Talking of which.Just found the invoice. I had 250mm of tape with 5 micron resolution. Obviously I had a bit left over 'cause that's in the piccy above.
Mine: Apron is currently in-progress (which is pedestrian compared to some folks here )
There's more detail on Practical Machinist in the Monarch forum which I tend to regard as its 'ancestral home' but I now have two aprons completely dismantled and will be picking the best bits for mine.
View attachment 340518
One interesting thing coming to light is that the half nut mechanism is prone to damage from heavy handed operators that don't realize the feed reverse MUST be in the centre (neutral) position.
You might want to check that both upper and lower half nuts move on yours. I guess it would still work with only one of the half nuts engaged but the interlock works only on the bottom nut and this can happen:
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This is the 'spare'. Today I looked more closely at mine. It's been repaired here too.
Still loads to learn so please tell me.The detent rod is probably gummed up. On my monarch the push-pull knob was stuck and the lever gummed up also. I had to strip it down and oil it to make it work smoothly.
By the way, did you know that the two discs with holes in them in your pic are tension adjusters for the feed clutches. Each lever pulls in a clutch and you can set the amount of force before it slips by adjusting those discs. I have mine set so that they slip if the cross slide/saddle hits the travel limit so it doesn't break something important if I get distracted.
Also do you know how to use the knurled screw on the side of the cross slide dial housing?
Still loads to learn so please tell me.
Sorry for the slow response. We've been paddling (kayaking) all day getting some practice in for the Great Glen next month.Talking of which.
I moved the threading lever today . Now it falls down by itself very spooky.
I have had to choose a high tech option.
Why is it suddenly doing this?
That's worrying. Can you tell us any more about the failures or any clue as to their cause?Ive had a M-DRO magnetic strip on a M300 cross slide for the last 10yrs, takes up 2mm on the rear of the crossslide. The 120mm of mag tape has been replaced three times in the 10 years.
I dont see why, its more a nod to the reliability of the mag strip and encoder with no protection from swarf. Eventually a big bit get caught between the two, and digs a hole in the strip. Tare it off and stick a fresh bit on. Its never been a problemThat's worrying. Can you tell us any more about the failures or any clue as to their cause?
Ah OK. I didn't realize actually ON the cross slide . In that case they've done well!I dont see why, its more a nod to the reliability of the mag strip and encoder with no protection from swarf. Eventually a big bit get caught between the two, and digs a hole in the strip. Tare it off and stick a fresh bit on. Its never been a problem
I look forward to this and the pics, as it's something i have been contemplatingHaving said that. I intend on refitting both inside the cross slide, well out the way.
I have tried mine and does as it says but a few mm out - could that be backlash? Forgot to check if it is consistent or not though.That knurled knob is a threading stop. If you screw it in the cross slide will go 2 full turns and stop, 2 full turns back out and then stop. Repeats exactly every time. It's purpose is to allow you to quickly back out the cross slide when threading, go back to the start of your threading cut, add in some cutting depth on the compound then go back in the 2 turns up to the stop and start another threading pass. Makes accurate screwcutting a breeze.
Ah OK. I didn't realize actually ON the cross slide . In that case they've done well!
Hey Fizzy did you ever get to the bottom of this? My lever used to stay in place but now like yours it flops about wherever it wants to!Talking of which.
I moved the threading lever today . Now it falls down by itself very spooky.
I have had to choose a high tech option.
Why is it suddenly doing this?
View attachment 342111
It's probably the sprung detent plunger gummed up with old oil. It gets pushed back against the spring but it's too gummy for the spring to push it back out again.Hey Fizzy did you ever get to the bottom of this? My lever used to stay in place but now like yours it flops about wherever it wants to!
Nope not had a chance - elastic band does fineHey Fizzy did you ever get to the bottom of this? My lever used to stay in place but now like yours it flops about wherever it wants to!