SETTING UP, LEVELING AND RUNNING A REGAL PREPARATION FOR USE Remove the crating carefully and leave the skids under the lathe until you have skidded the machine to its approximate location. The floor on which the lathe sets should be absolutely firm. A lathe must set level and solid in order to perform accurately. It will be impossible to keep the machine level and in alignment if the floor is springy. Therefore, a solid foundation for the lathe is of the utmost importance. Next, remove the lag screws which hold the legs to the skids and remove the skids from under the machine. Remove all slush oil from the various parts of the machine.
This can be done with a rag or waste saturated with kerosene. Next, wipe off all the bright or bearing parts with a dry rag or waste, following with a rag saturated with clean machine oil to cover all these parts with a protecting film of oil. LEVELING THE LATHE Refer to figure 2. It is very important to level the lathe properly. Although the bed is heavy, it can easily be sprung if not properly leveled. A steel plate approximately 3/8 to 1/2" thick x 4" sq. may be placed under each leveling screw. For best results in leveling, are a precision ground bulb level made by Pratt & Whitney, Starret, or Queen & Co.
An ordinary carpenter's level, or a combine it square level is not sensitive enough. Proceed as follows: 1. Run the level screws down in the legs until they touch the floor. 2. Place two parallel strips (1, Figure 2) on the front and rear flat ways (2) as near the headstock as possible. Do not place level across vee ways. 3. Place level (3) across the two strips as indicated. 4. Raise the low side of the lathe by adjusting the leveling screws in the legs until the bubble is in the center of the glass bulb. 5. Move the two parallel strips to the tailstock end as shown in figure 2, and place the level across the parallel strips. 6.
Proceed to level the tailstock end of the lathe in the same manner as the headstock end as set forth above. 7. Repeat the process of first leveling the headstock end, then the tailstock end until the lathe bed is brought into exact level. 8. After leveling the lathe, tighten the lock nut on each leveling screw, making sure each screw is touching the floor. 9. The lathe, when leveled, should show the same degree of accuracy of alignment as noted on the test card which accompanies each lathe.. 10. On three legged beds level over the center leg and level length wise on the rear way in addition to above procedure.
If the lathe sets on a wood floor, the same lag screws taken from the skids can be used for lagging the machine to the floor. These, however, should not be pulled down so tight that they draw the bed out of level, but only tight enough to keep the lathe from "walking." If set on a concrete floor, expansion bolts should be used for this purpose. Do not bed the legs in concrete because it may be necessary from time to tire to check and correct the machine for level. Connect the service lines to the motor. It is important that the voltage and the other specifications of the motor be the same as those of your service lines.
The data plate on the motor specifies whether the current should be direct (DC) or alternating (AC). If direct currrent is specified, the voltage FIG. 2—LEVELING THE REGAL 8