Anyone know leblond regals?

[mattyc]

Hi everyone,

Newby machinist here. My grandpa was a machinist and I learned a ton growing up and working on various projects with him. I am fairly proficient in most cases. He passed away last year and left me all his equipment and tooling. One thing I never learned from him before his passing was how to cut threads on the lathe. I have been experimenting and watching videos and reading his machinist books but I'm missing something.

Can anyone offer any insight on this?

 

[motormonkey]

That's a nice lathe and have used those models before. I find that cutting threads take some practice to get down and every machine has it quirks. What problems are you having?

 

[Racey]

Firsr thing is there will be a lever on the headstock to switch power from the auto feed lead (keyed shaft) to the screw lead (threaded shaft). This is in regards to the lead screws that run the length of the machine. Only one can be on at a time (auto feed OR screw lead)

Looks like it could be the very lowest right handle.

The screw lead has to be spinning to cut threads

 

[rivermobster]

Damm. How big of threads are you cutting?? And what are you gonna build with those bolts??

Welcome!

 

[mattyc]

Thanks for the replies! I cant get the feed rate right but I think Racey may know what's wrong. The keyed lead screw turns but I've never seen the threaded lead screw turn. Not quite sure how to control that. I will look into that next time I'm there.

Rivermobster, what bolts are you referring to?

I have a user manual for the machine but it's pretty vague, I'll have to look through it again

 

[Racey]

Thanks for the replies! I cant get the feed rate right but I think Racey may know what's wrong. The keyed lead screw turns but I've never seen the threaded lead screw turn. Not quite sure how to control that. I will look into that next time I'm there.

Rivermobster, what bolts are you referring to?

I have a user manual for the machine but it's pretty vague, I'll have to look through it again

Yes, the keyed lead screw is for making cutting/surfacing passes IT WILL NOT CUT THREADS. The threaded screw is timed and geared for threading.

The reason they both can't run simultaneously is because you could accidentally engage both of them on the carriage at once and obliterate the gearboxes, or at minimal shear the safety pins which still requires extensive disassembly to repair.

On the gearing chart you will see two sets of numbers in each box, one is the movement in thousandths of an inch per rotation for surfacing speeds (the small bottom number) the other is your thread per inch for threading ( the large top number)

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

Also when you engage the feed thread this needs to be on the same number when you engage for proper feed. But I'm sure you already knew that.

 

[lenmann]

Leblond lathes, of the vintage that you (and I) have, use the collar circled in red below on the lead screw to engage the lead screw. Slide the collar towards the head stock to engage it for threading, and away to disengage. This can be done with the spindle running or with it off by manually rotating the chuck to engage the collar.

There isn't a means to disengage the feed shaft to prevent the simultaneous engagement of both shafts as @Racey mentions. The user is expected to avoid such errors.

BTW, here are factory manuals available for your machine on ebay.

LeBlond 15” & 19” Regal Lathe Instruction & Parts Manual No. 3931 | eBay

LeBlond 14” & 16” Tool & Diemakers Lathe Instruction & Parts Manual. This operators manual and parts list is an indespensible part of your LeBlond Regal lathe. This manual includes instructions for setting up your machine, safe operation, troubleshooting and much more, including a comprehensive...

www.ebay.com

 

[Racey]

Leblond lathes, of the vintage that you (and I) have, use the collar circled in red below on the lead screw to engage the lead screw. Slide the collar towards the head stock to engage it for threading, and away to disengage. This can be done with the spindle running or with it off by manually rotating the chuck to engage the collar.

There isn't a means to disengage the feed shaft to prevent the simultaneous engagement of both shafts as @Racey mentions. The user is expected to avoid such errors.

View attachment 1113931

BTW, here are factory manuals available for your machine on ebay.

LeBlond 15” & 19” Regal Lathe Instruction & Parts Manual No. 3931 | eBay

LeBlond 14” & 16” Tool & Diemakers Lathe Instruction & Parts Manual. This operators manual and parts list is an indespensible part of your LeBlond Regal lathe. This manual includes instructions for setting up your machine, safe operation, troubleshooting and much more, including a comprehensive...

www.ebay.com

Bam! There you have it!

 

[lenmann]

Probably more than you were looking for, but there is a useful email group for LeBlond lathes that while not very active, has a pretty good historical archive of repair info.

leblondlathe groups.io Group

This group is for sharing information about LeBlond lathes. To help prevent spam, anyone wishing to become a member must send a request with a short statement about why they want to join LeBlondlathe. Spam posts will be removed and spammers will be banned from the group. Note: This is a hobby...

groups.io

Also, LeBlond USA is still an operating company. If you email them your serial number they will respond with year of manufacture. They also sell replacement parts. Most are made to order and are incredibly expensive.

LeBlond Lathes, High Speed Heavy-Duty Lathes & Educational Lathes

LeBlond RKL Manual Lathes. Check out our precision high-speed metal lathes or a precision high-speed heavy-duty models with swings from 14″ to 21.” LeBlond champions versatility, as our manual lathes feature either gearhead or variable speed spindles.

leblondusa.com

 

[mattyc]

Thanks for all the help guys!

I have contacted leblond with the serial number and they were able to provide me a copy of the original sales invoice from 1959 for $3600. Thought that was so cool. Also bought a user manual from them but as I said it seems fairly vague but I will go through it again. Funny, grandpa had a manual filed for literally everything, except the lathe and the Bridgeport, haha must have all been in his head. That email group may end up being a good resource so thank you for that.

Ok, let me see if I have this right. When the collar on the threaded lead screw is moved over toward the headstock, this engages the threaded screw, but the keyed auto feed screw continues to turn also? A lever on the carriage initiates cross feed and long feed, does this lever initiate threading feed also? What engagement will cause damage if done simultaneously?

 

[lenmann]

Thanks for all the help guys!

I have contacted leblond with the serial number and they were able to provide me a copy of the original sales invoice from 1959 for $3600. Thought that was so cool. Also bought a user manual from them but as I said it seems fairly vague but I will go through it again. Funny, grandpa had a manual filed for literally everything, except the lathe and the Bridgeport, haha must have all been in his head. That email group may end up being a good resource so thank you for that.

Ok, let me see if I have this right. When the collar on the threaded lead screw is moved over toward the headstock, this engages the threaded screw, but the keyed auto feed screw continues to turn also? A lever on the carriage initiates cross feed and long feed, does this lever initiate threading feed also? What engagement will cause damage if done simultaneously?

Correct on the engagement for rotation of the lead screw and feed shaft. Incorrect on the engagement of the lead screw for threading.

The lever on the far right of the apron engages the lead screw for threading (circled in pic below). You may also need to need to make sure the half nut (right side of apron, numbered dial on top) is fully engaged with the lead screw. The bolt that holds the half nut to the carriage can be loosened to swing the half nut in or out of engagement with the lead screw.

If you got confused somehow and engaged both the feed lever and the threading lever you could cause some damage, likely a sheared tapered pin or the like. IIRC correctly Leblond have a clutch on the feed shaft in the event there is a collision. Best bet is to pay attention to which lever you are engaging in any case.

 

[rivermobster]

@mattyc

Well, if you're cutting threads, I'm assuming they are external threads?

So if they are, I'm guessing you're making some big azz bolts or threaded rod for something huge??

Otherwise, why use a lathe?

Hoping you're building something bad azz.

 

[mattyc]

Damn I cant thank you enough!

Lenmann, it's all making sense now. Never knew what that lever was for. Thanks so much.

Rivermobster, sorry to disappoint, nothing real bad ass, I machined some spacers for a friend ( look in the restoration section at 02howard26s thread ) which could have used some threads but ended up doing internal threads on the spacer and studs in the supercharger. Actually I'm trying to put a puller together for use at work with a bearing splitter and puller bridge but wanted to make several length legs. They would be 5/8-18 thread and the legs need to be 12" long with a step to fit my bridge and additional threads for a nut. Nothing real exciting.

I will post some recent projects soon. Like I said, fairly proficient but lots to learn.

 

[mattyc]

Here is a little something I did over the weekend. Recently, I was drilling with a #53 near one inch deep and broke several drills because I dont have a good feel for the pressure applied with the wheel on the tailstock. So I made this little holder to hold a small jacobs and I can feed the drill by hand when doing tiny stuff. Hopefully the video loads

 

[lenmann]

Very cool, an effective low buck version of this:

Micro Drill Adapter, Albrecht 30 - JO (Keyless) Drill Chuck with Adapter - 71-636-5

Offering a huge selection of industrial tool sales online. Find over 100,000 metalworking products, precision measuring tools, power tools & accessories.

www.penntoolco.com

 

[Toolman]

Very cool, an effective low buck version of this:

Micro Drill Adapter, Albrecht 30 - JO (Keyless) Drill Chuck with Adapter - 71-636-5

Offering a huge selection of industrial tool sales online. Find over 100,000 metalworking products, precision measuring tools, power tools & accessories.

www.penntoolco.com

How coincidental. We are searching to buy one of these tools right now because we’ve taken on a job to drill a .007 hole through an aluminum disc.

 

[rivermobster]

Here is a little something I did over the weekend. Recently, I was drilling with a #53 near one inch deep and broke several drills because I dont have a good feel for the pressure applied with the wheel on the tailstock. So I made this little holder to hold a small jacobs and I can feed the drill by hand when doing tiny stuff. Hopefully the video loads

Very cool!

 

[mattyc]

How coincidental. We are searching to buy one of these tools right now because we’ve taken on a job to drill a .007 hole through an aluminum disc.

Wow, what is the application? How thick is the disc?

 

[Toolman]

Around .060
It’s an air bleed off hole for a miniature air compressor. Normally an air compressor has a bleed off valve that kicks on when the compressor shuts off to take the pressure off the head so that when the compressor starts up again it doesn’t have to fight being under a compression stroke. This miniature air compressor does not have a bleed off valve. When the compressor shuts off, the hole bleeds off the air so that the next time the compressor starts up it doesn’t have to fight the head pressure. When the compressor is running, the hole is so small the compressor doesn’t Even notice it.

 

[mattyc]

@Toolman
Awesome, that is very small and tedious. Will you rotate the work or the drill? May be dependent on acquiring that adapter?
Are those adapters intended to be used stationary or rotating?

 

[Toolman]

The work will be stationary and we need to spin that drill at around 8 to 10,000 RPMs. We’re looking at using a high speed air spindle. The adapter can be used either stationary or rotating.

 

[mattyc]

@Toolman.
Awesome stuff, would love to see that setup.

 

[mattyc]

Update!
Well I was able to make some threads today thanks to all the help. This is one of several legs to be used with this puller. 5/8-18 on one end and 7/16-14 on the other. Made the washer also. Takes a little practice but caught on quick.

 

[mattyc]

Another project over the weekend. A friend of mine is restoring an old Wilton he found in the trash at work. Asked me to make him a new handle.

 

[Racey]

Another project over the weekend. A friend of mine is restoring an old Wilton he found in the trash at work. Asked me to make him a new handle.

Is that an Eagle 66 oil can? Super jealous that thing looks PRISTINE.

Nice work btw

 

[mattyc]

Is that an Eagle 66 oil can? Super jealous that thing looks PRISTINE.

Nice work btw

Thanks!
Haha yeah it is! Started using it for cutting oil, I'll post a picture of it after the weekend.

 

[mattyc]

Is that an Eagle 66 oil can? Super jealous that thing looks PRISTINE.

Nice work btw

 

[Racey]

 

[RiverDave]

I didn’t see this in the replies but if you are single pointing threads you would want to set the compound to half the total degrees 31 in most cases and then adjust depths with the compound not the slide way.

 

[mattyc]

I didn’t see this in the replies but if you are single pointing threads you would want to set the compound to half the total degrees 31 in most cases and then adjust depths with the compound not the slide way.

I've seen this approach somewhere. What's the benefit?