Smithy lead screws/nuts

Michael:


I am sending the old Half Nut to you via UPS Ground today. I'll post a tracking number for you when it is on the way..
Peyton
 
Spottswood3 said:
UPS Tracking Number 1ZE9Y9670365188872. eta 7/1/24.
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Hey Peyton,

I'll keep an eye out for it coming. I think I figured out some of my issues and I'm working on another half nut for my machine. I was given the Smithy that I own because it fell off a forklift during transport, my boss didn't want it so he said I could take it. I fixed all the broken controls and have been using it since. The lead screw looks to be a bit bent which I think I have remedied. I also inspected the original half nut and compared against my copy, the tolerance of the grove on the stud was too large on my copy. This makes for a loose fit within the table and is also contributing to my problem of the table locking up.

I plan on remaking the half nut again and testing my theory. I already ordered parts from Smithy and reinstalled the original half nut. If everything works out I'll get working on your parts soon. I don't want to start making yours until I for sure have the process figured out. In the meantime I'll make a CAD model of your part.
 
Spottswood3 said:
Thanks for the update. Package is in route to you.
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Got your package, I hope to start working on making your parts this weekend. I fixed my machine and I’m most of the way through remaking the half nut for my machine. Once I have the tolerances and process figured out for my machine I’ll use what I learned and start making yours.
 
Thanks Michael: I think you really should get in touch with Smithy and offer to contract with them to make the Half Nuts for sale.
 
Spottswood3 said:
Thanks Michael: I think you really should get in touch with Smithy and offer to contract with them to make the Half Nuts for sale.
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I would but I got a few things working against me. I’m a new hobby machinist, everything i’m learning is from youtube. I would feel way over my head to get an order from Smithy to make any amount of parts.

Another thing is my scrap rate is atrocious, I have made 5 attempts to make this part and one dimension or another has always been out of spec. Part of this is my skill level, the worn out nature of my machine, and the inherit low accuracy and quality that my machine was built to. These were never precision machines or meant for production use.

For example, on my last attempt on threading on the very last pass my gear train loosened up and the E popped off the D gear so I lost my threading position. Luckily it happened just as I cleared the part so it wasn’t damaged. This sort of thing is so frustrating and I am already looking for a more capable lathe to replace it.

If I get some better equipment and hone my skills I may offer to make the parts for Smithy, but if they wanted to get this part produced any machine shop could make them. I work in industrial manufacturing and contract machine shops to do work for my company frequently, they wouldn’t have any issue making this part from a sample. I don’t think Smithy wants to support these machines anymore.
 
It looks like Smithy may be making the machines again, and that they've only dropped them temporarily because the Chinese shop they were having parts made in had covid problems. That said, there's any interpretation of how permanent "temporary" might be. Also, Smithy is used to paying Chinese prices for these parts, so I'd be cautions about winning a bid for them.

Mikels, if you have a working part, you did better than I did. If you can made the CAD or technical drawing file available, or even offer it for sale, I'd be interested.
 
Thanks for the update on Smithy. I did not get that impression the last time I spoke with them, which was at least 6 months ago. I would like to think that Smithy would want to support their machines since there's probably 100's if not thousands of them in service but without the half nut, they are just about useless. I'm like you, if I could find a better lathe that won't break the bank, I'd probably go ahead and buy it.

Let us know if you are successful.
 
Michael:


Just wanted to give you a heads up. I am going out of the country on Wednesday and will not be back until August 5th so if I don't respond to your E-mails or to the Message Thread, that's the reason. I hope you have met with success on machining the half nuts,
Peyton
 
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