Mini Lathe Cross Slide Bearing Modification & Travel Extension

[old_toolmaker]

The cross slide of my 7 x 16 mini lathe never had a nice smooth feel to it since I removed it from the box. I designed this new bolt on cross feed assembly to solve several issues. Some of the new features are: (1) added a ball thrust bearing. (2) Added 3/4" cross slide travel toward the operator with no need to machine out clearance in the saddle casting. (3) New longer, tighter tolerance cross feed screw (4) New bronze 3/8-20 L.H. nut with integral dowel and oil port. (5) New slip ring micrometer dial. (6) Backlash can be adjusted and maintained at less than .002". (7) New hand wheel which is extended out toward the operator to minimize interference with the carriage hand wheel. (8) Hand scraped cross slide mating surfaces improving parallelism and squareness to the lath axis. It has made a dramatic improvement to the lathe. My next project is to do a similar improvement to the compound slide. The picture below shows the comparison of the original screw assembly to the new version.

[jjr2001]

Nice mods. I like the thrust bearing you installed for the cross slide. I have already installed the extended cross slide from Littlemachineshop but
it does not have the thrust bearing. That is one of my future projects.
Very nice work and a great looking lathe you have there.

Cheers, JR

[marksbug]

awesome work!! I have a 7x14 I think I added bearings to the compound,possiably the cross slide too, I know I added them to my 9x20 cross slide&compound.I did make a new biller end peice to hold the 2 flanged bearings I put in the compound.I used the same bearings in the cross slide. I thought about installing a ball screw, but there anit much room in these small lathes to do that.I then thought about a bearing to support the end of the screw, havent done that but may at some point. also ive never seen a straight screw in these asin lathes, so straighten them as much and as carefully as possible. the threads are usually rough too so some work on them to keep wear to a min is a good idea. and if your gear train is noisey check the runout , mine were .014" runout...not good, I rebushed the "offsetkeway bushings" that should not be offset....so quiet now you cant hear it running. I bought this 9x20 new 2-3 years ago...and began rebuilding it.buying more acc's & more chucks for it.what a mess it was. Im kinda skeered to get rid on my trusty old 7x14 I bought new back around 1991, it almost looks new and have done oh so many projects on it. Just like your pecker, take care of your machines, lube clean, wipe,lube when done.&dont for get to keep it covered.

[rossbotics]

Nice work old_toolmaker
I have in the past years done a few mods to my smaller lathe as well, I also had to make a new leed screw and nut and the left hand tap for tapping the nut, the old cross feed nut and bearing housing was made from pot metal or some type of aluminum alloy and finally stripped out.

Again very nice work

Doug

[DIYer]

Thanks old_toolmaker! We've added your Lathe Cross Slide Modification to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: old_toolmaker's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Lathe Cross Slide Modification by old_toolmaker

tags: modification, cross slide

[threesixesinarow]

Nice, neat job, as always.

My grandfather’s old Delta wood lathe compound slide has friction dials like that. I don’t think I’ve even changed the o-rings and they work great.

Your new top slide pivot clamp is a fine improvement as well.

- Clark

[old_toolmaker]

jjr2001,

Thanks, JR! The thrust bearing came from McMaster-Carr.

[old_toolmaker]

marksbug,

Thanks! I did not use the same screw in this rebuild job. I made a complete new and longer screw between centers and threaded it using a single point tool. Being lathe cut, the threads are nice and smooth and very straight.

[old_toolmaker]

rossbotics,

Thanks for the complement! Also a nice job you did on the cross feed dial!

[old_toolmaker]

threesixesinarow,

Thanks, Clark! Speaking of the o-rings in the friction dial, I experimented with grease and found that plumbers silicone grease works best.