Unimat 3 – loose feed screw

[msrt7mcfl7Participant @msrt7mcfl7]

Recently bought a Unimat 3, my first lathe and it’s been great. Recently though the feed screw for the carriage has become loose.

It seems not matter how I adjust it or tighten/loosen the handle the feed screw preferers to move rather than the carriage, it cam without a manual and I can’t seem to figure out how to lock it in place.

Any ideas?

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

It sounds to me that the Sintered Bush which the feedscrew runs in has become loose in the Bed casting. There is an M6 Allen Grub screw, (3mm A/F Allen Key), on the underside of the cast protrusion, or Lug on the Bed which holds the Bush. It should only need to be nipped up, otherwise the bush can be crushed. The Bush needs to protrude slightly at the Tailstock end, otherwise the handwheel dial will foul, or rub the lug.

Hope this helps

Regards

Gray,

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

If you don’t have the manual for Unimat 3, it can be downloaded here.

Thor

[msrt7mcfl7Participant @msrt7mcfl7]

Thank you Greham,

The lathe had been bolted to big sheet of metal and wood by a previous owner, as such I didn’t realise the grub screw on the underside, it was a bit of a faf unbolting the lathe from the base to gain access but it’s all good now.

Seems to me a better location would be at the front, the things designers do to gain some aesthetics…

[msrt7mcfl7Participant @msrt7mcfl7]

Thank you Thor,

The manual, along with grahams advice means I’ve now sorted the lathe out.

thanks again.

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

Glad to hear you are sorted and that my notes were of help.

I have a shortened 3mm A/F Allen Key, (that is, shortened on the short arm of the Allen Key), which is handy for this type of job. While they can be shortened on a grinder. There is a risk of softening the Allen Key, without liberal quenching. I normally use a manual Ceramic Tile cutting saw and just clean up the cut on the grinder afterwards.

Keep the cut-off piece as this can be used at a later date for an extended Allen Key, for those hard to reach capscrews. If it is fitted into the end of a piece of Hexagonal mild steel bar, a socket wrench or spanner can be used to apply the turning motion.

Regards

Gray,

[Author]

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