Tramming milling vise problem

[chrisnis]

I have a little issue when tramming my kurt style milling vise. Its a 1699 vise from littlemachineshop. I set up to tram it by placing a parallel in the vise jaws and putting a dial test indicator in a 3/8" R8 collet . I measure back and forth across the parallel adjusting it straight . My problem is that i cant get it straight as hard as i try . I can get it within a thou on each end but it moves usually 2-3 thou between the ends of the parallel . For example if the right end of the parallel is set at 0 ,as i move left it goes -1 thou,-2 thou,-3 thou in center,-2 thou,-1thou and back to zero at the left end of the parallel . What does this mean and what can be wrong . Im thinking maybe the vise or maybe my parallels are warped in the center. Should i only be concerned with the two ends and disregard the middle?

Similar Threads:

• Problem/questions about Tramming and Squaring
• Grizzly G0619 (SX3) Tramming Problem.
• Best milling vise for X2? Screwless or not?
• CT129 milling vise ??
• Small Milling Vise

[neilw20]

I would check for loose or sloppy gibs.
Put something near end of table with dial indicator touching it.
Pull table backwards and forwards. Hmmm. That was a surprise.

[chrisnis]

I would check for loose or sloppy gibs.
Put something near end of table with dial indicator touching it.
Pull table backwards and forwards. Hmmm. That was a surprise.

Nope not the table gibbs. Just trammed that a few days ago and it almost perfect for a x2 mill . 1/2 thou in 4". im not sure it could be that anyway though since from left to right it starts zero and comes back to around zero at the end of travel.

[neilw20]

I didn't say tram it, I said PULL it backwards and forwards from one end.
You can run it past a DTI all day and it will be sweet.
Put table all the way to the left. DTI between spindle or the column to the left hand end. Apply fore and aft force.
I have an SX3 and I understand the problem. Been there. Done that.

[chrisnis]

I would check for loose or sloppy gibs.
Put something near end of table with dial indicator touching it.
Pull table backwards and forwards. Hmmm. That was a surprise.

Nope not the table gibbs. Just trammed that a few days ago and it almost perfect for a x2 mill . 1/2 thou in 4". im not sure it could be that anyway though since from left to right it starts zero and comes back to around zero at the end of travel.


oh ok i see what your saying . Just checked it and no play at all . If anything gibs are a little tight.My mill table has been freakishly accurate since i got it for a X2.Even better now since i made a column brace with front/back adjustment and eliminating the tilting head feature. Im gonna try tramming the vise again in a little bit with my soft jaws on using the original jaws as a parallel to tram on this way i can rule out the parallels iv been using to tram.

so its not any type of normal to have a different reading between ends when tramming the vise huh?

[neilw20]

I clocked up a block of steel on the table, turned the vice over and clamped it to the strip.
Then machine some keying grooves in it to match table slots.
Now I just put it on the table and clamp it. Always true in 10 seconds, after I've wiped the table and the base of the vice.

[Tolyatti]

If you've got the x-axis gib snugged, and it gets harder to crank as you move away from the middle of the table, AND you're getting the run-out you describe, I suggest your x-axis dovetails are worn.