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Mini Lathe Leadscrew Clutch

A simple idea

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Stub Mandrel21/11/2011 19:23:22
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4318 forum posts
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While my lathe was slightly dis-assembled I took a couple of pictures of my leadscrew 'clutch'.
 
Its very simple, just a shallow 'top hat' with three holes in the side attached to the gear banjo (by three countersunk screws) around the end of the leadscrew. Around this is a ring with a threaded hole that the handle fits into, with a peg on the end that can be fitted into the most convenient hole for the chosen gear ratio. Three fiducial marks (I like that word) help with lining the peg up with a hole. Handle is oil blacked to match lathe parts.
 
The simple nut that keeps the banjo in place is replaced by a belleville washer (dished spring washer) and a longer nut (you can see this poking out in the first picture).. A piece of the gear cover is cut away so the handle pokes out.
 
Adjustment of the banjo nut needs to be right, but then it can be left alone for ages.
 
Advantage? You can have fine feed set up all the time, but disengaged, and leave the saddle nut engaged, allowing the leadscrew feed handle to be used. Also no worries about accidentally engaging the leadscrew nuts when the gears are engaged. An best of all, no fiddling round the back with a spanner when you want to engage the gear train.
 
Neil
 



 
P.S. The gear wheel with the chemical metal on it... in my early days I somehow managed to strip the keyway. I bored out the gear, made a little sleeve with a flange and a slot for the keyway. The chemical metal keys to the ribs on the gear and stops the insert rotating.

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 21/11/2011 19:25:55

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 21/11/2011 19:27:47

Nobby21/11/2011 23:43:22
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587 forum posts
113 photos
Hi Neil

Great idea I may try to fit something like this to my Drummond as I have been having problem with split threads

Nobby
SwarfMuncher26/04/2014 06:17:55
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I know this is an old topic, but I would like more information on this if anyone is still following it. I'd like to try making this, but I don't understand how it works, or what parts need to be made. This seems like a good choice to go with the leadscrew hand wheel I put on my mini-lathe, so I don't have to fool with gear removal when I want to use the hand wheel.

GaryM26/04/2014 12:21:52
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314 forum posts
44 photos

Hi Lawrence,

Someone has just asked the same question on another forum **LINK**

Might be worth following any replies.

Gary

SwarfMuncher26/04/2014 15:25:57
2 forum posts

Thanks Gary! I think I know that guy....

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