Emco Compact 5 Top slide gib

I am refurbishing an Emco Compact 5. Slowly getting it sorted out. However, I appear to be missing the plastic gib for the top slide.

Any suggestions as to where I could purchase a replacement? If not any suggestions for alternatives.

https://www.emcomachinetools.co.uk/ seems to be down most of the time - although that could be because I may be accessing it at the wrong time given that I am in Canada.

https://www.emcoshop.at/emcoersatzzubehoerteiledrehmaschinenemcocompact5zubehoer/1718-drehmaschinenemcocompact5zubehremcooberschlitten.html appears to be a possibility although the price rather puts me off.

Any help / suggestions appreciated

Manfred

Don't over think it - what does the gib actually need to do?

Just use a piece of bright mild steel flat bar of appropriate cross section - it can't be all that critical, and there will be a stock size which is near enough. Spot through the screw holes in the top slide to drill for the screw tips. It will probably be better than plastic anyway.

Hi Manfred,

I have purchased spares for my Compact 8 from Austria, yes they are not cheap. You may find what you want on eBay etc. if you are lucky.

Thor

Hi Manfred

The top slide gib on the Emco 5 cnc lathe is made of steel, I have never had to make adjustments in 5 years of use.

Emgee

I was reading a lot of useful stuff on the forum lately, was not registered yet. Just seen your post, so I registered to tell how I solved this issue.

I had the same issue with my top slide gib, I ordered a 100cm brass strip, 7mm wide and 2.5mm thick and made a gib from it. My milling attachment was not sorted yet, I made the gib at my work on a larger milling machine, and sand the sides down with 1000 grid sandpaper on a flat surface. If you have a milling attachment, you can make it yourself.

The brass strip on top, the gib I made in the middle and the original gib under that:

When I bought a second top slide the gib was also missing. I made a gib strip from a 2mm thick PVC tube (in length direction of course) as a “temporary” solution and I must say: it works well. The concave side of it is directed to the gib screws.
For my second cross slide I made a gib strip from a brass strip and that works even better.

Regards,

Jouke

Sorry Manfred, I did not check the link you posted to EmcoShop, I thought you linked the gib only, but it was the complete top slide in the link.

According to the part list I have for the Compact 5 the gib has part number A5A05050 and EmcoShop sells that too, price is reasonable at €12.85, but I ordered couple times from them, and the shipment costs are really high, to the Netherlands it is almost twice as the item itself at €25

Here is the link to the gib: Emco GIB A5A 050 050

If you don't have a parts list, just search for a German manual of the lathe and at the end there is a parts list with exploded drawings of it. I figure that out after a couple of weeks when I got the lathe, and it is very helpful, the English version of the manual does not have part numbers.

Thank you all for your responses.

I was reticent using mild steel for the gib as the two dovetails are apparently made from ZAMAK / MAZAK, a zink, magnesium, aluminium / copper alloy that I suspect is much softer than mild steel. Don't know what the implications of that are but not keen on finding out first hand.

I will try the PVC and brass suggestions in that order.

Thanks for the link at the emcoshop. Shipping to Canada is €53.83. Plus taxes and duties!

For an English (perhaps American) parts list you may want to go here:

https://www.searspartsdirect.com/model/1n45xgogz1-000247/craftsman-549289000-lathe-parts.

The Compact 5 was sold as a Sears machine in a fetching battleship grey.

That is a lot of money for the shipment! I ordered twice from them, but I wait till I have a list of parts and accessories I want, that makes the shipment fee a little more acceptable.

I got the lathe 2 months ago, it was pretty stock, and the milling attachment was bought later by the previous owner, milling attachment was worn out on some parts, so I fixed all of that, and I wanted all attachments available when the lathe was new, got those too from ebay and local "ebay" like site, so it cost me a lot at the end, but it is complete now, and I am really happy with it. I also did a VFD upgrade with a new motor, added some self-made DRO on all axes.

Did a lot of upgrades on it, I uploaded some pictures of it here on the site in my album:

My Emco Compact 5 upgrades

Hallo Ozen,

I had a quick look at all those nice features you added to your Emco C5. Above you wrote about shipping costs from the Emcoshop (Emco Holz & Hobby) into The Netherlands. Do you live in The Netherlands?

Regards,

Jouke

Yes Jouke, I am from the Netherlands.

Good morning Ozen,

I sent you a PM

Regards,

Jouke

Edited By Jouke van der Veen on 26/11/2022 09:35:24