Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] CNC lathe retrofit and phase converter

> Question #1:
> I am wondering what the best approach would be to retrofit my
> newly acquired Sharp 13x30 lathe to CNC. For the carriage feed,
> I'd like to run a ballscrew and disengage the leadscrew during CNC
> use. But, can I handle the cross-slide similarly?

I'm doing a 13x30" south bend. I milled out the channel in the saddle
a little bit to clear a 5/8" ball nut. A timing belt pulley replaces
the handhweel and the stepper motor hangs below that. On a lathe
with a more complicated apron you might want to put it behind the bed.

Long feed is probably going to be on the leadscrew for now, but
ultimatly I have some though of hanging a ballscrew behind the bed and
having a bracket attached to the ballnuts which can be bolted to the
rear of the saddle when CNC operation is desired, and unbolted and
allowed to hang below the screw for manual ops. The risk is of
course that if both this and the leadscrew or mechanical power feed
are engaged at once, the machine will eat itself.

If I was planning to dedicate the machine to CNC I would take off the
apron and replace it with a new one containing a mount for the
crossfeed motor, and put the long feed ballscrew in place of the
leadscrew.

> Question #3: (OT)
> How are file teeth formed?

It is done by trained monkeys using hammers and chisels. Then hardened.

Chris Stratton