Re: Is this too nuts to consider ?

Smoke,

The problem with this is sometimes the 'correct' gear ratio won't
provide enough power to make the cut! Or that there is simply not
enough room for the required gears...

But I do agree with you. I'd also look FIRST at IF it is POSSIBLE
to "add gears" somehow... (possibly bypassing the exising gear train
setup.)

Hope this helps.

Ballendo

>Personally, I think it would be much simpler, quicker and lots
>cheaper to simply use a differnt gear ratio on one of the compound
>gears between the spindle and the gearbox.

>In fact if you change the gearing enough you COULD set up the lathe
>for machining real slow twists required for barrel rifling.
>Smoke

A cable 'wrapping around the spindle' (via an extension) and pulling
the saddle can work for this sort of slow twist.