I would put a test indicator in the vertical spindle and check it in 4 positions to make sure it is true to the bed.

I’’;f you have one, use a parallel on the mill bed rather than run it across the tee slots or you might ruin the test indicator.

I don’t have one of these mills but suggest the locking not is actually used to extract the taper pin.

As David says, the nut is used to extract the taper pin. I gently tap mine home. The tram can be adjusted if necessary with shims at the column split. I've had a small piece in mine for the last thirty years.

HTH,

Rod

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 18/03/2022 18:36:02

As the mill has a round tube that the head rotates on. I would suggest that you could add a loose clamp to the round tube. The collar could be bored to fit the round tube, use a split collar if you don’t want to dismantle the mill.

The collar should be round with two legs going down like an inverted U with the curved part of the U as the collar. Each leg should be drilled and tapped through so it rests on the left and right of the column. To use, unlock the U clamp so it does not stop the head tube from rotating.

Tilt the head to approximately the required angle and lock the collar on the head tube. Now using the adjusting screws you can set the angle by using a test indicator on a sine bar.

To reset the head, loosen the U clamp and straighten the head up. Lock the clamp and you can now adjust the side screws to set the head into position. Fit the pin, job done. With the U clamp left in place it will also stop the head slipping while milling. For belt and braces, make two clamps and put one each end of the round tube.

I know this might seem complicated but this is the way I would do it if I had one of these mills. It would also suit a Tom senior light vertical.

There are several photos on lathes.co.uK including a nice full colour one showing the head without any guards on.

I know this is off topic from the original post but it is a solution that would work to set the head true.

I hope someone finds it useful?

I've been considering one of these myself for the occasional, light model engineering work I’d require of it.
The size and interoperability with my existing Myford tooling are the main appeals, given it gets favourable reports by owners.

The one I’m considering at the moment is a Mk2 (I haven’t really heard any mention of the Mk1 though to be honest!) However some picture have a front and rear greasing nipple on the side for the bearings on the horizontal shaft whereas some photos show a single, central nipple. Does anyone happen to know if these differences signify earlier or later versions – perhaps the earlier or Mk1 models had a single nipple whilst the Mk2 had a pair? Logic would suggest a greasing point on each bearing would be an improvement which was made?

Rod – I'd be very interested to see some more photos of yours, including the 3-axis DRO if you ever get the time? That must make a decent machine into a real little gem.

Kind regards

Darren

Cheers Baz. Yes, Tony's site was my first port of call.

In fact, although there's no mention of the differences regarding the horizontal shaft lubrication, there are pictures of both types on there. I'd be interested to know if Mk2 owners all have the twin lubrication points on their machines. Perhaps it is a differentiator after all!

They do seem fairly few and far between – there are precious few images outside of the lathes.co.uk site and only 2 videos of them that I've managed to find.

Edited By Darren Elmslie on 10/01/2023 21:27:31

Brilliant, Cheers Rod, much obliged. Looks as though yours also has the fore-and-aft grease points.

Like the work light additions you've made to it

Darren.

Thanks for checking Baz!

Interesting. I'm beginning to suspect it was the Mk1s which had the single nipple for the horizontal spindle. I'm pretty sure the only picture I've seen of that type is on the lathes.co.uk site – none anywhere else so they're certainly the rarer type of what's a fairly rare machine to start with

I've dropped Tony a line to see if he can shed any light. If I hear anything useful I'll pop it in the thread.

I have a vague recollection that the Sharp machine was originally available as a set of castings.

Rod

Rod, it’s funny you say that, I also seem to remember something about them being casting sets, to be honest they are very basic construction, ideal for a model engineer to make. I know they used to sell a rotary table as a kit of castings. Will whip a nipple out tomorrow and see what’s behind it, grease or oil, I have never lubricated it since I purchased it. It used to belong to a deceased Basingstoke club member and when he died found its way to Home and Workshop, I purchased it from Steve Holder at an Ally Pally exhibition, the horizontal had never been used, all gunged up in that preserving grease, strangely since I have had it I have never used the vertical head, it has been permanently set up as a horizontal mill

Darren the machine you link to doesn’t appear to have the horizontal spindle externally threaded.