Adding DRO to my old Clausing 100 lathe

[ltlvt]

I have made several improvements on this old Beauty in this last year. The think about these old smaller lathes is that not much flat real-estate to put a Mag base indicator mount. My experience is they are either too big or too shaky and usually are a PITA to get in the right position. So for the cross slide only I am adapting an I-gage scale that I had left over from my BP -Clone. I am the purist that revolts when someone talks about drilling and tapping holes in these old Girls. So the one I am in process of making attaches by some very cheap but very strong magnets. Like everything I do here is the Drive -By pictures of what I have gotten done so far.

 

[markba633csi]

Looks good- I'm also averse to drilling holes- I plan on using epoxy when I add a DRO to my mill

 

[ltlvt]

Un-finished but Functional. It got late on me and Snuggles wanted to go in the house for the night. But this video verifies concept does work. (To be continued)

 

[ltlvt]

No pictures or videos today but the DRO is complete and works very well. I checked the accuracy with feeler gages, and it is exactly .001 off. I also checked it by machining some stock and the measurement verified it is exactly .001 off. Not a big deal for me much better than trying to read an indicator with my 72-year-old diabetic eyes. Seems I never have enough light anymore. I also tested out the power Z axis feed that I installed on the lead screw, and it works like a jewel. Haven't tried the power x axis yet but no reason it won't work as well. Considering it was my first and only cast-iron Half Nut to make I haven't been so happy since the Hogs ate my little brother.

 

[ltlvt]

Today's results were pretty impressive to me. 85-year-old lathe with new spindle bearings and homemade cross slide nut and EZ-View DRO mounted on magnetic bases yielded a finish cut of +.0002 above target. I have put a lot of time and effort into this old lathe rather than buy a new one because it was a gift from my brother about 3 years before he died. Before he got it the previous owner had it sitting outside in a sand field and if there is a level beyond worn out it was at that level. Lol Still not a beauty Queen but it's all Cast Iron and I cherish it.