I have just purchased a Boxford Lathe

[pressbrake1]

You can use the thread dial and half nuts but you still need to reverse, and follow a specific procedure.

A procedure that doesn’t require the poor thing slammed in reverse!

 

[123hotchef]

A procedure that doesn’t require the poor thing slammed in reverse!

thats when it breaks! right?????

 

[pressbrake1]

I prefer an imperial leadscrew tbh

 

[pressbrake1]

thats when it breaks! right?????

My mastiff for example has forward reverse and brake clutches
The boxford doesn’t so putting the electric motor in reverse from forward without stopping is cruel
The method Pete and myself mention will allow the machine to stop before reversing albeit motor powered or turning by hand

 

[brightspark]

yes situating and setting it up will take me a while i need to have a clear out, Do they have to be on dead level ground?

preferably but if not level with packing pieces till it is

 

[123hotchef]

preferably but if not level with packing pieces till it is

i may have to level the base with some concrete

 

[123hotchef]

That is a the tumbler reverse. It just reverses the lead screw rotation.

what does this enable?

 

[brightspark]

what does this enable?

travel left and right of saddle for thread cutting or automatic feed

 

[123hotchef]

travel left and right of saddle for thread cutting or automatic feed

i see to wind in and unwind

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

i may have to level the base with some concrete

Have a read here
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-and-history/leveling-grouting-114827/

 

[Pete.]

I don't think the Boxford's cabinet adds rigidity to the bed so just sitting fairly level on firm ground would do it.

 

[Seadog]

The boxford doesn’t so putting the electric motor in reverse from forward without stopping is cruel

You'd always have a stop position between forward and reverse.

A VFD, on the other hand, allows you to switch straight between forward and reverse.

 

[123hotchef]

I don't think the Boxford's cabinet adds rigidity to the bed so just sitting fairly level on firm ground would do it.

i will need to level up the area i have planned it is on a dodgy slope down away from the garage door

 

[Richard.]

It’s needs to be level I’d say. Certainly if your removing it from the cabinet take care bolting it back on doing the tightness in sequence opposite corners and a bit at a time making sure it’s sqeeky clean under the blocks. You can put slight twist in the bed if you don’t take care. I’d personally spend time getting it nice and level on all playing fields just to be safe.

 

[pressbrake1]

You'd always have a stop position between forward and reverse.

A VFD, on the other hand, allows you to switch straight between forward and reverse.

Yes and just using the stop will mean just coasting to a stop, not so good with the half nuts engaged!
Also I think the boxford has a threaded spindle nose so quick transition to reverse might not go well.

 

[Dcal]

On mine I just epoxies some 12mm thread bar into the floor and put a nut and washer each side of the mounting holes in the cabinet.
I could then adjust / twist it to get erything levels / solid.
Worked a treat and absolutely no rock or movement and a really solid base for adjusting the bed.
The whole thing is so light that in reality gravity isn't much help

 

[RichardM]

http://www.boxford-software.com/spares/3656menu.html

Parts Diagrams ^^^^^^.

Yahoo has a Boxford users group. I used to be a member years ago but keep forgetting my password!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BoxfordLathe-UserGroup/

Know you Lathe, if you have the plusnet version photos aren't that good, looks like the same copy here:

https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=547F...1448&parId=547FE296ECFD561F!164&action=locate

 

[Seadog]

Yes and just using the stop will mean just coasting to a stop, not so good with the half nuts engaged!
Not with either VFD I have. The VFD uses the ramp configuration to slow to a stop and then accelerate in reverse.

And yes, going hard into reverse could cause the chuck to unscrew, unless you have a means of clamping it to the spindle.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

On mine I just epoxies some 12mm thread bar into the floor and put a nut and washer each side of the mounting holes in the cabinet.
I could then adjust / twist it to get erything levels / solid.
Worked a treat and absolutely no rock or movement and a really solid base for adjusting the bed.
The whole thing is so light that in reality gravity isn't much help

Mine is on machine feet at the moment but once I'm sure it's staying put il probably do the same.

 

[Seadog]

Yahoo has a Boxford users group.

They do, but it's still living in the 90s. A few of us suggested changing the hosting and forum format to something more like this. One of the members even offered to do it FOC, but too many old fuddy-duddies and reactionaries. Consequently there's now a Facebook Group. It's run by Mark Lord who repairs and breaks Boxfords. A good source of reasonably priced spares too.