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- Dec 18, 2022
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I though about posting this on the what did you make in your shop today thread but decided to give it its own post to make it easier to see/find for others working on simlar issues.
Well I had been running the lathe without the use of the cross slide lock but needed it on a regular basis. At issue was the DRO scale mounted on the back of the cross slide which covered the lock up and I really wasn't in a hurry to take the scales off.
Well as normally happens I broke something, as a side note I really do find that the only issue I have with the imported machines is fit and finish; so, in this case I stripped one of the t-bolt holding the compound (Partially my fault and partially fit and finish issue). I had really not liked the fact that I could see the first thread of the nuts on these t-bolts when they were tightened down, the design/engineering rule is when the nut is tightened down there should be at least 2 threads visible above the top of the nut which ensures full engagement and proper loading of threads, mine were likely only utilizing 75 or 80% of the required threads.
So, on my PM1236 to remove the compound bolts, due to a poorly placed access hole you have to remove the cross slide and in doing so I had to pull the scales, oh look an opportunity to fix the cross slide lock access issue.....
I had discussed the issue with PM at one time and they recognized this as an issue and said the solution was to space the scale out; but, once I had the thing apart it dawned on me that there is a 3/8" thick Aluminum bar spacing the scale out already so it looked like opportunity to avoid reducing the reach of my tail stock further so I marked the location of the lock on the piece and milled out a section leaving .060" on the bottom and .010" for the actual scale to rest on. Next I drilled a hole in the bottom leg so any oil accumulating in it could drain.
I pulled the dog nosed set screw and found it to be 5mm long and realized that when run in far enough to engage the gib and lock the cross slide an Allen key long enough to engage it would not fit into the slot I had milled. I researched the screw and located a dog nosed set screw that was 14mm long and when threaded into the cross slide it was both at the face to the casting and touching the gib, this works well, I ground an allen key to .300 long and it slides into the milled slot and can be inserted into the screw and a 1/4 turn takes it from loose to locked which means the top of the screw is still accessible with the modified key.
All is back together and works well, I hope this helps others with a similar issue.
Well I had been running the lathe without the use of the cross slide lock but needed it on a regular basis. At issue was the DRO scale mounted on the back of the cross slide which covered the lock up and I really wasn't in a hurry to take the scales off.
Well as normally happens I broke something, as a side note I really do find that the only issue I have with the imported machines is fit and finish; so, in this case I stripped one of the t-bolt holding the compound (Partially my fault and partially fit and finish issue). I had really not liked the fact that I could see the first thread of the nuts on these t-bolts when they were tightened down, the design/engineering rule is when the nut is tightened down there should be at least 2 threads visible above the top of the nut which ensures full engagement and proper loading of threads, mine were likely only utilizing 75 or 80% of the required threads.
So, on my PM1236 to remove the compound bolts, due to a poorly placed access hole you have to remove the cross slide and in doing so I had to pull the scales, oh look an opportunity to fix the cross slide lock access issue.....
I had discussed the issue with PM at one time and they recognized this as an issue and said the solution was to space the scale out; but, once I had the thing apart it dawned on me that there is a 3/8" thick Aluminum bar spacing the scale out already so it looked like opportunity to avoid reducing the reach of my tail stock further so I marked the location of the lock on the piece and milled out a section leaving .060" on the bottom and .010" for the actual scale to rest on. Next I drilled a hole in the bottom leg so any oil accumulating in it could drain.I pulled the dog nosed set screw and found it to be 5mm long and realized that when run in far enough to engage the gib and lock the cross slide an Allen key long enough to engage it would not fit into the slot I had milled. I researched the screw and located a dog nosed set screw that was 14mm long and when threaded into the cross slide it was both at the face to the casting and touching the gib, this works well, I ground an allen key to .300 long and it slides into the milled slot and can be inserted into the screw and a 1/4 turn takes it from loose to locked which means the top of the screw is still accessible with the modified key.
All is back together and works well, I hope this helps others with a similar issue.
