Shorty Drill Press not perpendicular to floor, any ideas?

[DLB]

Numbers from all of us would be meaningless unless we all followed the same procedure to collect them. Also, I get different numbers from my AngleCubes unless they are all fully charged

Do they vary enough to be outside the stated accuracy? Meaning it is reading an angle that you know to be wrong? That seems like an issue. I used a smartphone for this function for a while until I realized it was fundamentally inaccurate as I moved away from 0 degrees. It was okay as a level, but its readings were meaningless if you wanted to measure 90 degrees. When I realized that I went to the Wixey. I was going to try an AngleCube for its higher resolution but you might have just talked me out of it.

I don't think numbers from more people would be meaningless. Right now we seem to have little idea as to what numbers should be considered 'normal' which would in turn give us an idea what would indicate a problem of some kind. Doesn't mean we have to run out and solve the problem if we are happy with how the machine is working, but I get why the OP is concerned. Some people are saying that over-rotation is the design intent, but by how far? And why would that be the design intent?

- David

[rogersk]

I have no idea since my DP was never a full SS. The head stock and bench castings came from my full size 510 bought new in 1994.Then upgraded to a 520 and finally a full up MK 7. The legs, carriage, 520 table and way tubes came from eBay. The way tubes are thick wall 10ER tubes.

So out of curiosity I went and checked mine. The table, quill and way tubes are all 90°/parallel to each other. However, the way tubes are 0.6° leaning toward the operator position (not over center in the normal configuration).

Now this makes me wonder if the conventional wisdom, that being over center towards the operator in normal drill press mode, for safety reasons was ever a design feature. After all in the normal drill press mode the head stock and the table are hanging off the end of the bench. It would hardly fall back down on it's own even with out the over center.

FWIW, I loosened the lock knob on mine and even with the 0.6° tilt in the rotation diction with moderate force it didn't move. That is with the extra weight of the head stock and table helping. I have come to the conclusion that this whole discussion is a non issue.

It would be interesting if everyone who commented on this thread measured their machines and reported the results. My guess is that they all vary a little bit one way or the other.

OK, thanks. I didn't know your standalone DP was put together from parts from other machines. I don't have a digital angle finder, but I do have a magnetic torpedo level. I checked my Model 500 last night and it tilts past center toward the operator when used in the normal SS drill press mode, just as expected. When I get home tonight, I am going to reverse the headstock and see if it tilts off center in the other direction, like the OP's, and apparently yours, too. I think it probably will.

[JPG]

. . .
It would be interesting if everyone who commented on this thread measured their machines and reported the results. My guess is that they all vary a little bit one way or the other.

. . . I get different numbers from my AngleCubes unless they are all fully charged

So far I only know of ONE that does not go past 90° when raised.

Angle cubes may have contributed to the confusion here, hence the spirit level request. They had consistent indications.

[rogersk]

So far I only know of ONE that does not go past 90° when raised.

Angle cubes may have contributed to the confusion here, hence the spirit level request. They had consistent indications.

Unless I'm misinterpreting his comment, I think John has also indicated his standalone DP (with reversed headstock/table) is leaning .6 degrees short of 90. Check his post above.

[JPG]

So far I only know of ONE that does not go past 90° when raised.

Angle cubes may have contributed to the confusion here, hence the spirit level request. They had consistent indications.

Unless I'm misinterpreting his comment, I think John has also indicated his standalone DP (with reversed headstock/table) is leaning .06 degrees short of 90. Check his post above.

Yup he did! I missed that!!!!

I would really like for him to use a spirit level rather than them cube thingies.

I have less than 100% faith in them cube thingies especially at small deviations from 0°,90°.

[edma194]

Bubbles never lie!

[JPG]

Bubbles never lie!

No but warped/bent levels bodies may!

[dusty]

The Wixey and AngleCube work just fine. Every bit as good as a bubble level of any kind. Keep them charged or with good batteries and zero them when appropriate.

[dusty]

Bubbles never lie!

They also never tell the whole truth---like 3.45 degrees.

[JPG]

With a resolution of 0.1°, an accuracy of ±0.2°, and a repeatability of ±0.1° it most definately is misleading at 3.45° if not lying.