Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Request for ideas for lathe Z axis ballscrewcovers

Yes, that Myford tube is just what I was referring to...and what th eheck,
another little design project (grin)
R. William Kichman, P.E.
Kichman Engineering Associates
103 Old Furnace Road
Cornwall, PA 17016-0643
tel/fax 717/270-0714

----- Original Message -----
From: "RichD" <cmsteam@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 2:14 AM
Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Request for ideas for lathe Z axis
ballscrewcovers


> Kim and Jon,
> The Myford 254 series lathe had just such a leadscrew cover.
> See the 254S:
> http://www.lathes.co.uk/myford/page6.html
> RichD
>
> Jon Elson wrote:
> >
> > Kim Lux wrote:
> >
> > >Hi people.
> > >
> > >We've got a lathe retrofitted with ballscrews, servos, etc. It works
> > >great (outstanding actually) except that the ballscrew is getting
> > >contaminated with metal filings, etc. This metal is jamming the
> > >ballnuts.
> > >
> > >The Z axis ballscrew is located where the feedrods and lead screw are
> > >mounted on a conventional lathe. We've got a roof over the screw, but
> > >debris is still getting on it. When cutting, we've got debris flying
> > >everywhere.
> > >
> > >I'd appreciate any and all ideas for covering the ballscrew. Don't
> > >forget that a ballnut runs up and down the screw... The best idea
we've
> > >had thus far is an accordion type tube, kind of like the fork covers on
> > >a motorcycle.
> > >
> > >
> > There are a number of designs, but many of them would be REAL hard to
> > do without mold tooling. One thing that I have seen is a wide strip of
> > spring steel. It is wound into a coil, and diagonal corners of the
original
> > strip are anchored by a rivet to round bushings at each end. The thing
> > works by pulling the coil into a helix as it is stretched out. I think
> > one end
> > bushing has to be free to rotate around the screw. I'm not sure this
> > design can handle the extremes of motion of a lathe.
> >
> > I had some Gortite bellows that came with some ballscrews off an old
> > machine, but they have disintegrated. The guys at our shop got a quote
> > on some Gortite bellows, and they are VERY expensive in small
> > quantity. They really work nicely, though. There may be some other,
> > similar bellows material, like the motorcycle fork covers, that comes in
a
> > roll, and you cut to length. Certainly worth some searching. I seem to
> > recall some cars with rack and pinion steering had some pretty long
> > bellows, too.
> >
> > Jon
>
> Addresses:
> FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
> Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
>
> Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com, wanliker@...,
timg@...
> Moderator: pentam@... indigo_red@... [Moderators]
> URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
>
> OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to reach it if
you have trouble.
> http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this to be a
sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same members are there, for OT
subjects, that are not allowed on the CCED list.
>
> NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY POSTING THEM.
DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO EXCEPTIONS........
> bill
> List Mom
> List Owner
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>