Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Ball screw lubrication question

washcomp wrote:

>A have lube points on everything but the Z axis ball screw on my BP.
>I'm using the original retrofit that came with the machine and can't
>figure a resonable way to get automatic lube to it. Its also a
>disassembly job to get to, so I'd like to figure a way to lube it and
>forget it for a while (and also know when to relube). What should I
>use as a lubricant? The nut seems to be pretty sealed. Where/how do
>I lubricate this? How long should the lubrication last?
>
>

Apparently the standard Bridgeport quill is lubed by oil flung off the
spindle
when it is running. It hits the wall of the main housing and slides down,
lubing the outside of the quill. I don't know if that would work with the
integral ballscrew quill, but is seems like it could work there, too.

I have not seen any Bridgeports with auto-lube to the head. I would think
you could add a port to the auto-lube system, with its own metering orifice,
to drip a little oil somewhere into the head that would get on the quill.
From there, it would have to run down onto the nut. It seems unlikely the
nut is actually "sealed", unless you mean just totally enclosed in the head
casting. Yes, that sounds about right, all the Bridgeport heads are like
that.

My personal preference for the nut, alone, would be a light grease. But,
that may be incompatible with the very tight fit of the quill in the bore
of the head. Some people report that greases there will cause binding,
or at least stiffness, and that only oil should be used. (Mine has some
wear, and was packed with debris when I got it, and I used grease to
grab the debris and draw it out.)

My guess is that if you use a sticky oil (way oil) or grease, it should
last for months, as it really has nowhere to go. A plain, light oil would
tend to slide down the quill, and might need to be replenished weekly
or so.

Jon