Author Topic: Leadscrew nut material  (Read 10472 times)

Offline John Rudd

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Leadscrew nut material
« on: October 14, 2015, 05:20:21 AM »
What are the preferences for material for making leadscrew nuts from?
I'd like to make new one for my Ajax mill's Y axis which has been bastardised.....Its been cut with a BSW thread which Im sure isnt original....

The material used looks like Phos B.....but to buy a piece the same size is going to be a kings ransom....

How about cast iron? ( meehanite? )
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Offline Fergus OMore

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2015, 06:44:37 AM »
John

Will it tin?. I did one years ago on a Pools Major lathe with a thin tinning with the feed screw in but it was covered in soot to stop the lead/tin sticking.

You'll need a lot of muscle to free the screw but it does work.


Why not try it

The alternative is to put a split in the nut- and nip it up.

Hope this helps

Norman

Offline John Rudd

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2015, 07:59:46 AM »
Norman,
The issue is the block that forms the nut is about 1" thick and measures approx 1-3/4 square....

It looks like it has been fashioned from an offcut or scrap piece of phos-b....then a hole drilled and threaded 3/4 bsw....I dont believe the thread is original....so my plan is to make a new lead screw and nut with a finer thread....either bsf or bsc....
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Offline awemawson

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2015, 10:23:07 AM »
Would it not be more satisfactory to buy a length of trapezoidal threaded bar and matching nut, and fit the nut to your existing one?

something similar to:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultimaker-DIY-Trapezoidal-Lead-Screw-Nut-Kit-Z-Axis-T12-3-Screw-Rod-for-3D-/151498865030?hash=item2346093986

Halifax Rack & Screw carry loads of Metric and Imperial lead screws and nuts:

http://www.hrs-ccl.co.uk/
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline Bluechip

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2015, 10:48:45 AM »
Halifax Rack & Screw

Can we Pre-book or do we have to queue up behind all the politicians and clergy ???

Dave

I have a few modest talents. Knowing what I'm doing isn't one of them.

Offline chipenter

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2015, 11:19:58 AM »
Cast iron's good my 40 year old mill nuts are cast iron with very little end play on 1" x 10 tpi .
Jeff

Offline John Rudd

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2015, 11:26:08 AM »
Andrew, I dont want to spend too much money......thnx anyway.... :)

Jeff,
Your suggestion gets my vote...
I have some suitable ci material ..... :dremel:

Thanks....  :thumbup:
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Offline chipenter

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2015, 11:29:59 AM »
Come to think on it my Seig x1 mill nuts where cast iron to .
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Machine-Spares/Super-X1-Spares
Jeff

Offline Manxmodder

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2015, 03:32:21 PM »
Halifax Rack & Screw

Can we Pre-book or do we have to queue up behind all the politicians and clergy ???

Dave

 :lol: :lol: Very good.....OZ.
Helixes aren't always downward spirals,sometimes they're screwed up

Offline nrml

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2015, 03:04:51 PM »
I've had this link saved for ages. It looks like a very good idea. http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/threads/43645-Making-Acetal-leadscrew-nuts-the-easy-way

Offline naffsharpe (Nathan)

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #10 on: November 16, 2015, 03:34:32 PM »
John, I have a length of cored PB which has been knocking around the workshop for years, with some work on the mill you should be able to produce your required size. I'm happy to cut a length off and post it if you wish for postage costs only.

Nathan.

Offline jcs0001

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #11 on: November 16, 2015, 05:38:11 PM »
Nrml:

Acetal leadscrew:

I thought of that also.  It looks like a good inexpensive way to get a good fit on a lead screw.

John.

Offline efrench

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #12 on: November 16, 2015, 08:34:43 PM »
I used the 'Evanut' process to make all of the Acetal leadscrew nuts on my CNC router.  They are very easy to make and have zero backlash.

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #13 on: November 17, 2015, 09:23:46 AM »
If I remember correctly, the leadscrew nuts on my Atlas mill were aluminum bronze. I've never cast the stuff, but had wanted to try a homebrew mix to check it out some day.
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
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Offline John Rudd

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #14 on: November 17, 2015, 10:33:26 AM »
Gents,

Thanks for all of your helpful suggestions.
Nut issue now resolved since using aluminium block to make a new one...
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Offline Manxmodder

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #15 on: November 17, 2015, 05:43:07 PM »
John,glad to see you got it sorted but also to add that I have made a couple of the acetal plastic Evanuts made by the hot forming process described a few posts further up the page.

They are really good with zero backlash.You may wish to give the technique a try if you need another nut for a lead screw....OZ.
Helixes aren't always downward spirals,sometimes they're screwed up

Offline rythmnbls

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Re: Leadscrew nut material
« Reply #16 on: November 18, 2015, 02:42:44 PM »
John,glad to see you got it sorted but also to add that I have made a couple of the acetal plastic Evanuts made by the hot forming process described a few posts further up the page.

They are really good with zero backlash.You may wish to give the technique a try if you need another nut for a lead screw....OZ.

+1

I couldn't agree more, I have 3 of them in my mini mill CNC conversion and love em, best thing since beer in pubs  :beer:

Best regards,

Steve.