Milling Machine Alignment: Tramming the HEad and Vise to Square and Parallel

This video will show you two methods to tram a head on a milling machine - using a cylinder square and a spindle square. The Spindle Square that we are using is made by Boring Research LLC. I will also show how to tram in a vise to be parallel with the table using a test indicator.
The Spindle Square that I am using is available from Boring Research LLC: boringresearch.com/
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[@esspe2]

Seeing those indicators staying right on the point is highly satisfying; you know that you can rely on your machine, no bad surprise from that point. Thanks for that video!

[@WillyBemis]

I always appreciate your videos on maintaining and aligning tools. Thank you!

[@wolfitirol8347]

I build the same tramming fixture with the two indicators two years ago and use it since than and am very satisfied how quick and accurate it works.

[@albertevanslykeiv7411]

I am at Central Carolina Tech Sumter, SC in the Machinist course and these videos are helping me at school. Thanks, I will watch all of your videos.

[@garyw.elmqurst6272]

Thank you Keith, I learned how to tram a vise, i have always had trouble and I had both bolts loose and you only had one side loose. Great video have enjoyed all of them and you have a great shop. Again thank you for all the teaching you do.

[@nevetslleksah]

Most of my work is done in my 6 inch Kurt vise so I use the cylinder square on the bottom of the vise ways to tram the mill head in both directions. Thanks for making the video. Have fun making chips.

[@fasteddie4107]

Great, informative video, Keith. I recently got a great deal on a 14” rotary table, so have to move my vise for the first time since installing and last tramming it two years ago. This video will prove very useful. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insights.

[@geckoproductions4128]

Very nice video. Re-enforced what I know, and showed me a couple of small things I didn't. Very nicely done and well worth the time to view for any machinist, gunsmith, or even home hobbyist.

[@roncartwright8125]

Another great instructional video, clear and concise! Thank you Keith.

[@ericellenwood9606]

Just bought a Sharp milling machine and am waiting for delivery. This is great information, thank you!

[@tonyburndred9828]

Hi Keith, that indicator bar also makes a good syne bar for smaller angles you need to set, great video keep them coming

[@unclefrankonap1953]

just bought my first millrite vertical milling machine so I,m thankful for your video thank you

[@robertpanter5576]

Hey Keith Love the Videos, keep them coming, I am a Newbie to all this Maching stuff and appreciate all your work and knowledge you share. I don't ever comment because you will have many many things to read, how ever I have to say that all the tramming should be done with the tables locked, at least on my Older Mill it makes a big difference. And oh yea I have the same disease you have I just brought home my new (old) Monarch Lathe so I guess I can join the Monarch club with you and Adam Etc. Thanks again for all you videos and dedicated work

[@DiversifiedMachinist]

I would have to disagree with you on locking the table. If you machine with the table locked, I could understand. But you should have the table in the same conditions as you machine. This is my opinion though as I've been machining for 30+ years. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[@siggyincr7447]

For those who have a boring head for their mill, it's simple to make a bar to hold your indicator. Then you can tram the mill's head with that. It's maybe a bit slower because you have to go back and forth between sides, but it's still only a few minutes to get it dialed in.

[@paulmeynell8866]

Thanks for that straight to the point and simple to follow❤️

[@MotosAndMachines]

Thanks for the video. Just what I needed to learn how to use the very similar two-dial-indicator setup I ended up with for my new-to-me FTV2 Lagun. Got both axes to within a half a thou. I think the machine and my eyes are both not up to much more. Thanks much. One small constructive criticism -- I'm so new to this that the third part on the vise setup wasn't enough to help me, as it didn't have any close ups to show just where the indicator was touching, nor what kind of indicator it is and how it is set up. Probably should be obvious, but then again, maybe not for someone new enough to need such a video. Thanks for getting me most of the way there.

[@billdlv]

Looks all dialed in Keith, nice job.

[@aarongarney2118]

Thanks for your time.

[@llsdigitek]

Another fine video Keith!! Lloyd

[@fiorevitola880]

Good content! Thank you, Keith,

[@houseofbrokendobbsthings5537]

I bought one of the Tramming Squares $92 shipped to Michigan. Very fair since it is adjustable.

[@chevy6299]

Good stuff Keith.

[@Psicologia_bienestar]

Thanks for the vid, I'm going to use some valve adjustment valves instead the light because that's what I got in the shop.

[@gwheyduke]

Good one, thanks for posting this information.

[@ownedbyputin5002]

awesome great stuff i learned same way to tram in the head on Bridgeport super max or any conventional Mill

[@markschweter6371]

First time attemping to tram a mill, my Grizzly G-8689 Mini-Mill... No "nod" adjustment, but, went ahead with the table length. Couldn't get the Mitutoyo 0.0001" dial to repeat during adjustments... Finally checked the indicator... the four case back screws were loose. Easy after fixing that!

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

great job Keith , I need to do the same thing man !

[@taylorjohansen4955]

Great explanations and tips!

[@ritamoore3940]

Thanks Keith.

[@HomeMadeCnc]

Thanks for the education!

[@stockstergates4061]

That is very easy to tram our mill head, thanks

[@BisonWorkshop]

thank you for this video. i needed to know this info.

[@elsdp-4560]

THANK YOU...for sharing.

[@stevenhardy2898]

An interesting method that I can use on my woodworking drill press !

[@millomweb]

Do wood-butchers even know what a thou is ? ;)

[@mathuetax]

Hah, so that's that those things are. I've seen used cylinder square at swaps and wondered what on earth they are, or used for. Sweet!

[@VintageMachinery]

They are quite handy tool for a lot of things!

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Great video, thanks.

[@joeschmitz3346]

A word from the old and wise, make sure the bed rails are slick clean before traming! That one sliver of a spec can mess everything up, a good indication of specs on the slide rails is when your needle jumps when it is sliding. Rails might look clean, but there are spots you can’t see until you remove the bed from the rails.

[@markproulx1472]

Nice video. Thanks!

[@aparfeno]

You can check correctness of your square cylinder by tramming your head some other way (by sweeping the indicator across the table for instance). Then place the cylinder on the table, attach the indicator to quill and sweep the cylinder by moving the quill.

[@michaelluchesi6296]

Use a gauge block instead of a magnet (more precise) and you should also take at least a .100 revolution one full turn or a little more on you indicator which will give you more travel when checking and have the dial zero at the top of the indicator (easy to read). These tools are very easy to use and you can buy or make one in your own shop.

[@incubatork]

you could measure to a pair of paralels set on the table so as not to measure and adjust any minute ding in the table. good tool to have though, i also like the cylinder square, that would not mueasure slight dings because of the large base

[@MrKidkiller159]

@KeithRucker thanx for sharing,your gib video inspired me to check my mill. I found it was out a bit now it is right on zero sweet. thanx to the whole gang on KZbin. metal tips and tricks a bomb Keith Rucker turn Wright machine works mr. Pete 222 Bar Z Bash I've left some out thanks everybody

[@Null_76]

I had a costly lesson about tramming last month. I also used a last word on my vise and I also used a mallet to tap it into alignment, with the indicator making contact with the jaw view. After a while the indicator was moving unpredictably. Now I pull the indicator away from the surface before tapping. I assume that it was the vibration that trashed a pricey gauge.

[@maxheadflow]

Good stuff. One of the issues you'll likely find is that the quill has some play in the head and how tight you lock the quill makes a difference in squareness.. It might have been interesting to try different parts of the table to see if squareness changes. Also you could have on indicator point sitting in a dimple that would throw off the reading.

[@leiferickson9666]

Hello Keith🍁

[@johncrea9395]

Keith Did you use the Spindle Square to chech ig the vise is square to the table ( and thus square to the head) as well. most folks just seem to assume the vise when installed is square to the table, which is a bad assumption to make. Once the vise is trammed in all 3 axis, then you know all is right with the world. And don't forget, re-tram the vise when replacing the jaws John

[@RaysGarage]

Great tramming video Keith, Thanks for showing your new tool and less expensive than the Edge tramming tool!

[@piccilos]

Thanks!

[@JBFromOZ]

I wonder if perhaps the minor error on the cylinder square may be due to the "first" check done with the head nodded forward, as the square might not have been flat to the highest point. Rechecking the first measurement once setting the second measurement may have also show the error once the nod was straightened up by your second alignment operation

[@jusb1066]

makes sense to me!

[@doulos5322]

thanks!

[@petervance9886]

I'm going to get one.

[@randomdude1786]

had a few times it took 10 times or so cross the jaw till I got it. most times its end to end and back to check. within .001 also I like that dro its like the sony packed with confusing feature's thats how I like em .cant wait to see the metal planer again hope you found some interesting history I'm sure its got a story

[@holmes230536]

Keith, tramming the mill with that double dti gauge or even if with a single dti I would tighten (lock up) the quill and knee each time after making an adjustment especially on an old machine, just to make sure of any errors Edmund...........Alberta

[@holgerreimer8321]

Hi Guy ;-) Your machines than that older the German Black Forest :-) :-) The Video is great....

[@thegrantclan]

Nice one 🔩

[@wayned4271]

I have an precision 6" square with a bevel edge I use to get the head close then sweep a 6" radius on the table with an Indicol. Also, I use piece of flat and parallel ground stock that I can slide around the table to indicate on. Tables are a bit too rough for the indicator to get an accurate reading. I don't care for this "Spindle Square" method. They have to be calibrated each time and they don't sweep a large enough circle for my liking. Someone sales a tramming fixture that rest on the table and straddles the vice so you can check the head without removing the vice. It's basically a ground flat ring with four legs. '

[@darrylmay4510]

I guess I'm a little different. Wherever I worked if a little additional accuracy was possible, that's where I tended to go. When I worked for the Air Force I always worked to get something like the power supply parameters exact. My contention was that accuracy would make the equipment more reliable, and I was proven to be correct.

[@leiferickson9666]

Good time to use that magnetic mirror!!!......🍁

[@larescats9228]

Hi Keith. Great video as always I like the cyl square. Can i use a machinist square

[@ronpeck3226]

Keith, Thanks for the videos. A refresher is always good. Gibs on X and Y adjusted? Just a thought...

[@VintageMachinery]

You know, when we had the scraping class a month or two ago, we used the mill as a lesson on adjusting gibbs and such so it is about as good as it will get without re-scraping the whole machine (which it probably needs).

[@ronpeck3226]

My faux

[@carlthor91]

Rotate cylinder square, side first, 0 - 90 - 180 - 270 degrees, you will see any taper, I know I know, but slight as it is still possible. After that adjustment then do the front. Table true is another problem. Cheers

[@frank19137]

If you are going to tip the head at an angle to drill a hole in a part, you have to tram the head to the tee slots or the hole will come out in the wrong place. No one ever thinks about the head swiveling on the base.

[@70aca]

Keith, I love your videos. How do you know the table is coplanar? Would this method be more accurate if you indicated off of a parallel block so that you were averaging out any imperfections in the table - just like you used to check your hand scraping with an indicator?

[@sjwsbetaskiller6218]

Yes. This was incomplete demonstration. He should check table flatness, stone any burrs. If it's still not OK, "average out" by using parallel or something like that. Same with vice jaws (if there's a wear, indicate big parallel, not jaws directly).

[@tires2burn]

My small framing sq works for me.

[@imkindofabigdeal4308]

Just finished re-tramming mine with a similar dual indicator system. New mill...way out of alignment. Here is a suggestion, if you are way off like you were before you used the cylinder, do a gross adjustment by touching the indicators off the table first. If you are way off you can get lost in the number of spins on the indicator (I know the little dial is there - but can still be confusing).

[@EngineerPEretired]

8:00 how square is the tool to the shaft... That is what I wonder. I believe you should have flipped it again to confirm each dial is giving you the. Same reading... Never forget that you MUST check each dial to confirm how accurate each dial gauge is (within the travel you ask of it)... Again, flip each one around to confirm each are equal...

[@riverbuilder2251]

It would have been great to show the adjustment screws and which ones to move.

[@combatmedic1980]

Keith, shouldn't you check the table at different locations to see if in fact the table might be not exactly flat to compare the readings ?

[@jusb1066]

might have to stone off any burrs, perhaps he did

[@millomweb]

He's measuring at the part of the table he wants to wear out first.

[@robc8468]

Great video Keith.... how about the bottom of the vise can you indicate it to see if it is parallel (level) to the the mill table also.

[@VintageMachinery]

You can just put an indicator on the vise and move it across the top. You can also tram your mill to your vise if you know it is off slightly.

[@rtkville]

I’m amused at how few times I’ve seen a U Tube Machinist use the box end of a combination wrench. From an early age I was always taught if you need to get it tight or break a hard one lose you should use the box end to prevent slippage and or rounding over the head. To the best of my recollection I’ve only watched a U Tube Machinist use the box end one time! Although in all those episodes I’ve not seen one misshape so it seems there was no need to use the box end. When it comes to the final tightening or loosening I always use the box end, just my way of doing things, I guess…

[@VintageMachinery]

I use the box end a lot. Sometimes, you can't get the box end on the head easily though because of clearance. Such is the case with the nuts on the vise.

[@rtkville]

I could not agree with you more. But my comments were not aimed at you nor to this particular video but rather to yours and most all other metal working u tube videos in general. I do hope you did not take this as any kind of slant to you but simply a generalization. You are if not the very best u tube machinist to watch, you are on top in my book! I like you videos very much and yours are always the first one I watch! Thank you! Richard

[@crazymanmichael8386]

yes, the open end is bad enough, but what about the many guys who use a shifting spanner or crescent wrench, depending on your version of english?

[@rtkville]

The bottom line is not that that everyone should use the box end, but to not round over the bolt head or nut. My comment was in regard to the fact that on U-Tube I very rarely ever saw the box end of the wrench being used; it's always the open end or other. I did not mean that the box end should always be used, however if there is a chance of rounding over of the head one should use the box end for better distribution of forces.

[@crazymanmichael8386]

with 2hich I agreed totally. I too was taught very early on to use a box end/ring spanner or a socket whenever space allowed, open end only if space or lack thereof require it, and a shifter/crescent as a last resort.

[@mikehancock4624]

Would it help to rotate the cylinder square 180 deg to check it it's square with itself?

[@millomweb]

15:32 "unlike a lot of people I take my vise on and off the mill machine a lot depending on the job that I'm doing" Well why don't you put it at or near one end of the table and leave it there ? Then that leaves the rest of the table when you're not using the vice and when you are using the vice, you're wearing a different part of the ways !

[@meteor2001aa]

Keith. Why didn't you use the magnet as height gage, must have ground height ( .375 ). Now dial in full .375. Then go to other dial. ( same spot ) and go .375. Now both are zero with each other, then both will zero together. Just a thought......Ray

[@petemclinc]

You can achieve the same result with an accurate combination square as with a cylinder square. I don't see the need or added expense of using 2 indicators, they aren't far enough apart to span across a vice on the X axis. All this gadget does is eliminate the need to sweep the table.

[@VintageMachinery]

I have used a combination square as well, but I much prefer the cylinder square. The magnetic base is much easier to deal with as the square will not fall over. Also, because you have a cylinder that your are working off of you don't have to fuss with making sure that the edge of the square is square to the column.

[@fernandgeenevan8773]

Hear, hear! ;-)

[@rubusroo68]

some brilliant comments here as usual. this seems unnecessarily complicated to me.

[@EngineerPEretired]

Put the tool in a 5c collet to confirm roundness and worse case ... Go ahead and turn it... The accuracy will be what your lathe can do.

[@charlescompton4495]

If Sandy will let me I'm going to tram the dining room table in so my gravy will stay on the mashed potatoes. Seriously Keith thanks for the demo, Greg.

[@VintageMachinery]

Sounds reasonable to me - I can't imagine why she might protest....

[@stevenhardy2898]

Great idea ...its so annoying when the peas roll to the other side of the plate too! :-)

[@brucke23]

Can't you turn the other indicator in the base as you spin it so you can see it?

[@yokomzare201]

Use the Last Word with the contact point inline with the travel. You used it 90 degrees out. The jump You saw will not happen. Good Video.

[@davidrule1335]

What about sweeping the vice jaw in the vertical and the bottom of the vice rails?

[@Peter-V_00]

The dual indicator presumes it is indeed accurate side to side, sweeping from the spindle is the easy and accurate way.

[@npalen]

The dual indicator setup does not need to be manufactured exactly square side to side. It becomes very "square" when zeroing each indicator to the magnet gauge block as Keith did.

[@ipscjoe]

Is there any reason you can't turn the second indactor 180 degrees on the fixture so you don't have to read it from the back after turning the spindle?

[@douglasbattjes3991]

Keith, Great video as always, but I see something I would like under the flag, is that a Hardinge and if so does it have the quick release cross feed slide, ? Keep your video's rolling,,,👍👍👍👍

[@AttilaAsztalos]

Isn't a cylinder square pretty self-checking though...? Assuming it has a constant diameter along its height (which one could check), rotating it in place 180 degrees and checking the quill again should immediately reveal any non-squareness...

[@jusb1066]

seems correct, assuming it also has a constant diameter base, you could place it against a stop and use a dial guage

[@sjwsbetaskiller6218]

Yes, this is basic check. And it allows you to use worn out cylindrical square. There are also factory made tilted cylindrical squares! But that's another story.

[@pawelw.9172]

w angielskim istnieje coś takiego jak przedimek matole...

[@melgross]

The question is how we know the dual indicator tool is accurate? The zeroing method isn’t guaranteed. If the quill has the slightest looseness, it isn’t guaranteed to be correct in zeroing the tool. I don’t see how we can. I use a 9” x 0.500 carbide rod in an accurate collet I reserve for the purpose. Using that against either a B&S master square, or a cylinder square is pretty accurate. That’s a preliminary adjustment. Nothing is perfect. But I still rather use my Interapid tenths indicator and sweep it around a 12” circle for tramming.

[@mclam5623]

Dear Keith, I don't know if you are gone look to my problem, thou I'll hope you do. First, I'm new, always wanted to be a machinist, (I'm a retired printer). I bought a Adcock-shipley (1954) horizontal milling machine + vertical millinghead. I did the tramming in the x and y direction, of the vertical millinghead, as close I could get it, 0,01...mm. * But, now is my question: how can I solve the problem of leaning. When I put a indicator on the foundation of the mill and I travel in the X- direction, I have a difference between the two sides, 0,3mm. And in the Y- direction 0,18mm. Now I have shimmed my vice. I would like to use the horizontal milling more with clamps. But I dare not, I'm afraid my milled parts will not be parallel. I'm I wrong or right? Ps there's no play in the movement. Greetings Lammertyn Mc

[@shanejudd126]

Hi, not sure if you still check these or not but i was wondering if you dont have a cylinder square could you use an engineer's square instead?

[@bowlingkingpin]

Hi Keith, nice video but I have a question: How do you know if the table is perfectly flat? If it isn't, how would you correct this? Many thanks!

[@VintageMachinery]

You would have to check the table against a perfectly flat reference. A surface plate or scraped straight edge.

[@bowlingkingpin]

Thanks for replying, one last question: would it be possible to machine the table if it were not flat? Thanks in advance!

[@whywouldyoucareaboutmyname6610]

Where do I get that double indicator from?!?!?!?!?!?

[@notsofast2539]

Why not just use a dial test indicator on an extension in the spindle to allow you to sweep about a 6" diameter? I've always squared (trammed) the head on Bridgeport mills this way. It only takes a couple minutes with a little practice, without having to purchase 'special equipment' for a routine task. I can square with an indicator faster than you can 'calibrate' that device.

[@jaysilverheals4445]

I am a horrifying narrator cannot stand to point the camera at myself but I will do my own video to show that this double indicator thing is not needed and MORE COMPLICATED and risk of error than the normal method! that being said the poster is great guy and appreciate the upload and work--he and others usually gain nothing from their help videos.. then in the comments they almost always are belittled--however this double indicator method is bad bad bad

[@sweetjanesweetjane]

Why not turn one if the indicators 180 degs so they always face you?

[@markrainford1219]

I get it. It's square all round.

[@Sizukun1]

That Spindle Square is about $85, how much would the cylinder square cost if purchased new today? I googled and found a couple for $500! Both seem like decent methods, but if it means a savings of $400 that Boring tool seems like a no-brainer.

[@jusb1066]

cylinder square seems makeable with a lathe

[@mysock351C]

The real advantage to the cylinder square is its faster. But if speeds not a concern then its not money as well spent. FWIW multiple vendors/companies have those squares. See them every now and then in catalogs.

[@Bespoke-metal-fabrications]

Jusb1066 Cylinder squares are ground to within a couple of 10ths or less both in diameter and perpendicular. A lathe alone wouldn't have the accuracy required.

[@jusb1066]

+bespoke, yes, i forget the high accuracy of engineering, i guess i wont be able to fool anyone with my stainless paper roll holder!

[@Bespoke-metal-fabrications]

Jusb1066 To be honest they are not so dificult to replicate, precision ground bar stock is readily available and not too expensive, the hard work is grinding the base perpendicular but the beauty with cylinders is that they are self checking and if you are off a fraction there are always two points, 180 apart that will be square.

[@jusb1066]

I can see the magnetic cylinder square being one abused tool by people who dont know what it is! (keep it away from the teenagers and the wife when they want a hammer!) was interesting to see how that spindle square was calibrated, i had been thinking about that since i saw one mentioned and did not work it out in my head!

[@legacyautofocus]

Talk about manual for manual mill

[@BasementShopGuy]

Keith - why is it that nobody rotates their indicators (180*) so there's no need to walk to the back to check?

[@BillyTpower]

because it would disturb the calibration that was done on the first step.

[@BasementShopGuy]

Billy T No, You rotate the indicators, the n calibrate.

[@johnorabone6112]

BasementShopGuy you are right. this is way overcomplicated. just mount indicater in colleg in spindle and rotate and adjust. Right you are.

[@billdlv]

Maybe I'm missing something, but doesn't that work for the zero setting but when you go to tram the head in aren't you facing the same problem again since the faces are now opposite?

[@Abom79]

Brad, it's easier to see both of the indicators at the same time when your doing the final tram.

[@johnorabone6112]

No No No. Don't need a square. just put an indicator in a collet in the spindle. rotate spindle and adjust until completely square 360° . making this a lot more complicated than it needs to be. Toolmaker here for 40 years.

[@VintageMachinery]

That method works just fine, but I would argue that it is not easier than this method.

[@nevetslleksah]

Nothing wrong with either method and there is “more than one way to skin a cat”.

[@jaysilverheals4445]

@@nevetslleksah there is PLENTY wrong with this double indicator method and notice he did not do the Y--nod--he stopped because had he adjusted it both indicators would have moved the same direction totally counter intuitive. I will do my own video!! The poster is a smart guy however the other person that said this makes something complicated when its not. Its simpler to just use the normal method. The double indicator thing shows you can sell ice to the eskimos another device to get the money of beginners.. another one?--COAX INDICATORS

[@Raul28153]

a lot of expense to avoid using the single most reliable method; a simple dial indicator on a tramming shaft

[@newandoldtech5634]

Why not put a dot of paint (for Visual on rotation) on the cylinder Square and rotate it 180 to check for accuracy? How far would that go?

[@machintelligence]

That sound like it would work to me. It is basically the same technique used when replacing a broken bubble level on a carpenter's framing level. When it indicates the same when flipped 180, it is on the money.

[@newandoldtech5634]

The one thing you dont know is if the Square is tapered or not. You might see something is off by way of first method, but not what.

[@jusb1066]

you can check for taper with a micrometer on the shaft, so the turn around method will work, assuming a nice flat table

[@newandoldtech5634]

Jusb1066 yes but it is difficult to make that discernment on the table during squaring up. Assumed you are not 100% sure the quill is aligned and tip top

[@literoadie3502]

Also the same as checking a normal square against a straight edge, flipping it over and checking against the previous line etc.