Alignment Tests for Machine tools

#LAB_6
BITS Pilani Instructor: Ayush Owhal
Pilani Campus
OBJECTIVE:- To conduct alignment test on a lathe.

EQUIPMENT:- Dial gauge, Lathe (Live center), etc.

RAW MATERIAL:- Test mandrel, standards length samples (1’’ and 2’’ )

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

References

1. Testing of Machine Tools by Geo-Schleschinger.

2. I.S.I. Standards on Testing of Machine Tools.

3. Principles of Machine tools by G.C. Sen and A. Bhattacharya

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

 Theory

• The accuracy & surface finish obtained on job machined on a machined tool is governed

by the accuracy of the machine tool itself.

• Meaning, the accuracy with which various parts of machine tools are positioned with

respect to each other, their own accuracy together with the rigidity of the machine tool.

• Alignment tests or Geometrical tests ascertain the positional relation of parts of a

machine tool and their permissible deviations.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Three main alignment tests

1. Static tests: The tests that check the alignment accuracy of various parts of a machine tool
under static condition are known as static tests.

2. Dynamic tests: The tests that check the behavior and characteristics of a machine tool under
normal operating condition are known as “ dynamic tests”.

• In dynamic tests, the machine is to be tested for its alignment under actual running conditions.
This is a more appropriate test to check for the effect of vibrations/ deflection of the machine
on its accuracy.

3. Practical tests: This is final test for the accuracy of the machine tool which is done by
inspecting a specimen test piece machined appropriate to the fundamental purposes for which the
machine tool is designed.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Lathe Machine and Dial Gauge Intro

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Test No. 1, 2, and 3

TEST 1: CONCENTRICITY OF HEAD STOCK SPINDLE

TEST 2: AXIAL SLIP of the face of the spindle is the squareness error of the

face of the spindle with respect to the spindle axis.

TEST 3: CONCENTRICITY ON LIVE CENTRE: This test is conducted to

determine the concentric error of spindle nose with its outer diameter.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

 Test No. 4a and 4b

TEST 4a & 4b: These tests are to determine the CONCENTRICITY ON A TEST

MANDREL perfectly fitted in spindle nose of a headstock. (A test mandrel is a

perfectly ground shaft whose form errors are very much negligible).

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Test No. 5 and 6

TEST 5 & 6: This test to measure the PARALLALITY OF SPINDLE AXIS with respect to lathe bed in vertical
& horizontal directions is a continuation of the above test.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Test No. 7 and 8

TEST 7 & 8: These tests are to measure the PARAALLALITY OF SPINDLE AXIS with respect to lathe bed
when mandrel is fixed between the centers of the lathe bed. These are to be carried out in the same
manner as the above tests 5 & 6.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Test No. 9 and 10

TEST 9 & 10: These tests measure the PARALLALITY OF TAIL STOCK w. r. t. the lathe bed in both
horizontal & vertical directions.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Test No. 11

TEST 11: Determining the ACCURACY OF THE PITCH OF THE LEAD-SCREW of the lathe.

1. Lead screw error for 1 Inch sample

2. Lead screw error for 2 Inch sample

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 Key takeaways

• The machine supporting and guiding surfaces have the required geometric
characteristics like flatness, parallelism, concentricity, etc. that need to be test
periodically. Therefore, all machines need to tested at the time of installation
and periodically to ensure that they have capability to produce accuracy and
finish expected from them.
• The alignment is done to obtain the said accuracy on machining of parts.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Thanks

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus