Family-owned since 1993, with over 30 years of machine tool experience and field service support from Locher’s Ohio and Texas service footprint.

Machine Calibration and Alignment

Machine geometry, positioning, squareness, straightness, and repeatability support for production-critical equipment.

EXPERTS IN keeping precision machines running at their peak performance

Locher, Inc helps manufacturers evaluate machine accuracy problems and determine whether calibration, alignment, spindle service, taper inspection, boring mill repair, headstock evaluation, or another repair path should be reviewed. Machine calibration and alignment services evaluate the relationship between the machine’s axes, positioning, geometry, level, squareness, straightness, and other accuracy-related conditions.

Calibration and alignment are not the same as spindle taper grinding or spindle rebuilding. Accuracy problems can overlap. A machine may have a geometry issue, taper issue, spindle issue, tooling issue, fixturing issue, process issue, or a combination of several conditions. Locher reviews the machine context before recommending the next step.

Do your machines operate effectively and efficiently?  When did you last have them looked at?  You could be an excellent candidate for machine calibration and alignmen. Submit your info below and we'll follow up with you shortly!

Who Needs Machine Calibration or Alignment Support?

This service is for manufacturers using CNC machines, machining centers, boring mills, lathes, and other production-critical machine tools where accuracy, positioning, repeatability, or geometry may be affecting part quality.

If your machine has any of the following, you may want to call us:

• Parts out of tolerance
• Inconsistent part accuracy
• Positional error
• Poor repeatability
• Tapered cuts
• Out-of-square features
• Hole locations drifting
• Boring accuracy issues
• Surface mismatch between passes
• Problems after a crash
• Accuracy changes after machine relocation or installation
• Different results in different areas of machine travel
• Increasing scrap or rework
• Difficulty proving machine capability
• Axis-related error or suspected geometry problems

These symptoms do not automatically mean the machine needs alignment. They may also relate to fixturing, tooling, temperature, program error, spindle condition, taper contact, backlash, servo issues, cutting conditions, or operator setup. 

KEEP YOUR MACHINES WORKING IN TOP NOTCH SHAPE

Calibration and Alignment Are Different From Spindle, Taper, and Tooling Repairs

Machine calibration and alignment focus on machine geometry and positioning. These services help evaluate axis behavior, squareness, straightness, repeatability, machine level, travel-related accuracy changes, and related conditions.

On-site spindle taper grinding focuses on the spindle-toolholder interface. Machine tool spindle rebuilding focuses on internal spindle condition. Headstock rebuilds focus on the headstock assembly and related mechanical systems. Boring mill insert work focuses on certain damaged spindle bars, quills, or taper/front-end interfaces.

The right repair path depends on whether the problem is coming from machine geometry, spindle condition, taper contact, tooling, drawbar force, fixturing, process variables, or another machine condition. 

Machine Calibration and Alignment vs. Other Repair Paths

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Note: This table is a repair-path guide, not a diagnosis. Calibration and alignment checks can help determine whether geometry or positioning is contributing to the problem, but they should not be treated as a guaranteed fix for every accuracy issue. 

Common Symptoms That May Point to Calibration or Alignment Issues

Machine accuracy problems can show up in the part, the setup, the machine travel, or the inspection data. Locher reviews the symptom pattern before recommending calibration, alignment, spindle service, taper inspection, or another repair path.

Call Locher, Inc - Toll Free: 1-800-956-2437

Who Needs Spindle Rebuilding Support?

This service is for manufacturers using CNC machines, machining centers, boring mills, lathes, and other production-critical machine tools where spindle performance may be affected by internal mechanical condition. evaluation.

The right recommendation depends on inspection, machine condition, taper type, damage severity, drawbar force, spindle condition, gauge-line relationship, machine geometry, service history, and production symptoms. Locher reviews the available details before recommending a rebuild. 

This page is relevant if your machine has:

• Bearing noise
• Spindle heat
• Severe vibration
• Internal spindle wear
• Spindle seizure
• Excessive runout not tied only to taper contact
• Failed seals
• Damaged shafts
• Contamination concerns
• Repeated spindle performance problems
• Damage after a crash or overload
• Problems that remain after taper or toolholding issues are addressed

Note: These symptoms do not automatically confirm that the spindle needs rebuilding. They indicate that the spindle should be evaluated to determine whether the issue is internal, taper-related, alignment-related, toolholding-related, or connected to another machine condition.

When Machine Calibration and Alignment May Be the Right Path

Calibration and alignment may be appropriate when inspection or production symptoms suggest the issue involves machine geometry, axis alignment, positioning accuracy, squareness, repeatability, boring accuracy, or unexplained part-quality issues after tooling and spindle conditions are reviewed. 

Calibration and alignment may be worth evaluating when:

• The machine is not holding tolerance
• Part geometry is inconsistent
• Axes appear out of square or out of position
• Accuracy changes across the machine’s travel
• A crash may have shifted geometry
• The machine has been moved, installed, or re-leveled
• A boring mill or machining center shows geometry-related accuracy issues
• The customer needs confidence before production or after repair
• The accuracy issue cannot be explained by tooling alone

Note: Alignment may be part of the solution when part accuracy changes across travel or after a crash, move, installation, foundation change, or major repair. The final recommendation should still be based on machine condition, inspection, and measurement. 

When Calibration or Alignment May Not Be the First Step

Calibration and alignment are not the right first step for every accuracy, runout, chatter, or finish problem. If symptoms point clearly to another machine condition, Locher may review a different repair path first.

Another repair path may be better when:

• The issue is clearly related to taper damage
• Toolholder seating is the main concern
• A spun-tool event left material transfer or galling in the taper
• Sticking tools or poor tool release point to taper or toolholding issues
• Bearing noise, heat, or severe vibration points toward spindle rebuild evaluation
• Drawbar force or retention problems appear to be the root cause
• Toolholder condition, fixturing, or cutting process is creating the issue
• A boring mill spindle bar or quill has localized taper/front-end damage
• The machine requires mechanical repair before alignment will hold

Note: Locher may review on-site spindle taper grinding, machine tool spindle rebuilding, boring mill replaceable spindle taper inserts, headstock rebuilds, #50 CAT conversion cartridge options, drawbar force review, or preventative maintenance consultation depending on what the machine shows. 

What Locher Reviews Before Recommending Calibration or Alignment

Before recommending calibration or alignment, Locher reviews machine-specific details that help separate geometry problems from spindle, taper, tooling, drawbar, fixturing, process, or mechanical issues.

A Review may include:

• Machine make and model
• Machine type and configuration
• Part-quality or accuracy issue description
• Axis or travel range where the issue appears
• Part features that are failing
• Whether the issue is repeatable or intermittent
• Crash, relocation, installation, foundation change, or repair history
• Current tolerance or repeatability problem
• Existing measurement data or inspection reports, if available
• Known spindle, taper, or tooling issues
• Machine level and foundation context
• Axis positioning behavior
• Geometry, squareness, straightness, or alignment concerns
• Tooling, fixturing, or process variables that could affect results
• Whether calibration, alignment, spindle service, taper grinding, or another repair path should be reviewed

Note: Not every detail is required before contacting Locher. Send what is available, and Locher can help determine what else should be reviewed. 

How Locher Evaluates Calibration and Alignment Needs

1. Review the Accuracy Problem 

Locher starts with the machine make and model, machine type, part-quality issue, affected axes or travel range, and any available measurement or inspection data.

2. Identify Whether the Problem Is Positional, Geometric, or Interface-Related

If the customer reports out-of-square parts, positional drift, geometry problems, or inconsistent accuracy across travel, calibration and alignment may be more relevant. If the customer reports tool runout, sticking tools, spun-tool damage, or toolholder seating issues, spindle taper service may be a stronger first focus. 

3. Review Recent Events

Locher reviews whether the issue followed a crash, machine move, installation, foundation change, major repair, or tooling change. These events can affect alignment, spindle condition, toolholding, or machine geometry.

4. Check for Related Machine Conditions

Accuracy issues can overlap with spindle condition, taper contact, drawbar force, toolholder condition, backlash, servo behavior, fixturing, setup, cutting conditions, or process variables. Locher reviews these factors before recommending a repair path.

5. Determine the Practical Next Step

The next step may be calibration, alignment, spindle service, taper inspection, boring mill insert review, headstock evaluation, preventative maintenance consultation, or additional information gathering before a recommendation is made.

What May Be Verified During or After Calibration and Alignment Work

Verification depends on the machine, symptoms, repair scope, and application. Depending on the project, Locher may review:

A review may include the following:

• Machine geometry
• Axis positioning behavior
• Squareness
• Straightness
• Repeatability
• Machine level
• Affected axes or travel ranges
• Part-feature accuracy concerns
• Boring accuracy concerns
• Related spindle, taper, or tooling clues
• Whether follow-up spindle service, taper service, headstock review, or preventative maintenance should be considered

Note: Measured results depend on machine condition, repair scope, foundation, setup, tooling, application, and other machine variables. Locher should not guarantee accuracy correction before inspection and verification. 

Related Machine Tool Repair Services and Products

Calibration and alignment often overlap with spindle, taper, boring mill, tooling, drawbar, and maintenance concerns.

Locher supports manufacturers from its Ohio and Texas service footprint, with priority coverage around Lancaster, Ohio and the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area.

Locher’s customers are typically manufacturing businessses within roughly 500–700 miles of Lancaster, Ohio, and roughly 500–700 miles of the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. Service availability depends on the machine, location, repair scope, and scheduling. 

Send Us Your Facility Location and Machine Details below:

What to Send for a Calibration or Alignment Review

You do not need every detail before contacting Locher. Send what you have, and Locher can help determine what else should be reviewed.

Helpful Details to Include

• Machine make and model
• Machine type
• Part-quality or accuracy issue
• Affected axes or travel areas
• Part features that are failing
• Whether the issue is repeatable or intermittent
• Current measurement data or inspection reports, if available
• Whether the issue followed a crash, machine move, installation, foundation change, or repair
• Known spindle, taper, or tooling issues
• Photos of parts, setup, fixtures, or measurement results, if available
• Whether the machine is currently in production
• Facility location
• Desired timing

These details help Locher evaluate whether calibration, alignment, spindle service, taper inspection, headstock evaluation, boring mill insert work, or another repair path should be reviewed.  Give us a call to request a free quote or Submit your details in the quote from below.

 Locher, Inc QUOTE FORM

Frequently Asked Questions

Need a Calibration or Alignment Review?

If your machine is showing out-of-tolerance parts, positional error, poor repeatability, out-of-square features, tapered cuts, boring accuracy problems, or accuracy changes after a crash, move, installation, or repair, Locher can help review whether calibration, alignment, or another repair path should be evaluated.

Send Locher your machine details, affected axes or part features, available measurements, facility location, and any crash, move, installation, repair, spindle, taper, tooling, or fixture history. A technician can help review whether machine calibration and alignment, spindle service, taper inspection, boring mill insert work, headstock evaluation, or another next step should be considered.

Project Gallery: INSERT REAL CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS HERE - Machine Calibration and Alignment Testimonials

Get in Touch

Contact Locher, Inc for Machine Calibration and Alignment Services

Reach out to schedule a consultation or request detailed information about our machine calibration and alignment services, headstock rebuilding, spindle rebuilding, grinding, and machine maintenance solutions.

Email us: 4info@locher.com

Call Us Toll Free @ 800-956-2437

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