Forgive me if my inexperience shows, but I recently acquired a KO Lee 618 sight unseen and I'm looking to shed some light on either my ignorance or a problem in the crossfeed. Overall, it's in okay condition for what looks to be a late 70s model. It's now in my shop, and I have had issues with the X axis handwheel transmission assembly. When I turn the handwheel, the table doesn't move, and when I push the table across, the handwheel spins with it. In as few words, it slips.
It is a belt and cog drive, riding on a set of ball bearing ways. Both the cog, and the belt are in fine condition no missing teeth and tension is fine. I have broken down the cog and bearings that press the belt to the cog, and the woodruff key on the end of the transmission shaft is there as well. Now I have taken the transmission out completely, and I haven't broken it down before I study the parts manuals.
Now here's the big question that could be my mistake:
Do these handwheel transmissions on belt and cog drives typically slip to save the belt when coming up against excess forces?
Or is the transmission in need of repair overall?
Now, if it is normal slippage in the mechanism, it is most likely down to the ball ways being gummed up with the old grease of which there is still a lot, otherwise nothing binds up and the ways do not seem to have any scoring. If so, should I lubricate the ball ways with an oil or simply regrease with some good SKF?
Could belt tension also play a factor? It was very tight, perhaps too much so.
Typically, how easily should the table slide along the X axis?
Thanks for any help in advance.
It is a belt and cog drive, riding on a set of ball bearing ways. Both the cog, and the belt are in fine condition no missing teeth and tension is fine. I have broken down the cog and bearings that press the belt to the cog, and the woodruff key on the end of the transmission shaft is there as well. Now I have taken the transmission out completely, and I haven't broken it down before I study the parts manuals.
Now here's the big question that could be my mistake:
Do these handwheel transmissions on belt and cog drives typically slip to save the belt when coming up against excess forces?
Or is the transmission in need of repair overall?
Now, if it is normal slippage in the mechanism, it is most likely down to the ball ways being gummed up with the old grease of which there is still a lot, otherwise nothing binds up and the ways do not seem to have any scoring. If so, should I lubricate the ball ways with an oil or simply regrease with some good SKF?
Could belt tension also play a factor? It was very tight, perhaps too much so.
Typically, how easily should the table slide along the X axis?
Thanks for any help in advance.
