Shopsmith Newbie - Drill Press not Vertical?

[reible]

Hi,

I didn't mention that my machine is from 1976...

Now I know Nick "sold" a lot of these gauges so now I'm wondering if anyone here that owns one of these also owns a '55 or so machine and could measure what theirs reads. No need for pictures just post the the angle (if you have the pictures post them if you want).

Ed

[dusty]

Hi Dusty! I don't own a Wixey - so am a little confused by the readings in a couple of those photos. The Wixey shows angles of 89.x degrees on the vertical way tubes. In reality, isn't the 89 degrees actually 91 degrees? Does the Wixey measure angles greater than 90 deg.?

I thought all Mark V's were designed to over-throw the vertical position for safety reasons. Isn't this true? 91 degrees is what I remember! Same memory as Chris (nuhobby).

Charlese,

No, the 89.6 is that. The angle formed by the Way Tubes is 89.6 degrees. If the Way Tubes were perfectly vertical in the second photo, the angle would have been 90.0 degrees. If the Way Tubes passed thru vertical to the point of rest, the Wixey would read somthing greater than 90.0 degrees (90.1, 90.2, etc).

The first two photos are of the Wixey attached right where it was calibrated. It was calibrated in the horizontal position, therefore, the reading is zero degrees (no matter whether the way tubes are tilted or not).

Then, after zeroing the Wixey, I raised the Mark V to the vertical position and you see the result - 89.6 degrees. Note the arrow on the Wixey display. This indicates that the left side of the wixey is high (has rotated right).

If you keep rotating the Wixey past the vertical position, the degree reading will continue to increase til it reaches 180 degrees. At 180 degrees (from the starting position), the Wixey begins a down count (back toward 0 degrees and the direction of the arrow reverses.

Remember that all Wixey readings are relative to the position in which the Wixey was calibrated.

I hope this answers your question.

[dusty]

Charlese et al,

This is an addendum to my previous post. I just put a framing square on the bench tubes and measured the distance from the vertical arm of the framing square to the vertical way tubes (drill press mode).

This observation seems to indicate that the way tubes passed through vertical to point of rest. The difference in the two measurements being 2/32". I have to think about this a bit to make sure I haven't introduced an unknown variable.

[mickyd]

Hi,

See Dusty hasn't slowed down since his last birthday... beat me to the punch by hours!!!!

I also will not do the math to see how many inches off relates to degrees off. I know how you guys hate math.

Ed

Just got to remember the formula .017" per degree for every inch.

A way tube off by 1 degree would be.... .017" x 55" (I think that's the length of a way tube) = .960" off from plumb at end of tubes.

Thanks for the reply. I don't have the fancy digital gauge, but a T square and some quick math suggests mine is out by about 3 degrees...

.017" x 3* x 55" = 2.8" off from plumb at end of tubes. That sound about right racerchris? If I am off on the 55" tube length, just adjust the math accordingly.

[mickyd]

So whatta ya race er Chris??

[charlese]

Thinking to myself, "what's going on here?" - "Did these guys set up a scam for Easter Day?" "Just a late April Fool's Joke?"

I had been so convinced by my eyesight and things I'd read, I simply knew the lift angle was more than 90 degrees.

So, after seeing both Dusty's and Ed's photos, I had to try it my self. So - I taped a 2 ft. carpenter's level to the front way tube and pushed the SS around until it found a level spot. Then raised the tubes up to the drill press position. Even did this from one other level location.

Both tries showed the angle was LESS than 90 deg. - Just like the Wixey and Tilt Box angle measuring devices.
In order to get my carpenter's level plumb, I had to cut the tape and move the top of the level out away from the way tubes by approx. 1/16"

Goes to show - Never too old to learn and correct old paradigms. Especially if they are incorrect.

[racerchris]

Thanks all for the great feedback. I was able to return the "greenie" and bought a 1992 Mark V with all 5 tools and accessories complete. It was like the previous owner only used the saw without ANY attachments. Drill Chuck is brand new in a sealed plastic bag. Same with the Bottom Dust Cover, Lathe, Miter Handle, practically all accessories! Sweet! The only thing it didn't come with is the retractable casters!

[JPG]

Not the thread I was seeking, but relevant(likely adds confusion re actual angle).
http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/begin ... 1-s10.html

[garys]

Mine doesn't appear to sit at exactly 90 degrees, but I've never cared about that. All that matters is that you set the table 90 degrees to the drill.
If it really matters to you, park the Shopsmith on a part of your floor that isn't level and correct it that way.

[JPG]

Apparently it needs to be repeated that it is intentionally NOT 90°.

It is stopped slightly over the top so it tends to fall towards the table side. The lock screw and dimple add to the resistance to falling 'back' to horizontal.

Yes the important thing re alignment is the table be 90° to the spindle. The angle of the way tubes relative to the bench tubes/floor/... does not alter that.