Lead Screw protection

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Noitoen

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After mounting my 4 jaw chuck, I decided to make a faceplate for the lathe. To leave the face at a workable distance from my tool holder, I used a spur gear with a 100mm diameter, 30mm thick collar. Even with this distance, the nearest I can move my carriage to the face of the plate is about 44mm. This is because the lead screw's protection, made out of a spiral spring, when totally closed, makes a solid tube that prevents further movement.
Is there any alternative way to protect the lead screw if I remove the original protection?

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You could keep a brush close and clean it... Works for me.

The leadscrew protectors are a recent idea, more for 'health and safety' prevention of clothing and operators being dragged in by the screw than keeping the screw clean -.they are often fitted on home shop lathes, rare on older industrial machines.

As you discovered, they make it much less usable - perhaps the importers think the safest lathe is one that's not being used cos it can't do the job? :D

I'd just remove the covers.and remember to clean up, if it were mine!
 
Another vote for the brush. I have never had a problem with chips on the leadscrew. My lathe is kept clean and I frequently vacuum, clean leadscrews, Simple Green, general lubrication and checking for anything loose. At one time, I looked at those collapsible covers and, looking at the specs, could see the problem that you are having. It seems that faceplate turning or using a Keats Angle Plate would be a non-starter. It's your lathe, but if it were mine, I'd remove them.
 
I'm going to remove them and try to make half nut type of felt bushing to help clean when its rotating.
 
Take off the spiral and duct tape a bit of cardboard in position above the lead screw to keep chips off, just for this job. Look at Myford lathes, they just have a piece of flat metal mounted at an angle above the lead screw.
 
Take off the spiral and duct tape a bit of cardboard in position above the lead screw to keep chips off, just for this job. Look at Myford lathes, they just have a piece of flat metal mounted at an angle above the lead screw.
If I remove the spiral, I'll be left with a piece of tubing that can be seen in the photo with the larger diameter. That can serve as a deflector like the Myfords angled deflector. I'm removing the lead screw now to remove the spiral.
 
my lathe (the normal mini lathe) just has the lead screw sitting in the open. have not had any issues. i brush it of sometimes and lightly oil it.
 

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