I am running an old Bertram lathe and discovered that the pad under the compound slide fractured. One Tee bolt securing the compound from rotating had failed at the end. I managed to braze the parts together with moderate success and the unit is up and running again. This is a big old lathe likely made in the 1940's and can take 36 inch diameter if required. From the look of it the original tool holder was the old lantern style. It has a four position square unit now with carbide insert tooling. I mostly use this thing for rough intermittent cutting for weld preps etc. The failure of the casting concerns me and I am wondering if the heavy loads I am putting on the compound is too much for it? The circle part of the casting that clamps to the bolster set on the cross slide is only about half inch thick. I am wondering if it is just old age? The fracture looked old and dirty, no fresh areas that I could see. It was nicely soaked with dirt and oil making brazing an interesting challenge. Anyone out there have similar failures on old lathes???? Randy
- posted
16 years ago