[J S Machine]

I just got my high torque mill from LMS friday. I finally got it set up and bolted to the table. I am ready to start runming it so about 2 hours ago I started trying to tram the head...well, I've run into a problem. I cant adjust the nod on the mill, only the side to side. I'm afraid it is way out, and I'm not really sure what I can do. There is no adjustment that I know of. I hate to say it, but if people actually work with these machines with a problem like this they are crazy.

I'm talking about at least 1/16" out.

What should I do?

[eartaker]

If you have 1/16" of nod you should first try tightening your Z-gib. At most you should be off by .007" and this will be fixed with shim stock.

[J S Machine]

Is the Z gib the set of adjustment screws on the dovetail on the column? If so, I have already snugged those up to the point that the Z still raises and lowers, but it is hard to do so. If shim stock is required, where would I need to put it?

[sabastion]

I would assume between the base and column mounting points. Maybe in between where the column mates up to the top of the base to tram column away from you as your facing the front of the mill?

Before I did this though, I would take a true bar and lay it flat on an assumed true surface of the column gib face area and check to see if it is your column that is warped. If you dont have a true bar you cah dissamble the resistance parts of the column i.e. the head and leadscrew, lay the column on its back and by using your hand move the head mount plate up and down the gib travel. If it binds repetitively in a certain area this could indicate that this could be a sign your column is warped (not true) and no amount of shimming is going to help.

If the column is square I would then move on to the base its self. Use a machinist square and maybe a true bar if needed to check if the back of the base where column mounts is square.

If you find the column is warped or that the base is not true I would then give Chris at LMS a call and see what he recommends. He needs to know any way just to be able to maintain quality control (he could have been shipped a bad casting). You might even be better off giving him a call first before you start to do anything to correct the mill just to see what he says.
Richard

[hoss2006]

Several tramming articles for you here J S.
Shop Info
Hoss

[B-RAD]

Before shimming anything tear everything apart and de-burr, there could be some other issue. - Also are you measuring your vise or your table?? Can be a big difference...

Just got my mill HiTorque Wednesday and I've had to throw in 5 folds of aluminum foil under the front part of the column mount. You know where the 3 allen bolts are that holds the column to the base, right in front of those under the column is where you put the aluminum foil and make sure it's the full length also. Mine was about .006" leaning forward, with 5 sheets once it was snugged back down it was only off about .0005".

I've also torn the whole mill apart and de-burred everything and took some 600grit on a piece of plate glass to flatten everything, and also took it to my ways with just my fingers to smooth it out, the ways seem to be straight as far as my calibrated wrist can tell they just needed a little polishing. You'd be surprised how much Metal Scotch-Brite I go through also....Then coated everything in a nice healthy coat of Tri-Flow.

So far I've made a ball turning tool for my 7x16 lathe with the mill and I'm very happy with the out come, just sux my rotory table didn't come yet, I need to make a circle in the bottom plate to finish the ball turner.

[J S Machine]

Is the Z gib the set of adjustment screws on the dovetail on the column? If so, I have already snugged those up to the point that the Z still raises and lowers, but it is hard to do so. If shim stock is required, where would I need to put it?

[B-RAD]

Is the Z gib the set of adjustment screws on the dovetail on the column? If so, I have already snugged those up to the point that the Z still raises and lowers, but it is hard to do so. If shim stock is required, where would I need to put it?

Did you read my reply just above your recent reply??? I explain it..

Also anywhere you see 4 setscrews with nuts on them - those are your gib adjustment screws, and the nut is to lock the screw in place.
Your issue isn't with the z gibs, it's with the column itself (it is actually leaning forward because all 3 allen bolts are in the front of the column, and other quality factors from the factory...)

[sabastion]

Before shimming anything tear everything apart and de-burr, there could be some other issue. - Also are you measuring your vise or your table?? Can be a big difference...

Just got my mill HiTorque Wednesday and I've had to throw in 5 folds of aluminum foil under the front part of the column mount. You know where the 3 allen bolts are that holds the column to the base, right in front of those under the column is where you put the aluminum foil and make sure it's the full length also. Mine was about .006" leaning forward, with 5 sheets once it was snugged back down it was only off about .0005".

I've also torn the whole mill apart and de-burred everything and took some 600grit on a piece of plate glass to flatten everything, and also took it to my ways with just my fingers to smooth it out, the ways seem to be straight as far as my calibrated wrist can tell they just needed a little polishing. You'd be surprised how much Metal Scotch-Brite I go through also....Then coated everything in a nice healthy coat of Tri-Flow.

So far I've made a ball turning tool for my 7x16 lathe with the mill and I'm very happy with the out come, just sux my rotory table didn't come yet, I need to make a circle in the bottom plate to finish the ball turner.

Yea...only three bolts on these mills for mounting column to base, un equal securing of the column to the base...very poor design but what can you do. hmmm...get what you can and then build it better
Richard

[J S Machine]

I did read your reply man, I'm not sure what happened there. I don't know why it posted that reply twice.

Thanks for the replies so far. I will give Chris Wood a call tomorrow, just to be sure it is normal for this kind of thing. I don't mind tearing down the machine and going through it to be sure everything is straight and clean.

I did take the column apart from the base, and stoned the circular mating surface, as well as the piece that is bolted to the base with the bolt through it. I found exactly what I thought I would, must not a deburring tool in that factory lol, and overspray like crazy. However, my efforts didn't help much. I suspected it may have to be shimmed.

I noticed the problem when I started tramming..Guys I realize my profile isn't filled out..So let me clear this up. I'm a toolmaker for a living..No stranger to indicators and such. I realize this is a bottom of the line mill but I did expect a little better than what I have. I am indicating the table. -That was after I deburred it to be sure the burrs from the slots didn't rip my indicator needle off lol.

When I was asking about the Z gibs, I was just trying to figure out exactly what you were talking about.

Looks like a whole teardown of the machine may be in order.

[sabastion]

this is a very helpful read and resource Shop Info also scroll down and click on newbies even if your not one. I am and his site is a treasure trove on info
Richard

[J S Machine]

If anybody has one of these mills handy, would you mind measuring the large washer in the back of the machine agaisnt the column and tell me the diameter? I'm at work so I don't have mine handy. I'd like to build a little support for it, but I need that diameter.