New saddle plates for my 7x12.

[websterz]

I have a nice variety of material choices available to me...360 brass, bearing bronze, mild steel, drill rod, nylon, 6061 T6...maybe even some cast iron bits I can mill down to suit.

I want to redo the plates on this lathe so I can adjust them from the top with self-locking capscrews for vibration resistance. I do a lot of parting work and keeping the saddle snug is a real chore with the current setup. The original plates are brittle Chinese cast iron which will eventually give out and crack. I want to replace them before that. What material, or combination or materials, will give the best result?

[bogstandard]

W,

Can you show or explain a bit more on what you mean by 'saddle plates'.

Once we know exactly what bit it is, I am sure we can make a good recommendation for you.

John

[ozzie46]

 Bogs, I believe he is referring to the gibs. The ones you replaced  with tapered gibs on Darrens lathe.

Ron

[bogstandard]

Thanks Ron,

Then I would suggest a bit of a read from this part of the post,

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=627.msg3898#msg3898

Also shows a site where you can go to to read up about it.

Bogs

[websterz]

Yeah...gibs...not sure what I was thinking.  I don't really think of them as gibs since they are flat plates...I had dovetail gibs on my mind. 
Looks like I have a bit of work ahead of me. I should have my surface grinder running in a day or two...might as well go full Monty on the lathe and start from the bottom up.  With a bit of careful setup wizardry I can grind the critical surfaces of the casting, as my mini-mill is too small to do it the other way round.

[sbwhart]

Yeah...gibs...not sure what I was thinking.  I don't really think of them as gibs since they are flat plates...I had dovetail gibs on my mind. 
Looks like I have a bit of work ahead of me. I should have my surface grinder running in a day or two...might as well go full Monty on the lathe and start from the bottom up.  With a bit of careful setup wizardry I can grind the critical surfaces of the casting, as my mini-mill is too small to do it the other way round.

Looks like you've got the project weill planned  don't foget to post a few pics so we can follow you along the way.

Cheers

Stew

[cedge]

Over at http://www.mini-lathe.com/NewUser/default.asp They offer a mod for making the gib adjustment from the top side. I've never subscribed, but the price is cheap and the mods they put up are generally pretty darned good. Might be worth the price not to have to reinvent the wheel.

Steve

[Darren]

For some reason I have never been able to see that site via my ISP?

[Stilldrillin]

For some reason I have never been able to see that site via my ISP?

Me too an all! 

[Darren]

I'm with Tiscali, what's yours?

I may change mine soon and would wish to avoid a repeat performance 

[Stilldrillin]

I'm with Tiscali, what's yours?

I may change mine soon and would wish to avoid a repeat performance 

aol....... 

[websterz]

Over at http://www.mini-lathe.com/NewUser/default.asp They offer a mod for making the gib adjustment from the top side. I've never subscribed, but the price is cheap and the mods they put up are generally pretty darned good. Might be worth the price not to have to reinvent the wheel.

Steve

I subscribed several months ago...the carriage lock design alone is worth the $25.00 AFAIAC!! 

I am going to go all out and install tapered gibs...I might as well do it right, eh?