No more backlash!

Several weeks ago there was a discussion about using Moglice to make
nuts. I did some reading, found a Moglice sales rep and had him talk to
our New England Model Engineeirng Society. Everything I read or heard
sounded to good to be true. I also found a similar product from
Philadelphia Resins.

So, I got some of the resin, and made new nuts for my Sherline. It
really works. I have no measureable backlash. The motion seems very
smooth, and not noticably tighter than with the brass nuts. I think this
is the only answer for a Sherline size machine where ball screws just
cannot be fitted.

This was fairly simple to do. I took the mill apart and cleaned the
saddle block and leadscrews well. I removed the nut and anti-backlash
nuts and coated them with the mold release. I reinstalled the nut, but
instead of puting it in the correct place I left it just short of the
set screw hole. I put the leadscrew in place, coated with release spray.
I mixed the resin and injected it with a plastic syringe into the hole
that normally has the set screw to lock the nut. When the resin reached
the end of the hole I pushed the anti-backlash nut into place.

The main nut and the anti-backlash nut served to trap the lead screw in
its exact alignment. This leaves an area of resin about 1" long between
them.

I let it cure overnight, then removed the screw- It was a bit tight at
first, but once the mold release cracked they just unscrewed. I ran them
back and forth with an electric drill a few times. If you run them to
fast and long they do get warm.
I reassembled the mill and ran a few parts. There is no backlash!

Obviously I cant say anything yet about how long this will last, but if
it is half as good as the literture claims it will outlast me by a long
time.

Im going to do my Grizzley mini mill next.

ron