When SIEG launched their Super C3 HiTorque Mini Lathe, the addition
of a leadscrew cover looked like the perfect way of keeping swarf
out of the leadscrew threads. However, nothing in life is perfect and this is
certainly true with the leadscrew cover.
In order to make space for the leadscrew cover, the SIEG design engineers
had to make a compromise and change from a pair of half nuts (as fitted to
the older C3 Mini Lathe) to a single half nut beneath the leadscrew and a
fixed “hook” above it to prevent the leadscrew bending when the half nut is
engaged.
Mechanically, the half nut / hook arrangement takes a lower load than
a pair of half nuts when using the auto feed to take a heavy cut. This is
acceptable for most users and keeps your leadscrew clear of swarf.
However, some users prefer the traditional use of 2 half nuts to ensure
greater accuracy and load capability. For them
the task to convert the machine to use a pair of
half nuts is covered by this guide. The downside
to this is that there simply isn’t enough space
above the leadscrew for the cover and the top
half nut so you will have to periodically clean the
leadscrew threads. There is also the increased
health & safety risk of having an exposed
leadscrew which the user needs to take into
consideration.
This guide applies to:
• SIEG Super C2 HiTorque Mini Lathes.
• SIEG Super C3 HiTorque Mini Lathes.
• Some SIEG C2 Mini Lathes.
© Arc Euro Trade Ltd, England 2014
© Arc Euro Trade Ltd, England 2014
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1. Remove the tailstock from the bed (as you can probably tell,
this is a display model!).
3. Remove the right hand leadscrew bracket.
5. Remove the 2 hex socket head screws that fix the apron to the saddle and carefully slide the apron off the end of the leadscrew.
4. Slide out the leadscrew cover.
2. Remove the 4 screws retaining the leadscrew cover.
