Engineer's spirit level

An engineer's spirit level (or machinist's level) is generally

used to level machines, although they may also be used to
level large workpieces on machines such as planers. Using
gravity as a reference and checking a machine's axis of
travel at several points, the level is used to ensure the Engineer's spirit level
machine's axis is straight. A perfectly level machine does not
actually need to be achieved, unless the particular
manufacturing process requires it. Spirit levels are also used
in building construction by carpenters and masons.

The upper image is a plain precision level used in the

engineering field to level machines or workpieces; the lower
image shows an adjustable precision level that has an
accuracy of 1:10000. The adjustable nature of this level can
also be used to measure the inclination of an object.

The accuracy of a spirit level can be checked by placing it on

any flat surface, marking the bubble's position and rotating
the level 180°. The position of the bubble should then be
Precision engineer's level
symmetrical to the first reading. Machinist's levels provide
screw mechanisms to center the bubbles.

Some levels have V grooves machined along their bases, enabling the level to sit on a round
bar while remaining parallel with the bar's axis. They also have smaller cross levels to enable
the second axes to be roughly checked or corrected and to ensure the primary axes' bubbles
are at the tops of the vials.

A precision level (1:24000) is used to check the installation of precision machine tools in two
axes. A lathe is manufactured with its base in a level plane and if it is not installed level
distortions in the frame cause machining errors. Small milling machines are often roughly
leveled but large mills are installed level. A worn lathe may have a twist introduced to the
machine's bed to ensure that it turns parallel to the spindle axis, by twisting the bed (that is
worn) to the spindle axis. A lathe has several leveling screws. Usually, such a fix has limited
utility for only part of the cutting tool (carriage) travel. A lathe usually requires two or more
leveling trials as the machine castings "settle into" the adjustments.

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This page was last edited on 9 October 2016, at 22:51 (UTC).

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