My new to me Milling Machine...well it is a 35 years old Warco A2F

[Pete.]

I think my 63 yr old machine is still on it's original (cast iron) y-axis nut.

 

[Maker]

There's backlash in my mills X axis so I presume the Y/Z axis's will be the same, new nuts to be fitted/made.

The Z axis has helical gears between the nut and the handwheel so there'll be backlash here too.

 

[Pete.]

Backlash on Z doesn't matter because gravity will always take it up.

 

[zzr1200]

The Z axis has helical gears between the nut and the handwheel so there'll be backlash here too.

Maker, perfectly aware of the possibility of backlash in the gears but unless they are totally worn out which they don't seem to be, I'll not know until it been inspected.

Backlash on Z doesn't matter because gravity will always take it up.

Pete, I totally agree gravity will remove any wear in the Z axis leadscrew nut. I don't know if you have ever watched Doubleboost's video on his mill rebuild after he purchased it, but he mentions that the Z axis's nut appears to/ could be made from Brass and has been known to strip allowing the knee/table to drop causing injury.

I know DB's mill is a slightly different model to mine, but it does comes from the same family/factory and a lot newer than mine, so I'll still work on the theory that it may need replacing if it doesn't that's a bonus.

Anyway a DRO would sort out any bachlash's in the X/Y/Z axis's graduations dial's, but it won't stop a worn out leadscrew nuts from stripping half way through a job, which would be a right royal pain in the posterior .....