TK - Bed Height Adjustment Tool - Legacy Ornamental Mills

Making bed adjustments on the Legacy Ornamental Mill Model 900
Easy, Accurate and Repeatable.

History of the Invention:

Just before June of 2007 I came up with the idea of a simple to use, repeatable method to adjust the bed height on the Model 900 bench top machine. Because of the infinite slide adjustment it's very easy to get all four corners of the table in different locations. This makes it difficult to keep the table perfectly flat for milling or creating straight cylinders. Repeating a specific taper is also challenging to do using the stock method. Legacy has provided notches in the adjustment brackets so you can in theory see where the table should be set. However, on my bench model it's very hard to see the notches on the backside to use their method for alignment.

There have been many clever ways to check for the bed height adjustment mentioned in the Legacy Ornamental Mill Google Group and on some other Web sites. For example using rulers, or taking measurements on all four corner with an adjustable t-square, or using gauges to reference the spindles. I've also seen a nice device that is made from all-thread, a dowel and some knobs that help solve setting the bed height. Those are all ok, but I've been looking for a faster goof proof method.

So with this in mind, I had an idea for a bracket that would be mounted on all four corners of the machine without modifying the original machine. The bracket consists of holes incrementally placed in columns and rows at 1/8" spacing. This creates an instant index of locations. Two removable rods span the width of the mill and are used to support the bed rails as you adjust the bed height.

When I posted a message in the group in August of 2007, there did not seem to be any interest in providing a solution to the problem as others didn't seem to suffer from the same problem, so I put the idea on the back burner. It is now May of 2009 and I can't take it any longer! I have finally created a prototype of the system.

Components of the TK Bed Height Adjustment Tool:

There are two components that make up the TK Bed Height Adjustment tool, two sets of matching brackets with index holes, and two adjusting rods.

These are the removable rods. There is one for each set of brackets. They are used to temporarily support the adjustable bed.

Not shown is the hardware included to mount the brackets to the aluminum rails. Some disassembly of the Legacy Ornamental Mill is required to install the brackets.

Using The Bed Height Adjustment Tool:

Your bed is now level and you are ready to machine your stock. The picture below shows how the rod spans the width of the machine to temporarily support the table.

FAQ:

Will it fit the model 1000: I have confirmed that the brackets will fit in between the upper and lower rails. I still need to confirm if the full travel is available using the tool.

Is there a loss in travel for the limit switches: I need to mount a pair of stock limit switches to see if this is actually a problem. Because the trigger is in the middle of the carrier tray I don't think it is a problem.

Does it work with the dust bag: Good question, still working on the definitive answer.

Warranty / Guarantee: There is none. If the use of the tool causes a problem, I cannot be held liable. 1000 apologies, but that's the extent of my guarantee.

Legacy has no idea what I'm asking for: The TK Bed Height Adjustment Tool is not available from Legacy Woodworking. I have a few prototypes available if you are interested in seeing if and how this can work for you. It is offered as is. Contact me for price and availability.

Disclaimer: I am not associated with Legacy Woodworking or Phantom Engineering.

Unsolicited Endorsement: "Tim, I'm really impressed. You have created a simple, foolproof system for adjusting the bed and I offer my compliments. Please feel free to quote me. Brilliant."

Andy Anderson, Legacy Woodworking Machinery