Steve,
If there is room enough, put a small slug of Delrin or other hard plastic under the screw. It will lock the threads without damaging them.
RC

Quote

All of our work is 2.5 axis stuff. I would not want this system if I were doing 3 axis jobs. I just don't think the single 1/4-28 "bread and butter" bolt would survive through the long haul of repetitive up/down motion.

The bolt in mine that holds the ball nut mount in place on the quill is 3/8x24 tpi cap head allen screw , Mine has run aprox 30 hours a week for over 4 years with no problem

RT,
Was it originally 3/8....or did you open it up ?
Thanks,
RC

Think the Bridgeports are 3/8, will see if its in the manual but its definitely bigger than 1/4.
Hood

yep just looked its 3/8 UNF 5/8 long on the original.
Hood

3/8 would definitely be better than 1/4. We were gonna tap ours out bigger the next time we changed out the spindle bearings. We have never had any major issues with it, but it has loosened itself on occasion. I would recommend people at least being conscious of it. It's good that others haven't had the same problem.

Yes mine was originaly 3/8x24 (NF) also

Well Sam, I have had mine back out as well. Think maybe its because the spindle originally would run 5800 in higest gear. You know how it is, once I got the VFD wired, well hey! 

Brett

Good point RC, I always try to think of the most complicated way to do something
Having taken the cover off the head again I noticed the lug for the depth stop has been machined off so I'll have to make a jig and drill and tap the head in a few places, luckly it's quite easy to remove the quill because the rack and pinion feed is not there and it's all machined on the front.

Steve

G'Day Friends
Sorry to bring up such an old thread, but I’m just up to the point of making something for the quill now.
I like what hood has done on the 3rd page looks very neat and tidy. I was wondering if anyone had detailed drawings of theirs that they wouldn't mind sharing?

Thanks
Katoh