ML7 Spindle Lock

On the Facebook ML7 group Addison Gray has posted a link to Thingiverse for a ML7 bull-wheel spindle lock design, in two forms:

Here

and in wrench form:

Here

Haven't printed these ones out yet, will do so this afternoon, but thought it may be of interest. I have printed out a similar design posted by Addison in the FB group which works very well.

I am amazed that a plastic spindle lock would work on a lathe. Must be mighty tough plastic.

Andrew.

It's well tough enough for that job. In fact, there were some pics of printed change gears posted the other day that seem to work.

Edited By Tony Jeffree on 11/01/2022 16:26:55

A very convenient device that should avoid the horror of broken bull wheel teeth but always remember that the bull wheel is keyed to the spindle with a woodruff key, they do break and if the shaft housing for the key is damaged then a new housing will need to be cut. I would be wary of a weld repair and recut. For normal chuck changes this is great but for a chuck that is really stuck I would be dismantling the spindle.

Mike

Might be fine for drilling, but milling?

Still useful though

Doesn't the ML7 have a spindle locking pin like the S7? On the LH end of the H/S, slides into a hole in the biggest pulley opposite the oiling nipple.

Nope.

Well I will give it a try if anyone can sell me the printed product.. I don't have a 3D printer.

Andrew.

I expect the drill is still going?

"I expect the drill is still going? "

I held back on that. Love it

Bear........

Nicholas and Bear,

Read my entry again! Drill expired from old age, sorry to disappoint you. The load testing had no effect on it whatsoever

Regards Brian

Brian, correction, no direct reference to "Drill expired from old age", you wrote "It eventually died of old age!" without specifying exactly what died of old age. Nick & Grizzly's cynicism probably derived from the Aussies summary of relative reliability - "if you want to go into the Outback, go in a Landrover, but if you want to get back go in a Toyota".

Robert Butler

Edited By Robert Butler on 13/01/2022 23:10:47

Robert,

Mia Culpa! You are of course quite right.

I have owned both vehicles [Landrover and Toyota pickup] in my time. The Toyota was utterly reliable but it was bought new, the Landrover was old when we bought it and in much better mechanical shape when I sold it 10 years or so later on.

As to which I would venture into the Outback in------??

Brian

Edit. It is interested how these posts often stray away from the initial topic, this one being another example

Edited By Brian Wood on 14/01/2022 14:52:06

(edit: oops. just realised I did a necro)

Edited By Ady1 on 07/02/2022 10:40:40

Andrew,

There are a couple of sellers advertising finished printed Ml7 spindle locks on ebay.

Rod

Edited By Rod Renshaw on 07/02/2022 12:13:03

I have been testing the printed ML7 spindle lock, kindly supplied to me from a forum member, and so far it has been amazingly good. It removes any chuck or face plate from my ML7 with ease. I also have an ML10 (same bull wheel) which is a swine when it comes to chuck removal (Can't figure out why). It needed a large lever in the chuck jaws (at right angles to the lathe axis), the printed spindle lock coped with ease.

I then did the unthinkable, put a chuck on the mandrel nose using only 2 or 3 turns and then turning on the motor. Those of you that may have done this, will know that it is virtually impossible to get the chuck off again. An even larger leaver (about 3 feet long!) and the printed lock. One good heave, loosened the chuck with no problems.

I shall continue to abuse the printed lock and see if I can destroy it overtime. Somehow I don't think I will manage to do so.

Andrew.

Many thanks Tony for posting this item. I have printed several items for my ML7 on 3D printer and found them very cost effective and usefull. These include a 127T changewheel, a rack to hold my set of changewheels etc. I am still surprised at the abuse some of my 3D items can withstand, locomotive buffers and axle boxes for example.

John

Just printed one of these locks in the wrench form and found it a superb fit and does exactley "what it says on the tin".

Some technical details for the other 3D printer users , I used PETG with 8 walls, a layer height of 0.2mm, 55% infill, nozzle temp 235C and bed temp 85C. Printing time 5 hours, cost of filament £1.40.

JC

I have been testing the printed spindle locks. This morning I substituted my 3 jaw for a 4 jaw on the ML10. I noticed that the teeth on the print now didn't fit very well. The first 8 teeth fitted and then the rest were obviously at a wider tooth spacing.

When I first started to use the wrench, the fit of the teeth was perfect. So either the print is relaxing and allowing the arc of the wrench to increase in diameter OR my hard usage has caused the problem.

It still works like a dream even with only 8 teeth engaged.

Andrew.