Wixey Laser being sold by Shopsmith

[reible]

I spent another hour or so playing with the laser and mostly dealing with the mounting situation. The bracket that fits between the tubes is just not working for me. I tried to tighten it as best as my hands can do but it is till not tight enough. The portion with the laser mounted is not stable, and if you twist on a few times the whole assemble gets loose enough to slide down the tubes.

The main problem is that the knobs on the laser that you have to turn to do the alignment cause the assembly to rock, and rocking effects the location of the laser beams. So you turn to align and the bracket moves and you let go and the aim is off, yes you can get close by guessing how much things have moved but I find it frustrating trying to play with it.

I tried 3 tests, first I made a twin bracket to the one that mounts to the tubes so it effectively made it wider hoping that would stabilize it. That did not work.

try 1.jpg (93.06 KiB) Viewed 17034 times

Next I tried to make the part more stable by make it more like a single part. That didn't work either. Here is the idea, the tape is just to hold it in place for the clamps.

try 2.jpg (130.53 KiB) Viewed 17034 times

try 2a.jpg (102.43 KiB) Viewed 17034 times

So I then took my old laser off the bracket I made and mounted the new laser as seen here:

try 3.jpg (126.33 KiB) Viewed 17034 times

This worked but then I noticed something else, the laser lines do not extend forward like on the other laser. I have to look more at this. Not necessary a problem but I'll spend some time examining things and report back.

Maybe someone who has one up and working can let me know how far past the cross point the beams go?

Ed

[RFGuy]

Thanks Ed. I got around to putting my Wixey laser together with the mount and playing with it. I am still not in drill press mode yet in the shop, so I didn't test the alignment, but I believe I can see the concern you raise on alignment. However, on the first issue you raise with tightening the Shopsmith clamp, I think I have the solution. This wasn't immediately obvious to me, but I also had similar issues on tightening it between the waytubes. I followed the directions so I couldn't figure it out at first because after turning the knurled knob all the way (hand force only, no pliers), I still had like almost an 1/8" of gap so my clamp was never going to hold the laser in place. I took it off and finally figured out that you have to rotate the "Small Clamp Bracket" counterclockwise relative to the "Large Clamp Bracket". This backs out the Socket Head Screw (part # 3 in diagram). This is the coarse adustment for this clamp and the knurled knob is the fine adjustment. Without spinning the Small Clamp Bracket a few turns to back this out, there was no way I was ever going to get a tight fit of this bracket between my Mark V waytubes. This step should really be in the instructions. So, now I have a tight fitting bracket between the waytubes, but I can see there is some vertical play with the Mounting Plate Assembly. I won't know how bad this affects the alignment until I do the alignment and do some test drilling. Anyway, let me know if this helps you because I think it explains the tightening problem...

So, this Wixey laser isn't very bright (illumination wise). How does the Peachtree laser compare to it? Maybe the lighting is too good (bright) in my shop, but it is kinda hard to see these laser lines. In comparison to my miter saw lasers, this Wixey laser is dim (illumination wise - not speaking of the design ).

LaserDiagram.jpg (65.87 KiB) Viewed 16794 times

[reible]

So more playing today. The problem is not with the bracket not being able to open enough to tighten. Mine came and I was unable to more the end piece with out the use of a 1/4" t-wrench. Once I got it loose I screwed it all the way in and it adjusts but I simple can not tighten it enough to get the slack out of it. The slight twisting ends up being transferred to arm which transfers to the lasers. When you attempt to turn the lasers to adjust the arm moves and the laser points move. To make it worse the laser on the right doesn't turn smoothly, the jerky movement is a pain to deal with but add the bracket moving and I can't see anyone being happy with this.

The laser light seems about the same between the two units I have. I have a sewing machine light, LED type that I use for task lighting. Even with that on I can still see the beams. I took a picture of what I see, can't say how bright it has to get to make the lines go away but not going to happen in my shop. Outside it would be another story.

task light on too

laser view.jpg (159.19 KiB) Viewed 16748 times

Ed

[reible]

My latest testing has a usable solution for me. I have a 2 piece clamping collar that I installed below the bracket on the left side. This makes a world of difference!

laser mount.jpg (93.64 KiB) Viewed 16748 times

I think these are in the $12 to $15 range. These can be very useful for other things so just make sure it is the split type so it is easy on and off.

At least for now this appears to be a workable solution but might cost you an extra few bucks if you don't already own one.

Ed

[algale]

I think for my drilling needs I am going to forego the laser and do it the old fashioned way.

[RFGuy]

Ed,

I am still confused. So, I take it the knurled knob was difficult to turn for your mount, but did it get looser and easier to turn after using the wrench? Or is it still difficult to turn? Mine turns freely, so I am just wondering if perhaps yours needs to be replaced by Shopsmith. Related to this, I am trying to understand how putting the stop collar on the waytube solves the issue with the bracket. I am just trying to understand if there is still a difference in the operation of our two laser mounts, or if I am going to have the exact same issue that you see. I am new to using this laser mount, so maybe I am just not seeing the forest for the trees just yet. Thanks for your help.

[reible]

Ed,

I am still confused. So, I take it the knurled knob was difficult to turn for your mount, but did it get looser and easier to turn after using the wrench? Or is it still difficult to turn? Mine turns freely, so I am just wondering if perhaps yours needs to be replaced by Shopsmith. Related to this, I am trying to understand how putting the stop collar on the waytube solves the issue with the bracket. I am just trying to understand if there is still a difference in the operation of our two laser mounts, or if I am going to have the exact same issue that you see. I am new to using this laser mount, so maybe I am just not seeing the forest for the trees just yet. Thanks for your help.

The knob was against the smaller mount and it would not budge, well I couldn't move it anyway. I got out my allen wrench and held the mount and turned the bolt, once loose it works fine. I don't know if they did this as a shipping thing or someone just got a little carried away.

I'll try and make a video this afternoon of the issue. It would be interesting to see if it just mine or if it is a common issue. I've also got a new mini tripod for my iphone so I can try that out. It came with a remote so I have high hopes that I can get something decent by myself.

Ed

[reible]

The bracket the holds the laser to the tubes has some slop in it and I can't get it to tighten enough to make it stable.

I did earlier check to make sure there was enough looseness in the parts so I can get more then just the distance between the tubes when tightening. The easy way to do that was to use the distance between tubes centers 7" - 1-3/4(tube dia.) = 5-1/4" and then measure the inside of the bracket to make sure it can go past that and mine does.

So my grip isn't as good as it use to be but I think I am getting it pretty tight and don't want to resort to a tool to get it more tight.... and even if that was the way to go then one should go to a hex nut?? But I don't think that is a good solution.

Now I just took a couple of videos and shot a couple of pictures to present the issue. This first video show what happens when doing anything, like trying to adjust the lasers to "zero" them. To make sure the bracket is squared I put some tape 2" down from the head stock then use that to make the bracket "level".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPkxCrhJCA

That movement then causes the bracket to slide down, here are a before and after shot:

before.jpg (104.28 KiB) Viewed 16662 times

after.jpg (103.52 KiB) Viewed 16662 times

While this doesn't effect the point of the lasers it will if the two ends don't move the same amount, I have not seen this so perhaps it can't happen. What it does do is worry me that normal vibrations of operation will cause the laser bracket to slowly lower itself or even become loose enough to slide down.

The result of that movement in the lasers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xQbZBzBo_w

This of course in more then happens when just trying to adjust the lasers but it still makes it difficult to do the alignment when you are dealing with movement that should not be there.

The wooden bracket I made doesn't have this issue. So perhaps those interested in this should by pass shopsmith and buy the lasers else where and make their own bracket???

So the other question was how the clamp on the tube below the bracket helps, there is a video of the results having the clamp in place:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX5GIRIkV4s

Yes you can still some movement it but is a lot less even when tugging on it. Handing it to do the turning the of the lasers is no long a big deal.

Now I only have mine to play with so perhaps your results will be different. If they are all this way then shopsmith messed up again. At this point I can not recommend anyone buy this unless you are willing to do what I have done or find another solution to the play in the bracket.

Ed

[RFGuy]

Thanks Ed. That is very helpful. So, I have to say that my knurled knob rotates very easily, so it takes little effort to tighten it on my part. I have some amount of arthritis in my fingers myself, so it is difficult to open Rx bottles, etc. With only a little effort, I can easily tighten the knurled knob on mine such that it is tight and like your 3rd video with the stop collar, so little to no movement. Granted I have the waytubes horizontal because I am not ready to switch over yet, but pushing back and forth on the laser bracket it hardly moves when tightened. To be sure, I would need to go to drill press mode and make sure gravity doesn't affect it more when adjusting the lasers, but I can't see how it would given how tight the bracket is between the waytubes for mine. I don't have a good setup in the shop for taking video, but will see if I can rig something up to show you what I see. Given this, I really think there is something wrong with the bracket that you got from Shopsmith. I would recommend contacting them about it because I think yours has a machining problem...possibly cross threading on the bolt or something.

[jsburger]

The bracket the holds the laser to the tubes has some slop in it and I can't get it to tighten enough to make it stable.

I did earlier check to make sure there was enough looseness in the parts so I can get more then just the distance between the tubes when tightening. The easy way to do that was to use the distance between tubes centers 7" - 1-3/4(tube dia.) = 5-1/4" and then measure the inside of the bracket to make sure it can go past that and mine does.

So my grip isn't as good as it use to be but I think I am getting it pretty tight and don't want to resort to a tool to get it more tight.... and even if that was the way to go then one should go to a hex nut?? But I don't think that is a good solution.

Now I just took a couple of videos and shot a couple of pictures to present the issue. This first video show what happens when doing anything, like trying to adjust the lasers to "zero" them. To make sure the bracket is squared I put some tape 2" down from the head stock then use that to make the bracket "level".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPkxCrhJCA

That movement then causes the bracket to slide down, here are a before and after shot:

$matches[2]

after.jpg

While this doesn't effect the point of the lasers it will if the two ends don't move the same amount, I have not seen this so perhaps it can't happen. What it does do is worry me that normal vibrations of operation will cause the laser bracket to slowly lower itself or even become loose enough to slide down.

The result of that movement in the lasers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xQbZBzBo_w

This of course in more then happens when just trying to adjust the lasers but it still makes it difficult to do the alignment when you are dealing with movement that should not be there.

The wooden bracket I made doesn't have this issue. So perhaps those interested in this should by pass shopsmith and buy the lasers else where and make their own bracket???

So the other question was how the clamp on the tube below the bracket helps, there is a video of the results having the clamp in place:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX5GIRIkV4s

Yes you can still some movement it but is a lot less even when tugging on it. Handing it to do the turning the of the lasers is no long a big deal.

Now I only have mine to play with so perhaps your results will be different. If they are all this way then shopsmith messed up again. At this point I can not recommend anyone buy this unless you are willing to do what I have done or find another solution to the play in the bracket.

Ed

In your after.jpg picture it looks like the arc of the bracket does not quite match the diameter of the way tube. Maybe it is just an optical illusion.