I installed a new Servo 150 X-axis powerfeed on my Bridgeport maybe a year ago.
It has worked correctly since then until yesterday, when it suddenly stopped. I
was milling a chunk of unknown aluminum with a 1½" indexable carbide mill with 3
inserts, cut was .050" deep, feed pretty stout. It had been cutting under those
conditions just fine (using kerosene as a lubricant/coolant) but suddenly
mid-cut it just stopped. I didn't hear any ominous noises, no *crunch*, no
electrical type noises, no smoke or smell of electrical issues. I removed the
crank handle and slid off the bronze gear, and activated the switch - pinion was
turning smoothly in both directions. I put the bronze gear back on (didn't
remove any shims) and held it with my fingers and hit the lever. It felt like
the teeth weren't fully meshing, in fact they were just barely touching. I
removed one of the thick shims and reinstalled everything, now it feeds fine but
I don't know if the backlash is adjusted correctly anymore.

Nor does it make much sense how the gears could have worked their way apart to
the point where they didn't even mesh.

My problem is I discarded the instructions as to how to set the backlash. I
don't have a contact at Servo, don't know how to reach them. Does anyone know
how to set the backlash correctly in a Servo powerfeed unit? It's the 150 oz-in
one, if that matters.

Grant Erwin
Kirkland, Washington

I'm not sure what you mean by backlash.
I assume you are referring to the gear tooth mesh.
As a quick and dirty cheat on heavy gears, like change gears on a lathe, we
have used paper in between the gears as a spacer.
If you want a better method, prussion blue is applied to the mating teeth,
and the mesh adjusted intil the contact point is approximately in the center
of the gear tooth.

There is probably a more eloquent way to put it, but that's the best I can
do.
Also, check a copy of machinery's handbook, it always gives invaluable info
..

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
I installed a new Servo 150 X-axis powerfeed on my Bridgeport maybe a year
ago. It has worked correctly since then until yesterday, when it suddenly
stopped. I was milling a chunk of unknown aluminum with a 1½" indexable
carbide mill with 3 inserts, cut was .050" deep, feed pretty stout. It had
been cutting under those conditions just fine (using kerosene as a
lubricant/coolant) but suddenly mid-cut it just stopped. I didn't hear any
ominous noises, no *crunch*, no electrical type noises, no smoke or smell
of electrical issues. I removed the crank handle and slid off the bronze
gear, and activated the switch - pinion was turning smoothly in both
directions. I put the bronze gear back on (didn't remove any shims) and
held it with my fingers and hit the lever. It felt like the teeth weren't
fully meshing, in fact they were just barely touching. I removed one of the
thick shims and reinstalled everything, now it feeds fine but I don't know
if the backlash is adjusted correctly anymore.

Nor does it make much sense how the gears could have worked their way
apart to the point where they didn't even mesh.

My problem is I discarded the instructions as to how to set the backlash.
I don't have a contact at Servo, don't know how to reach them. Does anyone
know how to set the backlash correctly in a Servo powerfeed unit? It's the
150 oz-in one, if that matters.

Grant Erwin
Kirkland, Washington

--Holler if you want another one, heh.

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : Bummed to be living in the
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : Golden Age of Bull****...
http://www.nmpproducts.com/intro.htm
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
I installed a new Servo 150 X-axis powerfeed on my Bridgeport maybe a year
ago. It has worked correctly since then until yesterday, when it suddenly
stopped. I was milling a chunk of unknown aluminum with a 1½" indexable
carbide mill with 3 inserts, cut was .050" deep, feed pretty stout. It had
been cutting under those conditions just fine (using kerosene as a
lubricant/coolant) but suddenly mid-cut it just stopped. I didn't hear any
ominous noises, no *crunch*, no electrical type noises, no smoke or smell
of electrical issues. I removed the crank handle and slid off the bronze
gear, and activated the switch - pinion was turning smoothly in both
directions. I put the bronze gear back on (didn't remove any shims) and
held it with my fingers and hit the lever. It felt like the teeth weren't
fully meshing, in fact they were just barely touching. I removed one of the
thick shims and reinstalled everything, now it feeds fine but I don't know
if the backlash is adjusted correctly anymore.

Nor does it make much sense how the gears could have worked their way
apart to the point where they didn't even mesh.

My problem is I discarded the instructions as to how to set the backlash.
I don't have a contact at Servo, don't know how to reach them. Does anyone
know how to set the backlash correctly in a Servo powerfeed unit? It's the
150 oz-in one, if that matters.

Google turned up Servo's home page in the first coupel of hits and another
couple of clicks turned up this page:

http://www.servoproductsco.com/html/...eed.html#chart

There you should find the appropriate manual which contains info on
adjustments and installation..

Mike

Mike Henry wrote:

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...

I installed a new Servo 150 X-axis powerfeed on my Bridgeport maybe a year
ago. It has worked correctly since then until yesterday, when it suddenly
stopped. I was milling a chunk of unknown aluminum with a 1½" indexable
carbide mill with 3 inserts, cut was .050" deep, feed pretty stout. It had
been cutting under those conditions just fine (using kerosene as a
lubricant/coolant) but suddenly mid-cut it just stopped. I didn't hear any
ominous noises, no *crunch*, no electrical type noises, no smoke or smell
of electrical issues. I removed the crank handle and slid off the bronze
gear, and activated the switch - pinion was turning smoothly in both
directions. I put the bronze gear back on (didn't remove any shims) and
held it with my fingers and hit the lever. It felt like the teeth weren't
fully meshing, in fact they were just barely touching. I removed one of the
thick shims and reinstalled everything, now it feeds fine but I don't know
if the backlash is adjusted correctly anymore.

Nor does it make much sense how the gears could have worked their way
apart to the point where they didn't even mesh.

My problem is I discarded the instructions as to how to set the backlash.
I don't have a contact at Servo, don't know how to reach them. Does anyone
know how to set the backlash correctly in a Servo powerfeed unit? It's the
150 oz-in one, if that matters.


Google turned up Servo's home page in the first coupel of hits and another
couple of clicks turned up this page:

http://www.servoproductsco.com/html/...eed.html#chart

There you should find the appropriate manual which contains info on
adjustments and installation..

Mike

Ah-HA! The very thing. Thanks Mike!! - GWE