Cross slide is working smoothly now, but I don't have gib screws for it yet.
I spent some time today trying to decide what to about the cross slide upper surface. I thought about tee-slots but I didn't like the thought of weakening the nice 3/4" thick surface I have now. If it was an inch thick to start with, I might have milled the slots in.
I could add more metal and fabricate tee slots that way, as I did for the Craftsman boring table I made a couple summers ago. But that raises the table itself, so you can't do as much with it.
I'm considering just drilling the top with a regular grid of tapped holes. Those leave the table much stronger than tee slots, and it gives me a big flat surface to mount things on as well as keeping the table lower.
I'm also thinking carefully about what kind of tool post I want. I already have both lantern style and a round post Norman QCTP with toolholders made up for both the Craftsman and Gingery lathes, so it would be logical to go with that QCTP. style.
But I've long wanted to try out the style of tool holders and system written about by Robert M Rose in M.E (Nov 1972: 3452, 3453, setting Aug 1972: 3446). These are just simple tall blocks that clamp directly onto the cross slide (or top slide) no dovetailed QC tool holder or round post and block holders.
I like the simplicity and flexibility of positioning, and the fact that they do a better job of supporting the tool than the post and block type can, yet take up little space and are easily removed for other kinds of table operations
Another advantage I see in trying to figure the geometry of where to mount things along the cross slide-- It is easier to move these toolholders anywhere along the table to keep the cross slide clear of wide diameter work. I like the design of the base of the toolholder resting directy on the cross slide when the topslide is not needed. There is total support with no bending force on a post.
Much of what I've done in designing this lathe is to increase the rigidity and support of every part, and I think these toolholders will advance that philosophy. They are slightly less convenient than the usual types of QCTP, but for a small lathe like this I think they have the advantage of minimal overhang and solid bearing. A larger lathe can feature a massive enough QCTP that rigidity is not an issue, but I believe a small lathe like this can see a benefit.
Another nice thing about both the grid holed table, and the Rose style toolholders is that both are even easier to make than the usual types we see these days.