| Gallery, Projects and General > How do I?? |
| Proxxon PD400 |
| (1/15) > >> |
| wongster:
Hello folks, Blessed New Year to all! I received the Proxxon PD400 lathe 3 days ago am am still getting myself familiar with it. This is a first time I have my hand on a lathe other than the Sherline. I encounter the problem of handwheels being too stiff to turn. Loosening the screw holding the handwheels make it easier for the cross slide and compound slide though not as smooth as what I have on the Sherline. I tried adjusting the gib without much success. The carriage and leadscrew handwheels are still giving me problem. Anyone with a similar lathe or the PD400 encountered this and found a solution? There are little resources available online and no user club. The manual that came with the lathe is rather skimpy. I've updated my blog with some pics of the slides taken apart. They look quite similar to the mini lathe on some aspect. Appreciate any help. Regards, Wong www.wongstersproduction.blogspot.com |
| Swarfing:
Wong For a new lathe i do not see a single bit of lubricant or grease on your pictures. Are you sure it just not needs a good dose of grease and oil? |
| David Jupp:
I can't see the condition of the slides very well - on many machines these aren't prepared to a very good standard at all. On my co-ordinate table I got a HUGE improvement in smoothness of travel by briefly lapping the slides with some lapping paste (making sure I cleaned up well afterwards). This did no more than remove the highest points of the (relatively roughly) machined surfaces - I didn't aim for a visibly smooth surface as I didn't want to risk losing correct alignment. I wasn't confident my lapping would be uniform across the whole slide. On higher cost machines, the slides would typically be scraped - this is just too costly in the production of budget machines. |
| wongster:
I put some grease on the dovetails and on the gibs. Pics taken after I did some cleaning up. For the leadscrew handwheel, it turns smoothly with the 1/2 nut disengaged. |
| grayone:
Hi Wong I have the very same lathe and as yet have not used it very much (being back overseas working again). I must admit that the long travel was a bit "sticky" until I got it proprly cleaned. I did not use grease just used engine oil, don't know if that is good or bad. It is still not as smooth as I would like and will still need to work on it a bit. What I have done but yet to use is bought some specific lubricant for the slideways. What I would say is that if you are struggling an email to Proxxon in Germany will be answered by the technical group. I have much of the attachments that you have bought (and a few more as well - my wife thinks I am a Proxxon collector or shareholder :D). I am curious about the problem with the ball turning device as I have that as well - have you managed to get it working yet? Graham |
| Navigation |
| Message Index |
| Next page |