Lathe Repair

[Munroast]

any good ideas for this - it is an adjustment mech to take backlash out of the cross slide screw. Ingenious simple idea, effectively two female threads held apart by the screws, adjust these and the backlash can be minimised

unfortunately the screws are not locked, so they rattle themselves loose whilst using the machine - how can I lock the screws ?
be nice to have something springy between the gap (approx 1mm) but what a spring washer is too fat

 

[robinbanks]

An o-ring? Couple of flaps of inner tube? Gap to 1.5mm, squeeze of hot melt glue in there then tighten down when it's set? Blue thread locking compound? Recess the blocks around the screw holes(lathe a bit off ) so a spring washer does fit? Replace the screws with hex bolts and bend a locking tab?

 

[Munroast]

I have thought about milling a bit off so as a couple of spring washers would fit, and if I knew that would work I would do it. don't want to mill off a mm and then find it didn't work (can't put it back on)

thread lock, not so sure, i still want to be able to adjust it a 1/8th of a turn from time to time (like it quite tight i going or super accuracy) is the Blue stuf you mention not a final thing, just makes it tighter ?

 

[Burnerman]

I think I’d go for a medium strength thread locking compound, and replacing the screws with Allen screws so you can get them out again. Some heat loosens the compound but it sets again once cooled.
Clean the threads and add grease.....it looks a bit gritty in there.
John

 

[SFK]

How about 2 compressible o-rings in the gap on those machine screws to act as a spring?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=O+ring+set&ref=404_search

Sorry, duplicate - @robinbanks posted this idea first.

 

[mattylad]

Replace the screws with longer cap head/allen key ones and fit locking nuts on before going through the metal, that should stop them moving, cut some brass sheet as a shim between the 2 parts?

 

[Burnerman]

Or......
Replace the screws with studs, and secure the nuts with simmonds, aerotite or nyloc ones?
John

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Or......
Replace the screws with studs, and secure the nuts with simmonds, aerotite or nyloc ones?
John

This ^^^^^

Lock the studs with thread lock. Use nyloc nuts and replace as and when necessary . Should give you great control.

 

[Lower]

Drill a couple of holes in the larger block in the opposite corners to the bolts and put a coil spring in each hole.

Or make a saddle clamp to go over the section that can move so you can clamp it into position once you’ve adjusted the backlash.

 

[robinbanks]

Or......
Replace the screws with studs, and secure the nuts with simmonds, aerotite or nyloc ones?
John

Yea, I was gonna suggest it, but I didn't think that that it was exactly a solution to the problem being complained of (to allow a gap between the blocks without a rattle, and allow for easy mid-work adjustment)