Way covers.

[fatboy55]

Hello Everyone,

Blackmoon beat me to the punch by about a day. Right after I found this amazing material I found your post.

I also got a bunch of the black ribbed runner for my way covers. At first I got it to keep a window mounted ac from vibrating. The ac sits on top of it instead of a piece of metal.

Here's a few shots. The rear cover is just held on with the factory screws. No mods. I just cut the stuff and made two holes for the screws to pass through. It works perfectly.

On the front one I did drill and tap two 1/4 20 screws in the base an inch or so below the dovetails to keep the extra curled up. If you don't do that and just let it hang it still works fine. If you don't drill, the front is zero mods to the machine too. Once again all I did was cut the material with a pair of sissors and made the holes for the screws to pass through. The whole job is 10 min.

I love having something on the front of the y dovetail. I was always brushing stuff from out of there. The x axis locks that hold the front runner used to get hooked up on the dovetails if I had them too far counterclockwise when not using them. The runner solved that problem too. It keeps the handles above the problem area.

The runner works just great. The direction of the ribs is important. It didn't work as well the other way.

FS

[wildwestpat]

Hi Folks

These are a bit small but might be available else in other sizes some where as they look as if they are made in the Far East:-

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalo...achine-Bellows

I have just purchased the small ones for use on a Redbull XJ16 (bit like the Seig X2) for Y and Z covers on my retirement CNC venture. There is a thick PVC (?) former at both the ends and at the one third points that is trimmed to sit on the dovetail slides. This keeps the bellows fabric off the ways and should prolong the life. The material used is laminated fabric and plastic membrane type sheeting.

I was about to make a stiched fabric one using PTFE bonded glass cloth with kevlar stitching. The glass cuts through normal cotton sewing thread too quickly. The PTFE glass sheet is sold in the UK in home baking supply outlets as a non stick baking sheet and is available in 600mm x 1meter lengths for arround £8 GBP.

For the home brew way covers the PVC support idea looks to be worth more than a look.

Has anyone managed to obtain the Lead screw covers shown on some of the Far East small lathes? I dont fancy making a lead screw cover out of the glass/PTFE sheet as sewing the circular washers is not my idea of fun!!!! I have the ball screws for a mini lathe cnc conversion when / if I get enough time.

Regards

Pat