lathe table

[aametalmaster]

Here is a drawing of the motor/lathe spacing...Bob

[gerald]

Thanks for posting the Pics/Links , Bob. Very helpful.

[trying-it]

It is highly possible to slightly twist / flex a lathe bed. If not securely mounted and leveled the lathe will cut a slight taper on longitudinal cuts. The longer the cut, the worse the taper. If not securely mounted vibrations could tend to cause unwanted chatter marks in the finish.

BTW: My lathes beds are all securely bolted to shop's thick concrete floor; occasionally I have to level them again as winter's frost gets under the concrete, gets them out of kilter, and the taper problem shows itself again. These conditions may not play too big a role in a hobby shop, but they can wreak havoc on a job shop like mine where tight tolerances are held or final work is rejected.

Just a couple more things to consider about lathes