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BOXFORD IMPERIAL DIAL

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RussellT:
I understand from lathes.co.uk that Boxford metric machines were often fitted with imperial leadscrews.  I've never heard that the top and cross slide screws were actually imperial too.

When I have a minute I must try measuring mine.

Russell

GRIFFIN:
Just to confirm, it's not a metric lathe, it's an imperial lathe with an imperial gearbox. the only metric things were the dials.

Cheers, Griff.

SwarfnStuff:
         And if you had not told us the full story we would have simply thought it was a job well done. Still is, Actually. This hobby is full of learning how to make our mistakes look like they are an original feature. (At least that's what I try to do.)
    Great thinking to allow some material for rework if needed Griff. :beer:

John B

RussellT:
Hi Griff

I'm still curious.

My Boxford is a metric lathe.  It has metric dials, imperial leadscrew and imperial gearbox.  All the bolts etc are imperial.

I am wondering how you can tell it's an imperial lathe with metric dials.  Were the dials retrofitted?  Do you have documentation from the manufacturer?  Have you measured the feedcrews?  It seems odd to me to supply an imperial lathe with metric dials.

Russell

micktoon:
I had a similar thing on my Harrison L5 , the lathe was an imperial lathe, that is imperial gearbox and lead screw but with metric dials. I was told that schools changed over certain parts of lathes to make them 'metric'
  I think what has been mentioned might be right, that is they will have had a fully imperial lathe and to make it sort of 'metric' they will have retro fitted metric dials but also metric feedscrews so the dials read correctly, you could also then cut metric threads with the imperial lead screw with 127 change gears.
   From what I understand if you just swap the dial itself to metric but the feedscrew/nut is imperial it will not read correctly but if you replaced both the imperial feedscrew/nut and dial for a metric feedscrew/nut and dial all will be correct. In the day when they were wanting kids to get into metric thinking the main elements that move would be the crossslide and topslide so swapping these would make them work in metric.
  As mentioned I think you will have to set up a DTI clock gauge somehow on the lathe and then with your old or new dial fitted actually clock how much they move for say a full turn and check it is what either of the dials says , if the imperial dial checks out the feedscrew plus nut will be imperial and if the metric checks out it will be metric feedscrew and nut.
  I am sure I checked mine and it was correct to the metric readings and had metric feedscrews/nuts fitted but can not remember now. I was planning a DRO so did not go any further with altering things.

  Cheers Mick

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