(Mini Lathe)Potecting Leadscrew

**GeorgeD** · 28-09-2010

How are those shields fitted and what material is used to protect the leadscrew from swarf? I've protected the saddle gears by using a perspex plate over the back of the saddle where swarf seems to accumulate terribly but the leadscrew needs a cover now.

Stripped the machine right down to the bare metal used a dremmel to remove the bad casting spikes on the inner of the bed and removed rust that was primed over in the factory(Really bad/poor steel used on these lathes castings) repainted it with metal paint and it looks really nice now.

Also done a bearing change and changed the puny little 3 jaw self centering chuck for a 100mm 4 jaw independant chuck.

:whistling:

**routercnc** · 28-09-2010

Hi George,

I don't know about your leadscrews specifically, but bellows arrangements (commercial and homemade) might be an option for you to keep swarf out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV-eH...eature=related

**GeorgeD** · 28-09-2010

How do RCNC.

Nope,that wouldn't do,ye see the saddles carrige has two items in the way ie the gear that tracks along the rack and then the half nuts to engage with the leadscrew for auto feed.

I'm stumped as to how it works?

7th pic down shows the protection,although this saddles apron is different to the C2/C3....
http://www.toolsandmods.com/apron.html

**GeorgeD** · 28-09-2010

And howits doneonthe SC2....

**GeorgeD** · 28-09-2010

Ah,Ive sussed how to do it but I need 1" diameter 5" long springs? anyone know whereto get these?

Put flax cloth around springs,feed the springs on to the leadscrew either side of the apron and thats it. :)

**irving2008** · 28-09-2010

the clue, George, is in the text... "spring type leadscrew covers " These are some form of wound spring steel or maybe plastic strip with the outer attached to the saddle and the inner end attached to the leadscrew bearing block, possibly on some form of swivel...

like these

let us know the price when you find out...

**GeorgeD** · 28-09-2010

The leadscrew is 16mm and these are 16mm :-(
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/66300-HOT-BODI...item5889f42ca0

These will do but the price will not...I only need two,not 16 :-(
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/86764-HPI-SHOC...item5889fc27bf

The tension looks about right? can't have it too stiff,could cause a problem on the autofeed?

**GeorgeD** · 28-09-2010

Will give this a try.....washing machine waste outlet pipe,this is plastic over spring ...just might be what the doctor ordered and is the right diameter?

**irving2008** · 28-09-2010

Originally Posted by GeorgeD

The leadscrew is 16mm and these are 16mm :-(
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/66300-HOT-BODI...item5889f42ca0

These will do but the price will not...I only need two,not 16 :-(
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/86764-HPI-SHOC...item5889fc27bf

The tension looks about right? can't have it too stiff,could cause a problem on the autofeed?

errr... but these have holes.... the stuff I was looking at is flat strip and overlapping so there are no gaps...