Machining Ballscrews with a mini lathe (& ballscrew support questions)

[Kn8]

Hello Hank
I have two lead screws taken from a cnc measuring machine that was being scraped, and are too small for my requirements. The thread diameter is 11.4mm and the pitch is approximately 12mm, the thread lengths are approximately 880mm and 610mm the nuts are some sort of nylon. The two open ends are machined to 6mm diameter with a 9mm sleeve pushed over them. These are available if you could make use of them.

Ivan.

[HankMcSpank]

Result!

I'll PM you!

[Robin Hewitt]

I've got some of them, not actually ball screws but they do look interesting

After you decide to go to ball screws you then realise double nuts are a good idea, then it's sprung double nuts. I even spring the axial bearings together on the Y/Z and hold the X screw in tension. No measurable backlash, not a sausage, or tiny fraction of a sausage even :heehee:

Not sure what comes after that because I haven't got there yet :naughty:

[HankMcSpank]

A hearty thanks to kn8.....leadscrews duly collected - the longest one of the pair since hacksawed into two bits ...which as luck would have it was exactly the right length to be sufficient for both X & Y planes.

Ends of each lead screw piece now turned down to be 8mm diameter (yes, mini lathes are up to the job, but it takes a while!)...my somewhat creaky DIY CNC is now in bits & I'm making some DIY mounts so I can incoproprate the leadscrew nuts that came with the leadscrew (nut mounts will be made out of acrylic - don't ask! But they'll be solid as a rock!)

Got to say...I'm really looking forward to seeing these puppies turn .....3mm pitch (with nice smooth nuts) - luxury after M8 rod!