A Second Cross-Slide Leadscrew

This article by Peter Shaw is the fi nal one of a series of articles exploring the techniques used when making a copy of an existing item such as the crossslide leadscrew and associated components.

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There is no intention to provide a full blow-by-blow account of these items, merely to use them to demonstrate the thinking and procedures involved in such a project. In this particular article, we shall look at the handwheel and handle, photos 1 and 2.

Handle

The handle, shown in photo 3, consists of a sleeve rotating around a bolt that is screwed into the handwheel. Note that there is a recess in the outer end of the sleeve to accommodate the bolt head and that the overall length of the sleeve is slightly less than that of the bolt head plus shank, excluding the screwed portion. Thus, the sleeve is free to rotate around the bolt yet is retained by the bolt head. To make the slot in the bolt head, mount the bolt in the three-jaw self-centering chuck in the lathe, and using a sharp lathe tool scribe a line across the bolt head whilst ensuring that the chuck does not rotate. The bolt may now be removed to the vice (with protection for the turned surface) and the slot cut with a hacksaw using the scribed line as a guide.

Handwheel