Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Homemade Ballscrew conversion for Shoptask finished.....

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <mmueller@...>
> >
> > The hardest part of this conversion was putting the balls back in the
> > leadnuts, anyone have a sure fire way to get all of them in there?

You find or make a dowel about the same diameter as the minor diameter
of the ballscrew. You can put the dowel almost all the way in and dribble
balls
into the exposed end of the track until it is filled. Then you rotate the
dowel until the balls are worked into the return channel, and put in the last
few. Apply the nut to the screw (or vice versa, depending on machine
construction) and then turn the screw into the nut as the dowel is
held against the advancing end of the screw. If the end of the screw
is turned down for bearings, pulleys, etc. then you need to drill the dowel
so that the end fits flush against the threaded part.

A wooden dowel works very well for this purpose.

Jon