What Is a Leveling Bolt?
A leveling bolt is an adjustment bolt specifically designed to level or adjust the height of machines, tables, and other equipment. Commonly found in home furniture, these bolts are located at the end of each leg and can be adjusted by hand or with a turning tool or a wrench.
In industrial settings, leveling bolts are crucial for ensuring that machinery is installed horizontally, which is vital for product quality and operational stability. Tilted machines can lead to motor instability, unexpected torque, breakdowns, or leakage of fluids like oil. Leveling bolts are used to adjust the installation to a horizontal orientation to avoid these issues.
Uses of Leveling Bolts
Leveling bolts are widely used in various industrial and office settings. They are found in machine tools, conveyors, vending machines, workbenches, copy machines, office desks, and other large installations with legs. Also known as adjuster bolts, jack bolts, or adjuster feet, these bolts allow for fine-tuning of level surfaces and height adjustments.
Principle of Leveling Bolts
Objects with a center of gravity typically require at least three legs for support, but four legs are often used for added stability. However, uneven leg lengths can cause instability and rattling. Leveling bolts enable adjustment of these uneven legs to stabilize the object.
While adjusting the leg lengths can stabilize a table, it may still be tilted. Leveling bolts are valuable in correcting such tilting. By placing a spherical object on the table, one can easily determine if it is tilted, as the object will roll. To prevent items from sliding or falling off a tilted table, the height of the four legs can be finely adjusted using leveling bolts, ensuring the table is level and stable.