Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Re: virtual hand jive

Good points Ballendo! I could add a gear or two if necessary to use right
hand thread gears and ball screws and still retain the handwheel rotation
direction. My machine uses a .125 lead and I see that lead is available for
ball screws.

The problem I see here though is disengaging the feed screw from the saddle
for rapid traverse with a hand wheel. Not a problem on the manual lathe
since the RT is controlled thru a set of "speed up" gears that act directly
on the feed screw like a rack and pinion.

Perhaps the ball screw nut will have to be mounted in a special bracket
for disconnecting via a sliding connection. Also, what kind of gear is
available that will allow a ball screw/gear to act as a rack and pinion
anyway?

I've never seen any of the mechanicals for any CNC lathes, let alone one
that's set up for use both ways. Perhaps the easy way would be to have both
a ball screw and an acme lead screw?

Smoke