Knee Mill Many knee mill manufacturers publish their machine travels in their literature and on their web sites. For new machines, this information is useful to determine the proper length Acu-Rite precision glass scales required for a retrofit package. Over the years, machine dimensions and travels change. For older machines and for machines that you cannot find the published travels, there is a quick and easy way to measure the actual travels. Determining the proper scale length will insure the scales do not limit machine capacity while also insuring the scales will not be too long causing installation problems and adding cost to the kit. To determine the proper length Acu-Rite scales needed for an average Knee Mill, travel measurements are required. A quick and easy way to measure the travels is described below. 1. Two Axis kits measure the table movement where left to right is considered the X-Axis and front to back is considered the Y-Axis. To measure the front to back (Y-Axis) travel of a mill, move the table to its most forward position, then measure from the back of the table to the vertical ways of the knee. This is the maximum travel. 2. Move the table as far left as possible and mark a line from table to saddle so that half the mark is on the table and the other half is on the saddle.
3. Move the table as far right as possible and measure the distance between the two mark halves. This is the maximum X-Axis travel. 4. Most 3-axis kits sold measure the quill travel for the Z-Axis. To measure the quill, turn the micro stop dial until it is as low as possible. 5. Raise the quill as high as possible and measure between the bottom of the quill stop and the top of the micro adjustment knob. This is the maximum Quill travel. NOTE: Most knee mill quills have five inches of travel. Our SENC150 scales have 1¾ inches of over travel allowance. In order to fit a scale to the quill, most kits include a four inch scale for the quill. Since the actual travel of a four inch scale is 5¾ inches, it works well.
If you plan to install a knee scale for the Z-Axis, or if you plan to install a knee scale and a quill scale with a 4-Axis DRO, the knee travel will need to be determined. 6. To measure the knee travel, raise the table as high as possible then make a mark from knee to the machine base so that half the mark is on the knee and the other half is on the machine base. 7. Lower the knee to its lowest travel and measure the distance between the two mark halves. This is the maximum knee travel.
Horizontal Lathe To determine the proper length of Acu-Rite scales needed for an average horizontal Lathe, travel measurements are required. A quick and easy way to measure the travels is described below. 1. Move the carriage as close to the head as possible. Measure from the drive nut on the carriage to the end of the drive screw. This is the maximum travel of the carriage. Note: The swing describes maximum diameter and distance between centers describes the maximum length a lathe can hold. Neither represent lathe travels. 2. Move the cross slide as far back as possible away from machine center, then make a mark from cross slide to the carriage so that half the mark is on the cross slide and the other half is on the carriage. 3. Move the cross slide as far forward as possible in toward the late center and measure the distance between the two mark halves.
Surface Grinder To determine the proper length of Acu-Rite scales needed for an average surface grinder, travel measurements are required. A quick and easy way to measure the travels is described below. 1. Move the Grinding Wheel as high as possible. Measure from the center of the grinding wheel to the surface of the table. This is the maximum vertical travel. Note: The grinding wheel and chuck are changeable and are not considered when measuring vertical travel. 2. Move the bed as far forward as possible away from spindle base. Make a mark from table to the machine base so that half the mark is on the table and the other half is on the base. 3. Move the table as far back as possible in toward the spindle base and measure the distance between the two mark halves. This is the maximum table travel.