Shopsmith Forums

After aligning the Main Table to the blade and ensuring that the miter tracks are well within being parallel to the blade (.005" in saw mode), what can reasonably be concluded if when the table is rotated 90 degrees (vertical to the tubes) the miter tracks are not level. (not parallel to the plane formed by the Way Tubes?

The Way Tubes are horizontal in both directions. Zeroed off the blade and then checked the Way Tubes.

I'm not sure how far off things are, but assuming you didn't do something silly like install the legs in the carriage off-kilter, I'd guess this means that the table was never level front to back when in saw configuration. (It's possible to align the miter tracks left right to the saw blade but the table is still not level front to back). What would cause that? Either something deliberately put between one of the trunions and the table (a shim?) or a manufacturing defect (or damage) to the surface of a trunion that mates with the underside of the table or a manufacturing defect or damage to the mating surface of the underside of the table.

What would be the ill effects of the table being out in this manner?

dusty wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:31 pm After aligning the Main Table to the blade and ensuring that the miter tracks are well within being parallel to the blade (.005" in saw mode), what can reasonably be concluded if when the table is rotated 90 degrees (vertical to the tubes) the miter tracks are not level. (not parallel to the plane formed by the Way Tubes?

The Way Tubes are horizontal in both directions. Zeroed off the blade and then checked the Way Tubes.

Along the lines of algale's thoughts, did you add 1/2" X 3/8" spacers to center table bolt(s) in one or more trunnion holes as discussed in another thread? If yes, is the spacer possibly too long?

- David

dusty wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:31 pm After aligning the Main Table to the blade and ensuring that the miter tracks are well within being parallel to the blade (.005" in saw mode), what can reasonably be concluded if when the table is rotated 90 degrees (vertical to the tubes) the miter tracks are not level. (not parallel to the plane formed by the Way Tubes?

The Way Tubes are horizontal in both directions. Zeroed off the blade and then checked the Way Tubes.

Trying to picture your reference surface. You zeroed against the plate of the saw blade correct. If so that is the reference surface. Then you check the way tubes the long way and they are 90° from the saw blade. Then you check across the way tubes and get what? The saw blade is not a reference surface in that direction.

I would zero across the way tubes and then check against the edge of the miter slot with the table rotated..

Also you say the tubes are horizontal in both directions. Horizontal to what?

HopefulSSer wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:19 pm What would be the ill effects of the table being out in this manner?

IIUC it would show up in Vertical Drill Press mode. A bit would not be perpendicular (normal) to the table in all directions. Table tilt sets this in
one direction. If there is an error along a front-to-back line then shimming between trunnion and table can correct (or create?) the error.

- David

DLB wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:36 pm

dusty wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:31 pm After aligning the Main Table to the blade and ensuring that the miter tracks are well within being parallel to the blade (.005" in saw mode), what can reasonably be concluded if when the table is rotated 90 degrees (vertical to the tubes) the miter tracks are not level. (not parallel to the plane formed by the Way Tubes?

The Way Tubes are horizontal in both directions. Zeroed off the blade and then checked the Way Tubes.

Along the lines of algale's thoughts, did you add 1/2" X 3/8" spacers to center table bolt(s) in one or more trunnion holes as discussed in another thread? If yes, is the spacer possibly too long?

- David

This was my first thought but after thinking about it some more I don't see how the table not being level front to back in saw mode would relate to the parallelism of the miter slot to the way tubes when the table is rotated 90°.

DLB wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:44 pm

HopefulSSer wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:19 pm What would be the ill effects of the table being out in this manner?

IIUC it would show up in Vertical Drill Press mode. A bit would not be perpendicular (normal) to the table in all directions. Table tilt sets this in
one direction. If there is an error along a front-to-back line then shimming between trunnion and table can correct (or create?) the error.

- David

Ah that makes sense.....

I guess I can't see any function I could do with my machine where this would matter.

I do not believe the way tubes are designed to be parallel or perpendicular with the table or used as a reference surface. If they were there would not be instructions to rotate the tubes based on how the headstock slides on them. By having the directions, SS agrees that the tubes are not perfectly round or that they have a slight curve/bow to them and that no two way tube is exactly the same. In addition the headrest, base and arms would need to be machined to a higher tolerance to ensure the way tubes were parallel. The required machining to the tubes, headrest, base and arms to achieve that would be costly.