The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Mini-Lathe: Threading Dial Alignment

    As received, the mini-lathe’s threading dial was misaligned by about 1/4 division, which is nearly halfway to the next engagement point midway between the divisions:

    Mini-Lathe Threading Dial - as received - colorized
    Mini-Lathe Threading Dial – as received – colorized

    I added the red lacquer crayon while contemplating what to do, because I thought the dial was swaged onto the shaft. It turns out to be threaded, so I marked where the dial should be, grabbed the shaft in the (soft-jawed) bench vise, and twisted the dial with a Vise-Grip until it lined up:

    Mini-Lathe Threading Dial - aligned
    Mini-Lathe Threading Dial – aligned

    Well, it’s closer than it was, OK?

    There’s about that much slop on either side of the index line coming from the loose gear engaging the leadscrew, so that’s as good as it gets.