Shopsmith Forums

On my 520 which I purchased on the secondary market, the Y axis (where the X axis is running with the tubes and the Y axis is running front to back) is not in-line with the quill. It is about 1/16” out over a 6” run. I’ve searched but not been able to find a remedy and can only think of shimming to correct it. Are there any other suggestions to correct it?

I think you've got X and Y backwards. You say the Y axis is not in line with the quill but then say it is the X axis that runs along the tubes?

Regardless, tell us what points you are measuring from and to. Better yet post a picture. Depending what you are measuring there may be different suggestions.

What is unclear to me is just what does "y axis is not in line with the quill" mean???

WHAT is out 1/16" over 6"??

What needs to be shimmed???

GarthS wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:03 pm On my 520 which I purchased on the secondary market, the Y axis (where the X axis is running with the tubes and the Y axis is running front to back) is not in-line with the quill. It is about 1/16” out over a 6” run. I’ve searched but not been able to find a remedy and can only think of shimming to correct it. Are there any other suggestions to correct it?

I am not sure but I think that you are talking about squaring the table with the blade. I would typically call this "setting the miter track parallel to the blade. Is this what you are attempting to do?

There is some offset and the alignment is intended to minimize that. This sketch depicts a table with no offset to the blade; a very unlikely occurrence. If this is where you see the offset, your 1/16" (.0625") deviation can be reduced by loosening the four trunnion bolts and shifting the table.

Garth, if you do have an alignment issue and you have the trunnion bolts loose please consider this as a suggestion for getting back into alignment.

Put the Shopsmith in the horizontal boring mode but lower the table down until it contacts the ways tubes. (see the images)

Once in this position, measure the distance from the top edge of the table to each of the way tubes. Hopefully they are equal. If they are, secure the trunnion bolts and return to the table saw mode. If this works as I expect it to, you will find the miter tracks to be parallel to the blade.

I have just done this with my Mark 510 and 520 machines. It seems to work and may be still another way to quickly and easily align the table to the blade. No tweaking required. Hopefully
I used an aluminum plate to bridge the way tubes but this is not necessary. This could also be done with a piece of wood or anything else that is flat.