lift assist and table alignment

[woodennickel]

hello everyone! new to the forums, but not mew to shopsmith. i just had my new shop built and am in the process of moving in & getting everything aligned ON A TRULY LEVEL FLOOR. also just purchased a lift-assist, and it seems that the lift-assist is what is making it impossible to to align the auxiliary table from one side to the other. checked center line of the heaadstock -- it seems that the lift-assist pushes the way tubes out of line by 1/16 of an inch on the the headstock end. then i disconnected the lift-assist -- everything aligned VERY WELL. i'm sure i've missed something or done something wrong in the alignment process. suggestions anyone?

[dusty]

My first guess would not be the lift assist as the cause but then you said disconnecting makes everything OK. Not being able to move an auxilliary table from one end to the other (without loosing alignment) is not unusual. I have had the good fortune but it was short lived. After many futile attempts I have finally given up on that.

Why is it frustrating? Just because! I know the feeling. Best solution - a dedicated auxiliary table (one at each end).

It is a bit curious though. You say this can be done without the lift assis and then connecting the lift assist brings the trouble back. Interesting AND I will be watching to see how this works out.

Welcome to the forum. and Happy New Year.

[reible]

I've gotten the alignment but as Dusty said it is not easy and getting it to stay is yet another thorn to bare. The only time I was able to get it to my liking was after I upgraded to the double tilt, before that I had no luck at all.

There is some movement possible at each end and I have often thought I could limit that and have a better chance but still have yet to attempt a fix. It could also be that there is not one.

I too have purchased a second extension table and have right and a left one. That turned out to be a good solution but it is not cheap. Still it works and leaves me much less frustrated so well worth it for me.

I've found that alignment to the right works for almost everything I do and if given the choice that is the side I would make sure is right on. You may work differently so for you the left might be better but picking one way or the other solves most of ones uses.

Ed

[jsburger]

I agree with Dusty and Ed. It is virtually impossible to align an extension table on one end and move it to the other end and have it aligned with or with the lift assist. We have had many discussions on this subject over the years. I don't remember the lift assist comming up in the conversation since those without a lift assist have the same problem. I am not sure what the lift assist would have to do with it.

I also have two extension tables. One marked Right and the other one marked Left.

[woodennickel]

The best I can tell the lift assist is putting enough pressure on the way tubes that they are pushed out of alignment. You can not put enough pressure with the headrest lock to pull it completely back or there could be enough play in the headstock casting to let the tubes push over. I will check on this tomorrow.

[jsburger]

The best I can tell the lift assist is putting enough pressure on the way tubes that they are pushed out of alignment. You can not put enough pressure with the headrest lock to pull it completely back or there could be enough play in the headstock casting to let the tubes push over. I will check on this tomorrow.

The lift assist puts linear pressure on the way tubes. That would not necessarily cause mis-allignment. Given that I don't know of anyone that has been able to align an extension table on one end and have it aligned on the other end I am not sure what you are seeing. I certainly don't think it has anything to do with the lift assist.

[woodennickel]

I would agree that it seems that way to me too. But after marking the center line on the base end and then checking the headstock end withe lift assist unhooked it comes back on center. Could it be something with the way I have the assist installed? After all all we are talking about is a 1/16 maybe less. Just enough to keep everything from lining up.

[reible]

Perhaps we are not talking the same lining up, are you just trying to get the extension tubes to line up or are you trying to have a rip fence on the extension tables aligning with the blade? Two very different things.

I think you will find the end can move a 1/16" or between the base and the base arm where the pin goes. You also need to be sure the pony tail lock pulls tight or there is movement there.

Ed

[woodennickel]

What I am trying to do is realign the auxiliary table. I can't seem to align the base and headstock ends with the lift assist connected. I have managed to line this up before. The headstock lock is tight probably a little too tight.

[JPG]

There is much that affects all this. Not all is obvious.

A rigorous alignment procedure must be followed that will not affect nor be affected by later stages.

My pet theory(substantiated by a use of crude laser alignment tools), is the adjustment of the way tube anti-twist stop under the tie bar at the left base. The help created by replacing the tie bar base with the double tilt base also lends credibility to the theory.

Also crucial is the use of studs rather than bolts for attaching the aux table to it's mounting tubes. This allows adjusting the aux table for horizontal rotation(yaw) as well as vertical twist front to back(pitch) and left to right(roll). All those adjustments must also take into effect the front to rear positioning of the table on the mounting tubes as well.(the rip fence cares).

Now for the desired result to be obtained, the main table must also be rigorously aligned as well or the rip fence will not bridge the gap correctly between the two tables.

Not mentioned so far is the positioning of both the way tubes and the bench tubes in the base casting(that also includes a hinge and clamp).

All this has been discussing only one end of two.

I mentioned way tube twist earlier, but the bench tubes must also not exhibit any twist as well and then there are those stamped steel legs that rest on the floor.

I have no experience with the lift assist, but IF it can impart any tendency to twist the bench or way tubes, it indeed can alter the alignment.

My purpose in relating all this is to note the extreme difficulty that achieving acceptable, lasting results is extremely elusive. I have come close but in no way consider any attempts to have been a complete success.

There are simply too many things that will throw things off.

One of my pet peeves is the 'tip'(video by 'him' and 'her') that supposedly allows success is the adjustment of the anti-twist stop screw to bring the front/rear elevation in line with the main table left edge. Although if all else is correct AND the stop IS incorrect it will work, I think real conditions will be unlikely as successful.

Bottom line - the use of separate aux tables aligned to each end is a far more likely success story than getting a single table to work on both ends.

Another work-around is to simply NOT use the rip fence on the aux table on more than the one end it is aligned on/to.




This be an elusive goal.