Normal everyday use has not been a problem so far. I'm taking pretty deep, fast cuts on aluminum with no issues. The only time I've seen any anomalies is when I was cutting 8tpi Acme threads in 1144 Stressproof with a cheap Chinese carbide insert and it was digging in. I actually stalled the spindle and slipped the belt a couple of times, which would be no different with change gears. I took a couple more turns on the belt tension screw and then thought that it hung slightly a couple of times, but didn't stall long enough to error out the stepper drive (which takes a little less than a quarter turn on the motor shaft). With the belt tightened, the lower ratio and a stouter motor I've got a good feeling about how it will perform, even in steel. I think it will be a pretty good match with the power the lathe has.