Question about cross slide on lathe

[cgrutt]

Hey guys hoping somebody can help me out. I started working on a lathe I picked up last year and can't figure out an issue with the cross slide. The index lines are milled into bottom plate of the top portion of cross slide from 0 to 90 and back to 0 again around half of the perimeter. There are two index reference lines the bottom portion of cross slide, one in the front and one on the right side as your facing lathe. The plate with the index lines seemed to be mounted backwards so you couldn't read the index marks. I took everything apart, including screw, etc. figuring something was reversed but it all seems to be put together correctly, except for the index lines being on wrong side. There are three screws attaching plate to the top portion of cross slide. The only way I could get it to work was to turn it around, but now there are only two screws holding it in place. Am I missing something? Would it be safe to operate with only two screws vs. three? Should I just drill and tap a new hole for third screw on right side? Hope this makes sense and any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

Pic showing front index reference with plate mounted backwards (so you can read marks).

Close up front index (plate attached backwards):

Close up right side index (plate attached backwards):

Bottom with plate mounted backwards (two screws, third screw location on right side with missing screw):

Bottom with plate removed showing third screw location towards left side.

 

[Cahark]

I know on my lathe, and a few lathes I ran into in various machine shops the index mark is on the front, you actually have to hang your head over the tool rest to read where the compound is as far as the angle goes.
I would be tempted to assemble it back together with all three screws in the proper location. If it's a factory part, it's probably meant to be like that.
I hope I'm understanding you properly. Sorry in advance if I'm not.


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[cgrutt]

Thanks, but I don't think that's the case with this one, unless the bottom of the cross slide is mounted backwards on the apron? You can see on pics where index mark is.

 

[Cahark]

Thanks, but I don't think that's the case with this one, unless the bottom of the cross slide is mounted backwards on the apron? You can see on pics where index mark is.

The cross slide looks to be oriented properly from the pics. Hard to tell without getting my hands on it.


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[larry_g]

Lets work on nomenclature a bit. The cross slide only move's perpendicular to the ways and is the lower piece. The tool or compound slide mounts to the cross slide and is adjustable to different angles.

Now what are you really concerned about? That the marks don't align, or they are hard to read during setup?

I would suggest that you put things back together as they were and mount a DTI to the compound and indicate across the chuck face and adjust till it is showing it is traveling parallel. Now look at you zero mark on the compound and make note. Swing the compound around 90 degrees and indicate along a shaft in the chuck till it is parallel and again note where your zero or 90* mark is. It will help you to understand how YOUR machine is set up. They are a few different ways these are set up. I have two Sheldons that different, so you have to learn your machine.

That said you can make your own zero mark. I had to do so on one of my mills because the factory mark was in a position I couldn't read. When you get into precision angles then you do not rely on the compounds marking instead one uses taper blocks, sine bars, or other tools to get things set-up.

Good luck and happy learning.

On Edit; I looked up the thread where you bought the lathe. The compound being a different color, do you have any other indication that the compound may be off a different lathe? I looked about quickly on the i-net and could not find a picture of your model. I suggest that you look about and see if you can find a good picture, and if the compound is original do the cutouts on the bottom of it match or are they reversed?

 

[cgrutt]

Now what are you really concerned about? That the marks don't align, or they are hard to read during setup?

Thanks, issue is that the plate with the numbers when attached with the three screws is facing the opposite direction and does not line up with the registration marks on front of cross slide. I flipped it 180 degrees to get the numbers to line up with the mark, but now the plate is only attached with two screws rather than three. Mainly concerned whether this is safe or not. Secondary concern is do I have something set up incorrectly because I don't understand why the numbers would be facing in the wrong direction with the factory screw configuration. Hope this makes more sense. Thanks.

 

[Dingleburry]

Can you mount with the 3 screws, losen adjustment bolts, unscrew tool holder from dovetail, rotate base 180 deg, screw back on dovetail from other end?

 

[cgrutt]

Can you mount with the 3 screws, losen adjustment bolts, unscrew tool holder from dovetail, rotate base 180 deg, screw back on dovetail from other end?

Yeah, that's what I thought too and tried that first. There is a recess cut for the screw and nut and it only goes together in one direction.