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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default More Douglas Shaper Workhead Modifications

    Back in 2011 I posted some details of a simple modification I made to the Douglas' workhead feed. The photos accompanying the thread evaporated long ago but below is the initial text of the thread.

    I always thought that the down feed screw and calibrated collar on the model of shaper that I have was close to useless. The lead screw was 1/2'' Whitworth. 0.0833" per revolution of the handle didn't make a lot of sense.

    I turned up a new 1/2" x 20 tpi leadscrew and a phosphor bronze nut to suit. I liked the feed dials on my little lathes so I made one to match. Unlike the lathe, which utilizes a thread to secure the non- rotating part of the collar, I simply bored out the tool head slide and installed a set screw to secure the collar.

    To install the bronze nut in the tool head base, I bored a blind hole into the face of the base to accommodate the nut and another blind hole, on the same centreline, from the rear for a 3/16" W cap screw which locks the nut in place.

    The collar is graduated in 0.001" increments and can be locked in position with a brass tipped thumb screw.

    The handle was located on the lead screw shaft with a ill fitting axial dowel. I could have installed a radial taper pin, but chose the easier option of turning up a new tight fitting dowel.

    In reality the modification wasn't as successful as I thought it might be. The graduated collar would bind on the fixed bush because the turning the hand crank tightened the entire assembly. Hercus achieved the same pretty much useless result in the design of the vertical milling slide's graduated collar which I addressed by installing a fixed cross pinned 'thrust' collar inside the rotatable graduated collar.

    IMG_20190911_135141409.jpg IMG_20190911_111832296.jpg IMG_20190911_120326916.jpg IMG_20190911_132125515.jpg

    The first exploded photo shows the stock Hercus components. There was more work involved but this is not the Hercus forum. Having had (IMO) success with the milling slide modification I thought the Douglas downfeed might benefit from a similar upgrade.

    70514817_127827545242869_6943186245006840762_n.jpg 69631663_100657271316483_4724306211930327126_n.jpg IMG_20190912_141111743.jpg

    The above photos show the original Douglas collar and my larger two piece 0.001" graduated collar prior to modification. I turned up a thrust collar from 1214 and cross pinned it to the leadscrew with a taper pin. The graduated collar was counterbored to accommodate the pinned collar. I did exercise some care to minimise end play when locating the collar while drilling and reaming the hole for the taper pin.

    IMG_20190913_130201784.jpg IMG_20190913_132041447_HDR.jpg IMG_20190913_132823391.jpg IMG_20190913_133946364.jpg

    There is now no binding and associated erroneous readings from the collar. It is free to rotate or be locked in position with its thumbscrew.

    BT

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Griffith NSW
    Posts
    435

    Default

    Great work mate. This is something Ive been contemplating, except making a conversion to metric (along with the other axis' as well). That dial is fantastic!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    I made similar modifications to one of my Hercus lathes, at the cross slide and compound slide.
    It eliminates errors caused by having the graduated collar subjected to thrust in the standard design.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    69
    Posts
    452

    Default shaper accuracy

    Hello from the old goat.
    My CMZ450 shaper has a coarse tool feed screw. If the slop is adjusted out of the gibs the downward movement is not too reliable. I think it may have been in Bradley's book I read about fine adjustment by the table height adjustment against a dial indicator. I have used this a bit and get to within a half thou most times when needed. After I retire I will fit a micrometer stop to the tool slide. Cheap micrometers are good for something.
    BC

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by steamloco1954 View Post
    Hello from the old goat.
    My CMZ450 shaper has a coarse tool feed screw. If the slop is adjusted out of the gibs the downward movement is not too reliable. I think it may have been in Bradley's book I read about fine adjustment by the table height adjustment against a dial indicator. I have used this a bit and get to within a half thou most times when needed. After I retire I will fit a micrometer stop to the tool slide. Cheap micrometers are good for something.
    BC
    BC,

    An adjustable stop on the tool slide / workhead would be a worthwhile addition. On the little Douglas I usually adjust the table height so that the correct depth of cut is achieved when the workhead bottoms out in its travel. I should add a couple of extra gib screws and a better lock than the spongy setup I have at present. Nothing like a bit of auto downfeed to spoil things!!!

    BT

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    melbourne, laverton
    Posts
    1,910

    Default very nice

    Good timing on your post. the work you did. Wow. I think mr dougles would be proud.
    I would of been tempted to upgrade the tool feed to metric. well some days that is.
    thanks

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