Metal Lathe Questions and Problems

[PenTurner]

Ok, thanks to Jack.Tar, :2tsup::2tsup:he asked a question about metal Lathes and Pen Turning, It is worth looking at:2tsup:. Here I am asking questions and looking for advice-being a Novice with the Metal Lathe.
My first question and problem is Slack on the HSS cutting bit, the Bit is quite tight on the post but the whole top slide (not the cross slide) can move laterally(side to side) when pressure is applied--and this throws everything out as far as fine measurement is concerned. Please see my photos for clarity on my question. Amos :)
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/1MyLathe1.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/2CutterAngle1.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/3THISANGLENOTENATURALCUTLINE.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/4PRESSURETHISDIRECTION2.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/5WITHPRESSUREONTHETOPSLIDE.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/6PRESSUREDIRECTION1.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/7PRESSUREINOPPOSITEDIRECTION2.jpg

[gawdelpus]

Amos if the two hold down bolts for the crosslide are tight (Neil stripped one of his ) then you have to adjust the wear strips on both the cross slide and the compound slide . to adjust you undo the lock nuts and screw the centre screws in till all the slack is taken out ,then lock the nuts up again ,you should be able to wind the handles without too much pressure ,but no side slop . We made an adapter plate for Neil so he could use 4 bolts to clamp the compound slide to the cross slide :) he has the same machine without the VS .
Cheers ~ John

[Big Shed]

Amos, if the whole top slide can move from side to side that indicates that the gibs are not adjusted properly. These are the 3 screws on the left side of the top slide and they press on a strip inside the top slide. They should be adjusted so that they are tight but not so tight that the top slide is too hard to move.

Start by tightening them up so that the top slide can hardly move anymore, then slacken them off just enough to get tight, not easy, movement in the top slide.

The other problem with tool movement stems from the way the whole kit and kaboolde is held on by the 2 bolt clamp.

I have made a 4 bolt clamp to overcome this problem. There are a lot of examples on the internet on how to do this, I did a thread on mine.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/4-bolt-compound-clamp-9x20-lathe-126596/

Steve Bedair's 9x20 Lathe Site (http://www.bedair.org/clamp/9x20clamp.html)

Steve Bedair's 9x20 Lathe Site (http://bedair.org/Gib/Gib.html)

[edblysard]

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k143/edblysard/IMG_1332.jpg
Try a thin washer under this first, if the problem is still there,
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k143/edblysard/IMG_1330.jpg
Make sure these are tight, you may need to shim them also with a washer, and check to make sure the compound slide is fully seated in the retaining ring and the the cross slide, there is a big steel pin in the underside that should fit snug in a hole in the top of the cross slide, there are in fact two holes, one in a more inbound position, (closer to the center of the lathe)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k143/edblysard/IMG_1333.jpg
The gib screws mentioned in the other postings, (yes, I know, I am missing one of the lock screws) these should be snug, as pointed out, losen the lock screw, adjust the set screws till no slop is present.
You may need to remove the gibb, a small steel plate held in a dovetail shaped groove inside the compound slide, and smooth it out, they are rough milled, you can use lapping compound on a granite block and "hone" the surfaces till they are quite smooth, reduces the pressure needed to move the compound slide in and out, and will make your cutting depth much easier to adjust.

[PenTurner]

Ok, the two nuts that hold the Top Slide to the Cross slide are done up so tight that I am afraid I will break or strip them. As for the Gibbs, there is nor movement in the Cross Slide or Top Side, in fact I have not used the Top slide because I did up the Gibbs too tight and it won't move--this is what Fred is saying about making them just right, and I will give them a go. Observing the movement-it seems to stem from the Top Slide moving side to side because of the Two Nuts holding it down are not doing the job even though they are supper tight, so the suggestions for usinf FOUR holding down screws etc, as mentioned probably will be the answer, I will look into this now and report back, Thanks to Fred, Ed and John for all suggestions, I may graduate yet!!!Amos:):2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:
PS I just checked the cross slide and the gibbs need tightening on it, however, I lost one gibb about a year ago, so I need to make one or buy one. Thanks Ed.

[Big Shed]

Amos, one more thing to look at. If you look at the link of my 4 bolt clamp, you will see that the top slide has a circular part attache dto it underneath. Make sure the attaching screws for this are tight as well.

But ultimately a 4 bolt clamp seems to be the go to fix this problem, why our Chinese friends have not made this mod to these lathes escapes me, probably a $5 fix:doh:

[PenTurner]

:2tsup:OK Fred, checking it out now, thanks Amos:)

[PenTurner]

Here are some results after the advice:):2tsup:,
I replaced the washers with larger ones--WOW-What a difference;:2tsup: I also noted that the Compound slide had a screw loose( bit like its owner!!:D) So it got tightened.
Also the gibs on the Compound were too loose allowing backward and forward movement-tightened and slop stopped!!
I can now visualize what benefit a 4 Screw Mount would do! and hopefully when a piece of metal comes my way I will give it a go.
PS dear moderator, I realize that this really should be in the Metal Lathe section, and if you think it should move I have no objection at all! thanks Amos:)
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/9WASHERSREPLACED.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/8THISSCREWWASALSOLOOSE.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc466/WoodenInk/Metal%20Lathe%20Questions%20and%20Problems/10WASHERSREPLACEDWITHLARGER.jpg

[gawdelpus]

Good stuff Amos :) while you had the compound slide off did you tighten (or check) the three cheese head screws that hold the clampimg plate to to the compound slide, they have a screwdriver slot , if these get loose it will affect your clamping ability as well :(
cheers ! John

[PenTurner]

Yes John I did check them, one was a little loose. Amos:):2tsup: