Replacement gear source?

Olddaddy

Olddaddy

Registered
Registered
Joined
Sep 23, 2015
Messages
172
The gears on the power feed setup are worn to the point the lead screw stops turning on my Craftsman 12”. I see folks on eBay selling 3D printed gears. Are they any good? Does anyone on the forum make them? I’d like to replace all of mine if they are available.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2097.jpeg
    IMG_2097.jpeg
    451 KB · Views: 16
  • IMG_2098.jpeg
    IMG_2098.jpeg
    358.5 KB · Views: 17
  • IMG_2099.jpeg
    IMG_2099.jpeg
    317.3 KB · Views: 15
  • IMG_1852.jpeg
    IMG_1852.jpeg
    341 KB · Views: 13
I have not tried to print gears yet. I did have a coworker print me some change gears for metrics etc. I have not even used them to date.
Pierre

 
Olddaddy said:
The gears on the power feed setup are worn to the point the lead screw stops turning on my Craftsman 12”. I see folks on eBay selling 3D printed gears. Are they any good? Does anyone on the forum make them? I’d like to replace all of mine if they are available.
Click to expand...
It looks to me like it needs adjustment?

The gear you're point at in picture number three. I think that needs the banjo lowered, the gear loosened and put into proper mesh with the gear you're pointing at in picture two, and then the banjo raised again to make a proper mesh where you're not pointing at.

Yes, 3D printed gears are a very valid option. Make sure the seller is rated well, as there's no law about "what" plastic they're printed out of, but yeah, they're a valid option.
 
I downloaded a file from the same place as Mr Pete did. It worked on my printer. I did not use 100% fill as this gear will not fit my current lathe, but interesting to print it.

IMG_8962.jpg
 
I wasn’t aware there was an adjustment. I dug my manual out and will study a bit.
 
Olddaddy said:
I wasn’t aware there was an adjustment. I dug my manual out and will study a bit.
Click to expand...
Nearly every time you change the gears, you need to readjust it to ensure proper engagement of all the gear teeth. That includes loosening the banjo adjusting the angle and sliding the gear stud position as well. Read up on how to do it.
 
I use 3D printed gears on my bigger lathe and they last more than a year now. I have made spare gears out of POM but if a 3D printed gear breaks, I will replace it with a new 3D printed gear so in case of a crash, there will be less damage to the lathe.
I 3D printed my gears using 15% fill and 6 layer wall thickness out of PLA.
I design my gears in FreeCad (FC gear workbench). It only takes a few minutes to design a gear and export a step or stl file for the 3D printer.

To set the gear spacing, I place a 80 grams sheet of paper between the gears. That will set a "proper" clearance for Modul 1 or 1.5 gears.
 
In the US plain old 20lb multipurpose paper that you can buy anywhere works good to get the proper clearance. Place the paper between the two gears as you push the gears together. Works for me.

IMG_0206.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top