hepburnman
Aluminum
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2013
- Location
- NJ
Hi,
I've noticed recently that my surface finish on a turned piece was rather rutty. Everything I tried to get a better finish did not work (slower feeds, lighter cuts, larger radius tool tip). On inspection I noticed that the right rear portion (facing the lathe) of the saddle is lifted up slightly. I can push it down with my thumb and it is lifted at least maybe 0.020". I do not yet know if there is any gap in the rear gib but I would think that the saddle should sit down on the "V" ways under its own weight. Is this true?
I do not yet know if there is something stuck under the saddle that could be lifting it up. This lathe was restored by a previous owner (ways re-scraped, etc.) and I have not used it enough to have caused excessive wear. I have crashed the lathe a couple of times (tool ran up against a piece when trying to knurl) but it did not seem to have caused damage to the lathe.
Could the saddle be warped or what may be some of the reasons for this point of the saddle to be lifting? Should the gib on the back of the lathe be tightened to remove this or should the saddle not fully rest on the ways under its own weight?
Thanks for the help and suggestions to this issue!
hepburnman
I've noticed recently that my surface finish on a turned piece was rather rutty. Everything I tried to get a better finish did not work (slower feeds, lighter cuts, larger radius tool tip). On inspection I noticed that the right rear portion (facing the lathe) of the saddle is lifted up slightly. I can push it down with my thumb and it is lifted at least maybe 0.020". I do not yet know if there is any gap in the rear gib but I would think that the saddle should sit down on the "V" ways under its own weight. Is this true?
I do not yet know if there is something stuck under the saddle that could be lifting it up. This lathe was restored by a previous owner (ways re-scraped, etc.) and I have not used it enough to have caused excessive wear. I have crashed the lathe a couple of times (tool ran up against a piece when trying to knurl) but it did not seem to have caused damage to the lathe.
Could the saddle be warped or what may be some of the reasons for this point of the saddle to be lifting? Should the gib on the back of the lathe be tightened to remove this or should the saddle not fully rest on the ways under its own weight?
Thanks for the help and suggestions to this issue!
hepburnman