Squaring; wonder how this would work?

[QSIMDO]

I believe there's a picture around here of the bottom of a Tormach column which apparently shows adjusting screws instead of using shims for squaring.

Is that correct?

So how would it be if I drilled and tapped the IH column for such adjusters?

My greatest concern would be torquing down the column bolts and snapping a corner off the column base. Perhaps though if the adjuster screws were close enough to the column bolts the force would be directed straight down through them and not so much at an angle if the adjusters were some distance away.

Thoughts?

[miljnor]

bolts are convenient but shims are the sure way to go and typicaly (unless you crash alot) this process dosn't happen much.

I would stick with the shims and ditch the convinient/lazy way!

Beside I don't recall ever having a shim back out on me but a bolt???

[QSIMDO]

Well...point taken, but let's not ignore that a seemingly highly accurate machine uses the adjusting bolt method.

Not born of laziness...convenience I'll readily admit to.
Rather like "adapting, improvising and overcoming" wouldn't you say? Which, with what I have left of vision and dexterity is getting harder all the time!
You bet I'll try anything that makes it easier!

[miljnor]

That was basically off the cuff, so I don't know what other machine manufactures do. But if someone uses that method on commercial machinery then its probably good to go!

I addmit to being lazy all the time, my wife disagrees but hey its human nature to do the least work for the most benifit!

[Cruiser]

I drilled and tapped mine for 5/8 fine set screws, works great, then find a feeler gauge to slip in next to bolt before torqueing it down and do so in stages. My collumn is within .0005 now and i figgure on checking it again after it gets shook in some. I got pics to show where i drilled.
I have developed some proceedure/technique to get it righ. only back off bolt so spring washer has enough tension to hold collumn from tipping unwanted, then do tramming, if set gets too tight then back off bolt 1/8 turn or so and further adjust, lastly steal feeler of appropriate fit to jam into gap under bolt and then as you apply torque to bolt check tram and readdjust to complete. firstly tho set slides parralel to table axis as sets will get a bite into base not allowing rotation later on. if done correctly it'll be strong enough to take it all, and the feeler jammed under bolt area will aid in minimizing required readjustment as torque is applied. this is what i did. Also a not on drilling, go in steps starting with a small drill and use a drill guide for every step all the way up to tap drill size then use guide to start tap as well or it'll wander for sure.

[QSIMDO]

Excellent.
I'm in for that.

[miljnor]

i just trammed mine in, and although it is a custom made collum it is similar in construction to yours. Wish I would have put set screws like yours in for later. Although truthfully when i trammed mine in with shims it take 2 try's and got it perfect. That wont happen again!!!

[Adobe Machine]

Thats a very good , professional way to align any part on a machine tool,I doubt that you will have to readjust veryu often unless the casting is soft. Nice job !


Adobe ( old as dirt )

[philbur]

The Tormach doesn't have adjusting polts to square the column. What you are probably mistaking for adjusting bolts is the dowel pins. These are used to ensure realignment after disassembly/reassembly. In my opinion adjusting bolts risk introducing a degree of unwanted flexibility, unless the design is very cleverly implimented.

Regards
Phil

Originally Posted by QSIMDO I believe there's a picture around here of the bottom of a Tormach column which apparently shows adjusting screws instead of using shims for squaring. Is that correct? So how would it be if I drilled and tapped the IH column for such adjusters? My greatest concern would be torquing down the column bolts and snapping a corner off the column base. Perhaps though if the adjuster screws were close enough to the column bolts the force would be directed straight down through them and not so much at an angle if the adjusters were some distance away. Thoughts?

[QSIMDO]

Originally Posted by philbur , unless the design is very cleverly implimented. Phil

Point well taken Phil, which is why I intend to inject Moglice into the joint between column and base once squaring has been accomplished to whatever degree I'm capable of giving it.

A depressing thought in and of itself!

[BobWarfield]

Moglice would be one approach, though it would seem hard to eliminate pockets in the process, and I'm not sure how things would go if you ever needed to get it apart.

How about just using shim stock once you have it adjust where you want it? It's still got to be tremendously easier to adjust with the set screws than going for shims alone.

Best,

BW

[QSIMDO]

Bob,
When you consider how much of the column and base are NOT in contact when using shim stock alone even poorly dispersed Moglice would have to be better.
However, this application is ideally suited for the product and anywhere you don't want it to stick just apply their release agent.

Set screws, trammed, Mogliced...done & done, Bob's yer cousins father!

Len