Need to make my own lathe gear

[solarman216]

As title my lathe screw feed has a badly worn gear that is no longer available so will have to make my own, not a straightforward job I might add, but when pushed into a corner one has to respond, plus I have very little time to spare at this time but I need my lathe so has to be done, not formulated exactly how I am going to do this yet, tomorrow I will post a pic of the said gear and a rough idea as to how I will go about it, Rick

 

[jims-terrano]

Hi Rick, don’t know if it’s of any use but an ex member from here that still remembers you has a engineering company in Leeds. He takes on small jobs like that.
If you’re interested drop me a PM and I’ll let you have his details.

Mind you knowing you Rick, you are so resourceful this probably won’t pose a real problem for you mate.

 

[solarman216]

Thanks Jim I will bear it in mind if I get into trouble, this is a pic of the problem gear

 

[solarman216]

Another pic, the plan is to cut the bad gear off and machine a dog clutch into the land before the large gear, then using the the bad gear as a template cut new teeth onto a bit of stock steel, then bore it out to take a bush for the shaft, then machine a mating dog clutch to the large gear, once assembled onto the shaft the dog will make them effectively locked together, Rick

 

[solarman216]

Decided to make it out of brass, so found a lump of stock for the job

 

[solarman216]

Turned to correct diameter

 

[solarman216]

Ready to cut old gear off

 

[solarman216]

Cut and captured

 

[solarman216]

Old gear mounted and ready for marking, I do not have an index plate so has to be done by eye

 

[solarman216]

Cutting with a mounted disc cutter

 

[solarman216]

Starting the chamfer cuts

 

[solarman216]

Bit more work to do yet, Rick

 

[jims-terrano]

That looks great Rick

 

[solarman216]

It is not bad Jim, finished it off this evening as got a job come in for tomorrow, this is the jobbie, had to take the pic on my phone as forgot the Nikon

 

[solarman216]

And fitted to the lathe and all good, I agree the brass is a lot softer than the steel it replaced, but it is more than 60 years old, if my one lasts a few years it will do me, I will go to bed tonight a very happy bunny, Rick

 

[jims-terrano]

That’s a fine job that Rick, mind you brass being softer than steel could that make it a sacrificial component to save the rest of the gears should something go wrong. Call it a safety modification and sound all clever.

I’ve never tried a metal lathe, I loved the wood turning lathes at school.

Lathes used to be made at a company in the town I grew up in, the tall part of the cases were stored outside. When mum walked me and my brother to grandma’s house I thought they looked like an army of darleks or robots. It was only when I moved to senior school and saw the lathes that I recognised the shapes of the cases and then recognised the company name. Sadly the company is history now and gone the way of the rest of this country’s manufacturing industry of this once great nation.

 

[solarman216]

Yes Jim I am more than happy with it, I did dress the mating gear with a fine file and then emery paper to remove any rough edges, but also there is the fact that a softer metal can last longer than the harder metal it is mating with due to the fact that as wear takes place the softer embeds hard particles and then becomes aggressive to hard part, an engine crankshaft is of particular note, hardened journals and soft white metal shells, yes Jim we used to be a great country but not any more, our rulers have lost the plot, lining their own pockets and eff the country, best regards to you and yours Rick