Micromill column adjustment

Created by: Lester Caine, Last modification: 16 Nov 2009 (16:39 UTC)

The acuracy with which you align the spindle to the bed will depend on the final acuracy of the work you intend to produce. Simply aligning things with a set square on the table may be adaquate for most people, but more acuracy can be obtained by using a dial gauge mounted in the collet.

MMSquareColumnIn this case it is fairly obvious that the column needs adjustment before fine tuning the alignment.

align column leftA dial gauge is mounted on a bar in the collet of the spindle so that it can be rotated left and right. Since only very minor adjustments to the column will be required a deadblow hammer or something similar should be all that is needed, with a tap on th side that is reading low.
align column right

(Picture of dial gauge in spindle.