bench, way tubes, end castings dimensions

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On another thread by mbcabinetmaker he shows his method of creating a mini from a 'normal' 500 ShopSmith.

He has cut the way and bench tubes a different amount. This is a puzzle to me.

I have measured the tubes and the castings into which they are assembled and the results are below. They validate the conventional wisdom that the tubes should be cut by the same amount and that the bench tubes should be 3/4" longer than the way tubes.!

Three of the four castings have a definite stop to position the tubes within the castings. The fourth does not have a stop, but is limited by the potential interference with an spt/table tube.

[ATTACH]4554[/ATTACH]

This is the hinge end way tube socket. The depth is 2 1/8".

[ATTACH]4556[/ATTACH]

This is the tie bar tube socket. The depth is 1 7/8".

[ATTACH]4557[/ATTACH]

This is the hinge end Bench tube socket. The depth is 2 1/8"

[ATTACH]4555[/ATTACH]

This is the clamp end bench tube socket. It does NOT have a machined stop, but IS limited by the potential interference with a table or spt mounting tube. The maximum depth is 2 5/8".

Since the way tubes are originally 52" long, the exposed way tube distance is 52" -2 1/8" -1 7/8" = 48"

The Bench tubes are originally 52 3/4" long, so the exposed bench tube distance is 52 3/4" -2 1/8" - 2 5/8" = 48".

Since I am in the process of 'creating' a mini from 'scavenged' parts, I had them unattached so measuring and photographing them was easy.