Compound Slide Locks

This topic has 9 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 10 June 2015 at 21:50 by Versaboss.

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10 June 2015 at 11:50 #192947
Alan Rawlins
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@alanrawlins60482
Are all lathes supposed to have a Compound Slide lock on them? Mine doesn't have one but, it does have one on the Carriage Slide.

When I asked the question of the Distributors in the UK about this I was given the answer that the lock on the Compound slide was only for use during transportation. Also he said that if the compound slide was moving when using it to machine across the face of something, ie at 90 deg to the bed, The cutting tool wasn't the correct shape or was blunt.

What do you all think?

As the Operators Manual is what is known as a generic manual, I guess they mean it covers different lathes and sizes of lathes.

My manual that I have shows a picture of the Compound Slide lock but, it is for a different machine to mine. My lathe is of the Chinese variety. Overall it is a good lathe apart from mistakes in the manual.
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10 June 2015 at 11:50 #7661
Alan Rawlins
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@alanrawlins60482
10 June 2015 at 12:04 #192948
Martin Kyte
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@martinkyte99762
I did the (George Thomas?) mod on my Myford which adds a Locking screw with a little lever knob between the gib adjustment screws on my compound slide. I allows me to lock the slide without changing the setting of the gib and does give a little more resiliance to the tool post.

regards Martin
10 June 2015 at 12:20 #192950
Capstan Speaking
Participant
@capstanspeaking95294
A small Chinese lathe probably isn't made to have one.

Judging by the spin on the situation you were given I can guess which that company is.

If you use the compound handle to take up the backlash you will probably not even miss a clamp screw.

Mini lathes are so small that the tool can push off when facing by pushing the saddle back. I just drop the screwcutting lever on a stationary leadscrew.
10 June 2015 at 15:27 #192959
Harry Wilkes
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@harrywilkes58467
I too fitted George's mod on my S7 and have found it very useful !!

H

Posted by Martin Kyte on 10/06/2015 12:04:46:

I did the (George Thomas?) mod on my Myford which adds a Locking screw with a little lever knob between the gib adjustment screws on my compound slide. I allows me to lock the slide without changing the setting of the gib and does give a little more resiliance to the tool post.

regards Martin
10 June 2015 at 16:58 #192967
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Most small / hobby lathes don't have cross slide or top slide locks and never have had. Even saddle locks are not universal. Mostly people found they didn't need them, or when they did they just made an extra hole or used one of the existing gib holes. Don't think many amateurs were ever prepared to pay the extra for fripparies they could add themselves for peanuts.
10 June 2015 at 19:21 #192984
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
As Bazyle says – they are a rare breed on lathes though usual on milling machines. That's because in normal use most cuts are applied in directions unlikely to cause a slide to move unexpectedly.

Most people who worry about such things just nip up a convenient gib-screw, or like GHT and his Myford, they add one. The minimum you need is a suitable tapped hole and a screw with a neat end on it.

Neil
10 June 2015 at 19:30 #192986
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Quite a few of the far eastern lathes will have say three gib adjusting screws with lock nuts and one screw without, this one can be nipped up with an allen key when required, mine does on both the cross and compound slides. My Austrian Emco before was the same.

Your WM250 should be exactly the same as my 280

J

Edited By JasonB on 10/06/2015 19:56:29
10 June 2015 at 19:58 #192987
Alan Rawlins
Participant
@alanrawlins60482
Again, thank you to all, for your responses. I think I will try JasonB Idea, as he says, mine is the same as his.
10 June 2015 at 21:50 #192995
Versaboss
Participant
@versaboss
Speaking of compound slide locks – do you think al lock in vertical direction, pressing on the non-guiding part of the stationary slide, is a viable idea? Reason is on my lathe I installed a Chinese scale on the front of the topslide, and now the adjusting screws are partially hidden and there is not enough room for a lock screw between the scale and the slide. I hope this description is sufficiently clear to see what I mean.

If that's a bad idea, why?

Regards, HansR.
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