Setting the Cross Slide Dial

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rmac
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Setting the Cross Slide Dial

Post by rmac »

Today I saw this in an email discussion group where they were talking about setting the cross slide on the lathe:
Always approach an OD cut by turning the dial clockwise and tapping the handle with your knuckle for the last .010-.020" to approach your reading. If you overshoot the mark you want, turn back a half turn of the dial and come back to the reading on the dial you want.
They gave the idea behind the technique as this:
It puts some tension on the leadscrew and tends to remove any "stiction" on the ways. Produces a much more accurate part than just trying to "turn the dial to the reading".
Is this common practice? I'd never heard of the "tap the handle with your knuckle" part before.

-- Russell Mac
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GlennW
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Re: Setting the Cross Slide Dial

Post by GlennW »

I can't say that I've tapped anything with my knuckle, but I always approach a dial reading from the same direction, toward the surface to be cut.
Glenn

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Bill Shields
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Re: Setting the Cross Slide Dial

Post by Bill Shields »

Depends on how many callouses and hair you have on your knuckles...
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
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rmac
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Re: Setting the Cross Slide Dial

Post by rmac »

GlennW wrote: I always approach a dial reading from the same direction, toward the surface to be cut.
Yeah, that's Backlash 101. It's the knuckle tapping thing that surprised me.
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ctwo
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Re: Setting the Cross Slide Dial

Post by ctwo »

It is a technique that might help you stop on your number. I see Abom79 do it. I don't usually do it but have.
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mcostello
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Re: Setting the Cross Slide Dial

Post by mcostello »

Don't You have a calibrated MK 1 knuckle to go with the MK1 eyeball?
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Bill Shields
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Re: Setting the Cross Slide Dial

Post by Bill Shields »

I am in mk 2 eyeballs...glasses
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Mr Ron
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Re: Setting the Cross Slide Dial

Post by Mr Ron »

I've always pulled back on the cross slide while turning in the cross feed. This takes out the slack in the screw.
Mr.Ron from South Mississippi
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