Watch lathe CNC conversion

[N4NV]

I loosely mounted the Z rails until I install the X platform. I will be working on that next. I have about 20 holes to drill in it to mount it so the Z axis and also to mount the X rails. I installed longer screws on the ends of the rails to prevent the trucks from running off and loosing all those ball bearings.

Vince

[N4NV]

I started on the X axis cross slide. I ordered some precision ground flat stock. It was +-.0001". After I cut it, it curled up to where the ends were now .0004" low and the middle was .0004" high. It took me almost 4 hours of scraping to get it back to flat +-.0001". I cut a groove down the center (before I started scraping) with a 5/8" ball end mill to made room for the Acme nut. It did not warp any after the groove which surprised me.

Vince

[zephyr9900]

That's looking really good, Vince. I like your end stops. Did your X axis plate warp from parting off the end of a piece of barstock, or did you cut the long side(s) too?

Randy

[N4NV]

The X axis carriage piece was cut off the end of the flat stock, the sides were not cut.

I cut the ball slides for the X axis. It turned out they were hardened and the only way I could cut them was with a peanut grinder and an abrasive wheel. I mounted them on the carriage to see how they would fit. I found when trying to adjust the Z axis ball slides parallel, even .0002" would cause the carriage to bind a little. It took a lot of adjusting to get is just right. Of course I will have to do it all over again since I have to take it all apart to get the motor mount supports attached to the lathe bed.

Vince