Denford Software & Machines

I think I have a little cross slide problem..

There seems to be some spongyness in the movement, no play in the Z axis, i.e, the gib strips are adjusted ok and the lead screw has not axis play, so it only leaves the nut, which seems to have ball bearings in it made of rubber as I can get 10 thou movement... but not a clonk clonk sort of movement, just sort of "flexes"

So to my question(s) Are these nuts adjustable? I don't want to take it to bits yet and is there a cross section available?

and merry xmas (or should that be seasontide?) to denford users & manufacturers

Was it OK before ?

Where do you see the movement ? on the tool or the saddle ?

Sounds like nut housing is loose maybe ?


I'll see if I can find an arrangement drawing of the X slide

Was it OK before ?

before what? before it left the factory

Well I've now moved up to servo's on it from the original steppers and the acuracy is much better, so it could well have been there all along, I've not stripped it at all lately. The problem shows itself on parallel turning, the tailstock end is a few thou bigger than the chuck end. Yes I've checked parallelism. The job's only hanging out the chuck 35mm dia 7mm with a reduction to 6mm. Anyway whether it's that or not I shouldn't be able to move the cross slide like that.

I've checked all over with a dti, and it's definitely the cross slide, I don't think the nut is loose, ther's no definite stop to the movement but I can get 10thou movement pushing & tugging on the tool post with dti on cross slide dialing against tailstock. Perhaps the bed is twisting

- I didn't know if you'd just bought it, or if its suddenly started.

Have you chekced the ballscrew is not floating up and down - either inside the bearings, or the bearings in their housings ?

Cutting a longer test piece may proove something - if its tapered for a bit, then parallel after that.....

Did you ever find out what it was?
'cos mine does it too

Nah, though I really should do.... I suspect the ball screw is shot....