Power lead screw for 7x12.

[Shawn]

I love the placement of the motor, I did a similar modification to my SB 9" and use it all the time. I could use the gears on the lathe itself but this is so much quieter and I'm not stuck with whatever gearing I had installed last time I cut a thread. I don't have a QCGB so setting the feed rate is a bit more involved than a couple levers. Having a variable feed rate would be even nicer. I used step pulleys but found I was using only one step 95% of the time so it has never left that postion in the past year. The feed rate leaves a nice finish and I'm never in a rush so I'm not really concerned about anything else.

I'm using what I had on hand so it's a 1/2 HP motor driving a 25:1 speed reduction drive to a pulley on the leadscrew. I bought a another leadscrew bearing for my lathe on Ebay because I couldn't bring myself to cut into the existing one. If I ever decide to remove the drive (doubtful) I can simply install the original bearing back on.





Shawn