Cross-slide extension and thrust bearing mod

March 2010

Though the mini-lathe is within the limits of the work size I use to do, there are times when a
bit more cross-slide travel is useful. Without a cross-slide extension the maximum stock
diameter that can be machined over the cross-slide is smaller than swing over cross-slide.

Here are both assemblies. The original and the new cross-slide extension I made that allows
about 20mm additional travel. I've made a full new assembly with a longer leadscrew
(M10x1mm left hand thread), a longer spacer and a new handwheel. The shape of the new
spacer is to allow the leadscrew assembly to be bolted to the saddle from outside, to avoid
the need to fully disassemble it. Have made it this way as for using the taper attachment the
cross-slide leadscrew has to be removed.

I haven't found a way to be able to bolt it to the saddle using the existing tapped holes on
saddle, so ended drilling and taping two new holes on the saddle to bolt the assembly with
M4 SHCS.
To allow the additional cross-slide travel, the saddle has to be milled. Fortunately this mod
was planned long time ago and the needed milling work on the saddle was made when I did
my rst mod to the mini-lathe, improving the saddle t. So now the work was simpli ed.

To eliminate play the spacer was bored for a thrust bearing to t into it. Thrust bearing is a
SKF 51100 (10x24x9mm). On the rear end of the spacer, bored and polished a bearing
surface for the leadscrew to run on it. Both the bearing surface and the thrust bearing are
grease lubed.
The dial was bored to 21.5mm and the handwheel was made with a longer end with 20mm
OD and a groove for a O-ring. The dial rotates on the O-ring which gives the necessary
friction to keep it in place, while it is easy to reset the dial. The handwheel was made with a
keyway, as the leadscrew, and a 4mm key is used to allow the lock-nut to press it onto the
thrust bearing. The end of the handwheel is a little longer than the dial, so it protrudes to
contact the thrust bearing.

On the picture is also the lock nut, which is maybe the most important component to remove
play. It was made with 19mm OD and 12mm longer and drilled and tapped to M8 thread.
Two small 2.5mm blind holes on front were made to use a spanner to tighten the nut. A
M8x6mm set screw is used to lock it.
The handwheel was bored on the front side to 20mm-12mm deep for the lock-nut to t into
it. The lock-nut ts the threaded end on the leadscrew and it is tightened with a spanner on
the two small blind holes. The length of the threaded end of the leadscrew was adjusted so,
when assembled, it threads on the the lock-nut by 6mm, leaving 6mm for the set screw to be
also tightened on the lock-nut. When is it tight, but not excessively, the M8x6mm setscrew is
tightened on the lock-nut. As the setscrew is pressed onto the leadscrew, the nut is locked.

If the leadscrew has still some play, or if it is hard to rotate the handwheel, the lock-nut must
be adjusted. This setup works amazingly well and the handwheel rotates very smooth. Kind
like a volume dial on a stereo.

To check play on this assembly, I have tried to measure it with the dial indicator point on the
rear end of the leadscrew. While applying a considerable amount of force puling and pushing
the cross-slide handwheel, couldn't measure any play on the dial indicator.

Excessive cross-slide play on this mini-lathe was always caused by the absence of a lock-nut. I
never had reasons to blame on the cross-slide leadscrew nut, as Sieg's mini-lathe owners use
to. This lathe has a cast iron nut on the cross slide leadscrew and all I did was to enlarge the
two M4 threaded holes on the nut, used to bolt the nut to the cross-slide, to M5 thread. Have
made it as I found that M5 SHCS t snug on the counterbored holes and this way can't slide
on holes anymore.
Back to mini-lathe mods and lathe tools projects (/lathe)

7 X 12 LATHE
Chuck Backplate (/lathe/mini-lathe-chuck-backplate)

Tachometer (/lathe/mini-lathe-tachometer)

Leadscrew handwheel (/lathe/mini-lathe-leadscrew-handwheel)

Cross slide (/lathe/mini-lathe-cross-slide)

Parting Toolholder (/lathe/parting-tool-holder)

Lathe Drawbars (/lathe/lathe-drawbars)

Spindle Cleaning Tool (/lathe/lathe-spindle-bore-cleaning-tool)

Wiggler / Center Finder (/lathe/mini-lathe-center- nder)

Spindle Nuts Wrench (/lathe/mini-lathe-spindle-nuts-wrench)

Toolpost (/lathe/mini-lathe-qctp)

Steady Rest (/lathe/lathe-steady-rest)

Motor Speed Reducer (/lathe/mini-lathe-motor)

Headstock (/lathe/mini-lathe-headstock)

Bed (/lathe/mini-lathe-bed)

Chucks (/lathe/chucks-repair)

Apron (/lathe/mini-lathe-apron-mods)

Carriage Lock (/lathe/lathe-carriage-lock)

Saddle (/lathe/mini-lathe-saddle)
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