Mini Lathe Cross Slide Bearing Modification & Travel Extension

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.
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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

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.

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


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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:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-lathe-cross-slide-modification-3"> <img src="/uploads/218333/homemade-lathe-cross-slide-modification-3.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-lathe-cross-slide-modification-3">Lathe Cross Slide Modification</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/old_toolmaker">old_toolmaker</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/modification'>modification</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/cross-slide'>cross slide</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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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

jjr2001,

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

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.

rossbotics,

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

threesixesinarow,

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

Dag nabbit!! Now you got me thinking again.... I may have to do some measuring and checken, a little extra travel wood bee nice.... it's still on my list to make some way covers to help keep them perfectly clean.I had made some aluminum pieces, but before I finished it one got started on it get steped on...well 1 segment did., and I wasenat all that keen on the looks&operation of it......thats when i figured I should probably use a fabric type. Im still working on the lead screw cover idea.I did however get a motorcycle chain cleaning brush that I was going to mount to the carrage that would stay engauged with the lead screw all the time,it works great to keep it clean, but a full cover would be better so thats the direction Im headed to...someday...somuch stuff to do so little time.

next ill be wanting to raise the head stock & tail stock a inch or 2.....why is it we never seem to buy equipment quite big enough to do the next thing that comes up....my brother did just get a new lathe 2 sized bigger than mine....but he's all the way across town. well almost half way. and no AC in his shop. keep up the great work and keep giving us more ideas!!!!!

marksbug,

Yes, it sure seems like the mods never end. Just when we think we are finished another idea pops up. I've been working on mine off and on for over over six years. That is what turns my crank.

I know what you mean,I make most of my specialized tools&tooling and fix/change/update the stupid crap on the machines. wish i had the $$ for a cnc. or the brains to convert one of my mills.

marksbug,

I do the same. I enjoy making all sorts of tooling including cutting tools.

Congratulations old_toolmaker - your Lathe Cross Slide Modification is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

Another difficult win on a great week! Some good picks from this week:

Slip Roller by celsoari
Gantry Crane by thegraindoctor
Knife Making Jig by MountainMan
Parting Tool Holder by rossbotics
Microwave Kiln by Sun_Chaser
Grinder Sander by Tuomas
Emery Cloth Belt Holder by jjr2001
Unimat Wheel Guard and Overarm by threesixesinarow
Mill/Drill Depth Stop by Carnel
Suction Distributor by bricoleando
Pick Stick by Downeast Thunder


old_toolmaker - we've added your tool entry to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post.

You'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

This your 4th Homemade Tool of the Week win! One more win and you'll join these 5-time winners: rossbotics, Christophe Mineau, Brendon, mklotz, Vyacheslav.Nevolya, brianhw, LMMasterMariner, Tuomas, olderdan, tonyfoale


Here are all of your winning tools:


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Way to go old_toolmaker

Congratulations !!!

Doug

Awesome build!!!! Congrats old_toolmaker!!

rossbotics,

Thanks very much, Doug!

Old ToolMaker,

Thanks for all your designs and plans for the mini lathe ! Amazing work...

Just picked up a set for the carriage lock and will likely grab the compound setup too - once I get this Cross Slide and the gibbs nailed down. Picked up my Sieg 7x10 [ HF Central Machine ] second hand from a friend who just wanted it out of his garage :-) Anyhow, this mod here is pretty much a MUST ... are there downloadable plans / designs / how to / sketches / anything else - other than this post thread on how to accomplish this mod?

Many thanks for all your efforts

Steve in SOCAL

@old_toolmaker ,

Nice job on the mod and the write-up.
I know this is an older thread but I just got here and hope you can answer a question for me.
In your photo named Cross Feed ScrewAssy B.jpg, you show a cylindrical piece with a hex socket flat head screw (sitting in place) and two grooves for o-rings. Let's call that the nut because I assume it's threaded to mate with the end of the leadscrew.
As best I can figure the design, the nut retains the hand wheel and sets the clearance/preload on the thrust bearing. If so, then apparently, the two o-rings provide some friction to maintain the nut adjustment. Also, the end of the leadscrew is not tapped to accept the hex socket screw. The hex socket screw is fixed to the nut. Did I figure it out correctly? If not, please advise.

You assume correctly on all counts except one. The item you refer to as a flat head socket cap screw is actually jus the head of a low head socket cap screw. I machined and used only the head of the screw and fastened it in place with lock tire. I made it a close fit and the locktite does the job well. I could have broached a hex into the steel nut but took the easier faster way. I works very well as designed. The cross slide is unbelievably smooth and silky operating. I plan on doing the same with the compound.

Thank you Dick,

It took me a while to work out that the purpose of the hex socket screw head was to "drive" the nut rather than to fasten or jam anything. LOL

My original design had a set screw that snugged up against the end of the feed screw to prevent rotation once the adjustment was correct. That would have worked nicely as well.