Hercus Mill Gib Lock

Rather than hijacking another thread, here is a picture of the Z axis gib locking arrangement on a Hercus Type 0 mill, and the handle I was intending to replace it with. The problem is it's currently 8 mm thread, and the Hercus is 5/16 BSW so I'm now just considering options as to how I'll convert it. The Y axis will be more of a PIA as it's right on top of the Z axis winding mechanism. I may not even be able to get a handle like that shown in there so will need to consider that further.

Pete

http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/x...ine/file-2.jpg

Unfortunately, there is no photo Pete. Maybe you better stick with the phone:U

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Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Unfortunately, there is no photo Pete. Maybe you better stick with the phone:U

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Really? It's coming up at my end :(

I'm only seeing the red cross in the white square. Nothing happens when I click on "show picture".

Maybe the problem with the photo was mine Pete. The knee on my No.O does not have the additional lock as shown in your photo. I have fitted a Kipp handle in place of the top gib screw. Not the optimum set up. I should modify the knee to incorporate the additional centre lock. I had thought you were talking about the table gibs.

All's clear.

BT

This mill has the same arrangement on the Y axis table, and no locking at all on the X axis. I started making up an adaptor to change the thread from metric to imperial, basically a male M8 thread to thread into the handle's nut, with a female 5/16 BSW coming out about 10 mm to screw onto the stud. However I decided the junction where these two threads met would be a weak point, unless I made the whole thing very long, so canned that idea, at least out of brass. Of course in the process I discovered my "excellent quality" Indian 5/16 BSW tap is actually cutting undersize, so there was much "???" until I finally denounced it as a POS tap.

Pete

Of course in the process I discovered my "excellent quality" Indian 5/16 BSW tap is actually cutting undersize, so there was much "???" until I finally denounced it as a POS tap

At last, a denunciation!:doh: As an alternative to your supplier of the sub continental, you might like to try this seller. Quality tooling with inexpensive shipping.

eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d

This is how I finished up locking the X and Z axes on the Hercus.

The left handle is to replace a gib adjusting screw. The bolt is threaded 5/16th UNF (as I didn't have a BSF die of that size), with a 5/16 BSW threaded from the other end and stud locker preventing it from unthreading. The handle was milled down as I was trying to get it to fit on the Y axis but simply couldn't squeeze a handle like this in.

The right handle is for the Z axis and is the hex bored out and some brass silver soldered to the end, threaded to 5/16 BSW and powder coated. I tried a few different things here, and if I was going to do it again I'd shorten the whole thing.

http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/x...ine/file-3.jpg

The Z axis lock. It looks like the casting has a big gap under the brass but that's just a trick of the camera. I put a washer under it just the same. Brass was used to help prevent damage to the casting, but mainly to Bob off as he insisted I use steel. I know this will now annoy him and my job here will be done :p

http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/x...ine/file-4.jpg

The X axis lock. I'm not a big fan of using the gib adjusting screws for this purpose, but there didn't seem to be too many other alternatives.

http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/x...ine/file-5.jpg

I'm not sure how I'm going to lock the Y axis. I may need to make up a whole handle to get it to fit. A bit of a PIA so I may come back to that later.

Pete

I will try not to focus on the usage of brass. :no:

Now that you have that simple task bowled over how about some nice way wipers?

BT

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

I will try not to focus on the usage of brass. :no:

Now that you have that simple task bowled over how about some nice way wipers?

BT

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Well maybe not wipers, but I was just thinking today that I really should make up some way covers. However there are a billion more things I'm trying to do at the same time so will just add it to the list for now. In the meanwhile I'm off to buy some more brass.

Pete

PS BTW Bob, yes it was an extremely simple job, and didn't take long at all ... but that doesn't count the time I spent scratching my head trying to get the handle to fit on the Y axis. I'm not one to give up easily, but even I had to admit that regardless of how I configured it, that size handle couldn't be made to fit in the space available. They're not expensive so I will try to squeeze a smaller version in, it would be nice if they were all the same.