression that equal grinding on both faces would lower the way, but not necessarily offset or twist it. Not grinding that area could work as well- I'd have to deal with the tailstock, but I was going to have to do at least a little of that anyway.
What's the recommended method? (Keeping in mind I'd rather not have to disassemble the headstock, and that it weighs close to a ton. And I don't own a forklift. )
In addition to that, I sent off an old shaper with square ways (ram, column casting, two top way plates and the gib) and the bed and saddle for my Nichols horizontal. Do I need to specify how much clearance I want on these, or can I tell them to just "fit them together"? If I do need to specify a number, what would be an appropriate clearance for them?
And finally, any guesses as to how much this might all cost? I'm pretty much committed at this point, almost regardless of cost, but I'm also not made of money. The original deal was made in a strong effort to save a great deal on shipping costs, but that's all gone out the window now. I'm down into the range of "I'm tired of waiting and ready to hock a kidney to get the damn parts done and back" now.
Doc.
What do I need to know or have ready to tell Shaffer? I was relying a bit on the previous shop's experience, as I've never had anything ground like this before. I understand Shaffer is experienced at this sort of thing, but I'm sure I still need to tell them exactly what I want.
The big one is a lathe bed, for my Springfield lathe. Some 11 feet long and 1,500 lb. Standard two prismatic ways, probably 30-40 thou of wear. I plan to build the saddle back up with Moglice, using Shapeaholic's method. I'd rather not have to mill, grind or scrape the headstock to match if I don't have to- the previous shop suggested not grinding under where the headstock goes, as the grinding would narrow the V-way.
I was under the impression that equal grinding on both faces would lower the way, but not necessarily offset or twist it. Not grinding that area could work as well- I'd have to deal with the tailstock, but I was going to have to do at least a little of that anyway.
What's the recommended method? (Keeping in mind I'd rather not have to disassemble the headstock, and that it weighs close to a ton. And I don't own a forklift. )
In addition to that, I sent off an old shaper with square ways (ram, column casting, two top way plates and the gib) and the bed and saddle for my Nichols horizontal. Do I need to specify how much clearance I want on these, or can I tell them to just "fit them together"? If I do need to specify a number, what would be an appropriate clearance for them?
And finally, any guesses as to how much this might all cost? I'm pretty much committed at this point, almost regardless of cost, but I'm also not made of money. The original deal was made in a strong effort to save a great deal on shipping costs, but that's all gone out the window now. I'm down into the range of "I'm tired of waiting and ready to hock a kidney to get the damn parts done and back" now.
Doc.