Kerry AG lathe

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Too thick to be a simple gasket and that would need the fixing bolts decently tightened up rather than almost loose as is Kerry norm.

Its not cork. As Michael W says its a composite gasket material, probably of the type known as controlled deformation with very non linear squidgy characteristics. The stuff goes up solid at quite modest loads but prior to that can shift around to effectively fill gaps and separations. Unless the fit is really poor its very easy to get the same level of support as obtained with two nicely matched surfaces. Serious over torquing can destroy the effect which is why Kerry hold down bolts are not much over hand tight, something around what you'd get using a decent size screwdriver via a socket I believe. The material is also glued on both sides to help stop any further squidging.

Theoretically it ensures that the bed isn't stressed by the cabinet if that isn't properly seated on the floor. Probably mostly intended to protect against goings on during transport & setting up but presumably equally effective if the cabinet feet aren't evenly loaded. Naturally the bed would be set-up unstressed at the factory with the cabinet on the level. If it works as advertised I presume there is no need to level the machine as reasonably even loading on the feet should suffice to keep the bed stress free.

When you get down to it most of the heftier factory type lathe stands are stiffer than the machine be anyway so levelling in the usual bench lathe sense really isn't applicable. Harrison claimed their L series machines could just be plonked down on any surface good enough to support all the feet.

Clive.

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

I have a Kerry lathe, and, yes, it is supposed to keep the bed from being stressed and deforming.

(somewhere I have some sales pamphlets, one of which was put on the kerry yahoo group a long time ago)

[hthParticipant @hth]

Thanks to everyone .

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