A friend of mine has a Raglan Little John that has hardened ground
rectangular steel bars for the ways which can be removed and might be
reground. See
http://www.lathes.co.uk/raglan/page12.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/raglan/index.html

Christopher Tidy wrote:

Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars
which screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto
the headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet
underneath? And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers
used the same dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

Best wishes,

Chris

In article ,
says...
Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which
screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the
headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath?
And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers used the same
dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?


I've owned three. A Jones & Lamson 7C turret lathe with rectangular
ways, a Rathbone chucker with round ways, and a Taiwanese copy of a
Hardinge HLVH which has a single full width dovetail fastened to the
base casting.

Recirculating ball linear ways are common on CNC machines.

Ned Simmons

Ned Simmons wrote:
In article ,
says...
Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which
screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the
headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath?
And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers used the same
dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?


I've owned three. A Jones & Lamson 7C turret lathe with rectangular
ways, a Rathbone chucker with round ways, and a Taiwanese copy of a
Hardinge HLVH which has a single full width dovetail fastened to the
base casting.

Recirculating ball linear ways are common on CNC machines.

Ned Simmons

some colchesters have replaceable ways

but with hardened ways miost last longer than the other parts , if well
cared for

i have a 1946 monarch that was one of their first with hardened ways ,
and they look new , and machine like it

On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 01:09:30 +0100, David Billington
wrote:

A friend of mine has a Raglan Little John that has hardened ground
rectangular steel bars for the ways which can be removed and might be
reground. See
http://www.lathes.co.uk/raglan/page12.html
http://www.lathes.co.uk/raglan/index.html

Christopher Tidy wrote:

Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars
which screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto
the headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet
underneath? And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers
used the same dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

Best wishes,

Chris


We manufactured a large lathe in the mid 70's that had them.
No matter how you cut it a solid cast lathe bed with ground and
scraped ways is always better for rigidity.

Lots of builders are using linear bearing ways, still not as good as
box ways.

Regards


Daveb

Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which
screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the
headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath?
And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers used the same
dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

Best wishes,

Chris

"Christopher Tidy" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which
screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the
headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath?
And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers used the same
dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

Best wishes,

Chris


LeBlond used replaceable ways in their contstuction at one point in time.
They were rectangular as I recall. It's been many years since I last saw
one..

Harold

Christopher Tidy wrote in
:

Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which
screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the
headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath?
And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers used the same
dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

Best wishes,

Chris



All kinds of them...they are called 'Linear way machines'. They use
linear bearing ways, which are replaceable. Typical of about any real
machine tool manufacturer out there.


--
Anthony

You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make
better idiots.

Remove sp to reply via email

"Christopher Tidy" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which
screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the
headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath?
And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers used the same
dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

Best wishes,

Chris

LeBlond Regal and some models of Lodge & Shipley have replaceable ways. The
L&S that I seen was built in the late 40's or early 50's. LeBlond Regals
that had replaceable ways I think were from the 60's on. At least the Regals
that I have seen and used. I always wondered who in the area had a surface
grinder with long enough travel to grind the ways. I would imagine that a
planer with a 5 HP compound grinder could do it.

Richard

************************************************** *************The Taig
(a nice small desktop machine) has a steel dovetail
which bolts onto an aluminum framework filled with concrete to control
vibration -- it is a little bigger than the Unimat mentioned above, but
*much* more rigid.
************************************************** ****************


Woodworkers will use mass to try to stabilze wood lathes as well. I
have seen people put bags of lead shot across the systems. The beads,
in addition to the mass, have some positive effect on absorbing
vibration.

Anybody ever fill metal lathes/ mills with lead shot?

Christopher Tidy wrote:
Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which
screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the
headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath?
And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers used the same
dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

The Taig Micro Lathe has a replaceable bed. It's similar in
construction to a jeweller's lathe. The replacement only costs $62.25,
but it a rather small lathe, and is a bit under half the cost of the
complete unit in kit form.

Leon

On 15 Apr 2006 03:59:02 GMT, (DoN. Nichols)
wrote:


There is a Hardinge which has a full-length dovetail way which
is replaceable -- but it is bolted to a full-length casting, so it is
much more rigid

Virtually ALL Hardinges use this.

Gunner

"I think this is because of your belief in biological Marxism.
As a genetic communist you feel that noticing behavioural
patterns relating to race would cause a conflict with your belief
in biological Marxism." Big Pete, famous Usenet Racist

My 18 X 54 L & S It is like new. I am the second owner. It was made in '71
and it is a joy to use. It is so good they went out of business in the 80s.
Think about it.
Steve

"Christopher Tidy" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old lathes
is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not build a
lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which screw onto
the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the headstock at one
end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath? And the best solution
would be if all the manufacturers used the same dimensions of replaceable
ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

Best wishes,

Chris

Steve Lusardi wrote:
My 18 X 54 L & S It is like new. I am the second owner. It was made in '71
and it is a joy to use. It is so good they went out of business in the 80s.
Think about it.
Steve

Thanks for the information. I'll keep an eye out for the machines you've
mentioned and perhaps sometime get a chance to take a close look at one.

Design of products which can be repaired and maintained is a big
interest of mine. In fact, I'm working on a website about it at the
moment, but progress is slow. I'll let you know when (if) it is finished.

Best wishes,

Chris

My Hardinge HLV toolroom lathe has replaceable (if expensive) dovetail
ways. I purchased a new dovetail from Hardinge, for around $800,
fifteen or more years ago. The saddle, tailstock and other parts still
needed to be aligned/scraped in, however. Not an easy or inexpensive
proposition. But, keeping in mind what a new lathe of that degree of
precision would have cost, it was all very reasonable. I don't know
what Hardinge would have to charge for that part these days. I hear
that the dovetail can be removed and reground by an experienced shop
that does this sort of work and it is not that expensive.

Cheers,
Norman C

Design of products which can be repaired and maintained is a big
interest of mine.

What about regrinding the ways?

On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 00:53:42 +0000, Christopher Tidy wrote:

Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which
screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the
headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath?
And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers used the same
dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

Best wishes,

Chris


Hardinge HLV beds can be replaced for about $1500 (last time I checked).

I worked on an engine lathe a long time ago that had a section under the
head that was removable to accomodate a larger swing. I don't see why you
couldn't replace that section if it became worn from use. Although, I'm
sure the rest of the ways were ground to match
--
Skuke
Reverse the domain name to send email

Jordan wrote:
Design of products which can be repaired and maintained is a big
interest of mine.


What about regrinding the ways?

Indeed. I was just wondering if you might be able to replace the ways
(i) more cheaply, (ii) more readily and (iii) more times than is
possible with a regrind.

Chris

"Christopher Tidy" wrote in message
...
Jordan wrote:
Design of products which can be repaired and maintained is a big
interest of mine.


What about regrinding the ways?

Indeed. I was just wondering if you might be able to replace the ways
(i) more cheaply, (ii) more readily and (iii) more times than is
possible with a regrind.

Chris


There are some obvious benefits from replacing ways, one of which is not
losing orientation with related components. Machines that are so equipped
tend to outwear soft cast iron ways, so the bed tends to outlast the balance
of the machine and never need replacing. The advantage is a lathe that
will maintain its original precision for a much longer period of time.
Flame hardened and ground bedways are, for all practical purposes, just as
good so long as they are properly ground at the outset.

Harold.

I worked for quite a while on a Lodge & Shipley 25x96 toolroom lathe
that has replaceable ways. Probably be a hard time finding replacements
though. But they could be reground if you could find the right shop.

Richard W. wrote:
"Christopher Tidy" wrote in message
...

Hi all,

Today I spent an idle moment pondering the design of machine tools. It
occurred to me that the thing that often kills the accuracy of old
lathes is wear to the ways at the headstock end. So I thought, why not
build a lathe with replaceable ways? Either precision ground bars which
screw onto the casting, or a simple set of ways which bolt onto the
headstock at one end, and perhaps a pair of mounting feet underneath?
And the best solution would be if all the manufacturers used the same
dimensions of replaceable ways for each size of lathe...

Anyone ever seen a lathe with intentionally replaceable ways?

Best wishes,

Chris


LeBlond Regal and some models of Lodge & Shipley have replaceable ways. The
L&S that I seen was built in the late 40's or early 50's. LeBlond Regals
that had replaceable ways I think were from the 60's on. At least the Regals
that I have seen and used. I always wondered who in the area had a surface
grinder with long enough travel to grind the ways. I would imagine that a
planer with a 5 HP compound grinder could do it.

Richard