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What th best way to mount scale on cross slide
- Thread starter Tom Bates
- Start date
What size lathe is this? Looks like an import 10-by or 12-by (or larger), no?
I installed mine "kinda" following Lee's install in this video. It did require me to set the backstop back a few inches, maybe 4"? No where near home or I'd have a pic. (**edit to add) I like it in this location as its easier to keep fluids and swarf off of it. It did require drilling & tapping a couple holes in the carrage & crosslide.
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If you have a mill, machine small triangular spacers with holes through them, then drill and tap holes at the apex of that V-groove.
14x40 supermax
You should have enough space on the cross slide to just bolt a slim profile scale right to it.
This is my friend's lathe (smaller than yours) and he had plenty of space to mount a small Aikron scale at the front of the cross slide (you can kind of see it...):
You have a number of issues in trying to mount a scale, in particular if you are using a glass scale. A magnetic scale would be much easier mount in that the scale is about 1/4" thick. You also have the option of mounting flat against the cross slide (grey orientation) and even could glue the scale on, or one can mount it 90 degrees so the magnetic strip faces down (blue orientation). You could mount some mounting brackets off of either end of the cross slide avoiding the gib adjustment screws. I put a cross slide lock on the headstock side that mounts to the follow rest holes. In some cases one can put a slim scale on the headstock side, but exposes the scale to a much higher degree of swarf, contamination and clearance issues with the chuck.
My lathe is similar to the other 2 lathes pictured. I chose to put a magnetic scale on the tail stock side and b/c it's so compact i don't lose any travel. There is also plenty of room to have put it on the the head stock side as well.
I drilled and tapped a hole in the front of the cross slide. I built a bracket for the back of the cross slide and attached it by drilling and tapping holes on the end. The read head was attached to a spacer bracket on the top of the carriage.
Hopefully this makes sense - but to me magnetic scales are mounted 90* off from glass scales. The read head typically comes out the bottom of the glass scale and would be mounted so the the side of the magnetic scale that is affixed to the cross slide would be the top of the glass scale. It might be that one or the other works better for your mounting scenario - magnetic will typically be a bit more money.
The design of the carriage of your lathe it looks like there's a spot right in the middle where the read head could be easily mounted. The style that has been shown so far has the gib adjusting screws on the tail stock side. You could likely mount the scale on either side - whichever you prefer.
I would not recommend welding on your late. Drilling a hole and tapping it is preferable.
I drilled and tapped a hole in the front of the cross slide. I built a bracket for the back of the cross slide and attached it by drilling and tapping holes on the end. The read head was attached to a spacer bracket on the top of the carriage.
Hopefully this makes sense - but to me magnetic scales are mounted 90* off from glass scales. The read head typically comes out the bottom of the glass scale and would be mounted so the the side of the magnetic scale that is affixed to the cross slide would be the top of the glass scale. It might be that one or the other works better for your mounting scenario - magnetic will typically be a bit more money.
The design of the carriage of your lathe it looks like there's a spot right in the middle where the read head could be easily mounted. The style that has been shown so far has the gib adjusting screws on the tail stock side. You could likely mount the scale on either side - whichever you prefer.
I would not recommend welding on your late. Drilling a hole and tapping it is preferable.
When I have had to mount a scale an irregular surface, I have used a backing plate. I would drill and tap mounting holes and use shims to square the plate. Once I was satisfied with the setup, I would fill the gap behind the backing plate with JB weld. If you want to be able to remove the backing plate, place a piece of polyethylene film behind the plate. After the epoxy sets up, remove the plate and strip the film and remount the plate.
I have a glass scale