Level Wind Mechanism - HELP!

Do a goole search for amacoil. It uses a skewed ball bearing on a hardened shaft to give variable back and forth travel. Don Warner

Andy K wrote: Has anyone had any experience that they would like to share on projects of similar nature? ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Printing presses use a similar device to drive the oscillating rollers. They use a steel follower in a steel groove, and get very long life. However, the loads are mostly inertial, where the roller reverses direction.

Could you relieve the follower of the radial load by running the shuttle along a track, parallel to the scroll-shaft, so the tension is not transmitted to the contact between the follower and the groove?

Could you put collars on the ends of the scroll-shaft, so the shuttle hits there, and relieves the delicate follower of most of the banging?

You could try making the key out of aluminum bronze instead of brass. I have some brass "things" that tend to wear rather quickly. I built them back up with TIG and Ampco 200 aluminum bronze. The difference is amazing. The aluminum bronze machines nicely, is much harder than brass and works well as a low friction match with steel.

Ted

Did a job several years ago with the same "slamming" problem at each end. Is the helix constant in pitch right to each end? If so, change the pitch every few degrees so it is reduced on approach and increased on exit, ramping down and ramping up. i.e. assume 1.0 pitch, every 5 deg lose .1, so your pitch would go 1.0 to .9 to .8, etc. until it goes flat at turnaround point.

michael

Maybe a system like this would work. Two parallel lead screws geared together so the rotate in opposite directions. A traveler with a pair of halfnuts or chasers is mounted on a third smooth non rotating shaft. When the traveler reaches the end of one shaft it disengages and rocks over to grab the other reverse turning leadscrew. some kind of trigger and springs keep it engaged. Hey it's like 4 am and I didn't work out all the details. But I light try this since I have some long acme threaded rod and ground shafts.

How about placing sprockets at either end of the 40 inch run. Mount a link chain (motorcycle type) between the two with a single extended link pin protruding below that carries a suitable guide through which the cord, rope, cable, or whatever can be threaded. Drive one of the sprockets from the winding gear-train and you'd be off to the races. (In theory)(^:

Bill D

PS That's a bit fishing reel!!

--What he said. Also google on the Uhing Rolling Ring Drive mechanism, upon which this thing is based.