Colchester triumph resurfacing?

[minimutly]

I have a long bed round top Triumph. I bought it cheap 25 plus years ago and basically just cleaned it up, had a pair of bushes brazed into the auto feed claw (it's the one that engages the lead screw, I expect there will be another name for it), and used it. It has horrible wear on the bedway near the chuck end which means quite often having to adjust the tailstock.
My question to the lathe rebuilders and toolmakers on here is - what is my best option for correcting this?
I'm not likely to rush into this right now, especially if it means sending the bedway away to be ground, but one day when I retire, or sell off some of my other projects.

 

[scottmk1]

Having it re ground is the proper way to do it. The claw you mentioned is probably the half nuts for screw cutting, I'm not sure if your machine has a separate feed drive like some lathes do, either way you could probably buy either new or good used replacement nuts.

 

[pressbrake1]

There is no easy way
As there’s virtually no heavy machine shops not so many people with planers or grinders.
I mean no insult when I say I wouldn’t want to spend my retirement scraping in a Colchester bed from worn condition

 

[minimutly]

Having it re ground is the proper way to do it. The claw you mentioned is probably the half nuts for screw cutting, I'm not sure if your machine has a separate feed drive like some lathes do, either way you could probably buy either new or good used replacement nuts.

Well no, the "claw" as I called it was the bit that travels along the auto feed slotted rod and then clamps on the feed screw, the are seperate, and do different things - ie auto feed/screwcutting. The halfnuts were fine. I described it without picturing it in my mind (it was 25+ years ago...)

There is no easy way
As there’s virtually no heavy machine shops not so many people with planers or grinders.
I mean no insult when I say I wouldn’t want to spend my retirement scraping in a Colchester bed from worn condition

No, it wouldn't be my idea of fun either - even if I thought I could do it...
So, does anyone know who might be able to do this reliably and accurately?
Thanks.

 

[minimutly]

Well no, the "claw" as I called it was the bit that travels along the auto feed slotted rod and then clamps on the feed screw, the are seperate, and do different things - ie auto feed/screwcutting. The halfnuts were fine. I described it without picturing it in my mind (it was 25+ years ago...)

No, it wouldn't be my idea of fun either - even if I thought I could do it...
So, does anyone know who might be able to do this reliably and accurately?
Thanks.

Ok, to answer my own question here - could I make my own grinder - say using ground steel stock to make a bedway and mount a grinder on it? It does feel do-able, but the potential for cocking it up feels even more do-able....

 

[Munkul]

How long a bed is it? There are plenty of 3-4m surface grinders around in machine shops if you ask around, it's a big-ish job to set the V tongue angles etc but can be done. There are also a couple of lathe bed refinishers down south I think they were on practicalmachinist forums?

I can't see a homemade grinder setup working very well at all. I mean, you're wanting accuracy aren't you?

 

[God mode restorations]

As mentioned above. There isn't hardly any machine shops around with the correct machine to do the task. One that requires high levels of accuracy . And a deep wallet would be needed.

 

[Seadog]

Slideway Services in Nuneaton were reasonably priced, from what I've heard, but he's retiring soon and may not be accepting any more work.

http://www.slidewayservices.co.uk/

Also - http://www.unislidegrinding.co.uk/slideway-grinding/

 

[pressbrake1]

Brian at Slideway services was reasonable he would have been £3000 to £4000 including turcite crossslide and allignment if you sent him the complete machine
He’s retired though he said a lad from Kent has bought his equipment
Unislide will be at least double
There are a few large surface grinders about but unless they have the vees and required measuring equipment they may not be interested. Can be done but pita with a non swivel head grinder. I used to use a snow hydratopic (wrong spelling) back when I did it for a living
Option 2 I know a chap with a planer so it could be planed and scrapped which I could do for you

 

[Pete.]

As above Sideways packed up at Christmas. My three lathe beds were his last paying work far as I know. No idea if the new guy has got it all going yet but there has to be a steep learning curve (for him) if anyone fancies being a guinea pig.
It would have to be a big surface grinder - sideways' small one weighed 11 tons I think.

 

[pressbrake1]

Spoke to Brian, he’s forwarding the buyers details.
I’m going to see if he will let me pay to use the machine as Pete said Im not completely trusting in a novice doing the work

 

[minimutly]

Brian at Slideway services was reasonable he would have been £3000 to £4000 including turcite crossslide and allignment if you sent him the complete machine
He’s retired though he said a lad from Kent has bought his equipment
Unislide will be at least double
There are a few large surface grinders about but unless they have the vees and required measuring equipment they may not be interested. Can be done but pita with a non swivel head grinder. I used to use a snow hydratopic (wrong spelling) back when I did it for a living
Option 2 I know a chap with a planer so it could be planed and scrapped which I could do for you

Couple of things I don't understandthere "turcide crosslides"?
Also, I had envisaged the headstock would be removed and the whole thing just machined from one end to the other - I guess this was being too simplistic?

 

[pressbrake1]

Couple of things I don't understandthere "turcide crosslides"?
Also, I had envisaged the headstock would be removed and the whole thing just machined from one end to the other - I guess this was being too simplistic?

Youtube is your friend, research it to see what involved

 

[addjunkie]

https://bluediamondmachinetools.co.uk/rebuilding-services/

Think these folk do it too. But never used them, only been told of work they have done, but suspect itll be cheaper to buy another machine

 

[Seadog]

it could be planed and scrapped

That extra P makes all the difference

 

[pressbrake1]

That extra P makes all the difference

Im so close to putting my stupid I phone in the pressbrake. I read posts ive written and its changed enough words to make it seem like im drunk or incapable of proper spelling and grammar....

 

[Seadog]

I feel your frustration, my S8 is no better

 

[pressbrake1]

Spoke to the chap who bought Brian’s stuff. Hopefully there’s going to be a collaboration between us.
Found out some interesting things regarding one of the big grinders which was ex myford

 

[Pete.]

Couple of things I don't understandthere "turcide crosslides"?
Also, I had envisaged the headstock would be removed and the whole thing just machined from one end to the other - I guess this was being too simplistic?

Some things mount to the bed, like screwcutting gearbox, leadscrews, feed rods etc. If you grind the bed end to end the headstock, tailstock, saddle apron etc all move down but anything fixed to the bed doesn't move so things no longer line up. Add to that wear to the saddle underside ways and you end up with the sliding assembly so low that the half nuts either won't engage or when they do they start to carry the weight of the saddle on the screw. So to raise things up to back to where they belong you use Turcite/Rulon/Marlon/Moglice which also have the benefit of lower friction and less wear to the newly ground bedways.

 

[Hopefuldave]

If you're brave and don't get bored / tired easily, and the tailstock ways are still in good shape (they usually are)...

Dave H. (the other one)