Emco Compact 5 Top slide gib

[Manfred VormbaumParticipant @manfredvormbaum50307]

I am refurbishing an Emco Compact 5. Slowly getting it sorted out. However, I appear to be missing the plastic gib for the top slide.

Any suggestions as to where I could purchase a replacement? If not any suggestions for alternatives.

https://www.emcomachinetools.co.uk/ seems to be down most of the time – although that could be because I may be accessing it at the wrong time given that I am in Canada.

https://www.emcoshop.at/emcoersatzzubehoerteiledrehmaschinenemcocompact5zubehoer/1718-drehmaschinenemcocompact5zubehremcooberschlitten.html appears to be a possibility although the price rather puts me off.

Any help / suggestions appreciated

Manfred

[Manfred VormbaumParticipant @manfredvormbaum50307]

[RedsetterParticipant @redsetter]

Don't over think it – what does the gib actually need to do?

Just use a piece of bright mild steel flat bar of appropriate cross section – it can't be all that critical, and there will be a stock size which is near enough. Spot through the screw holes in the top slide to drill for the screw tips. It will probably be better than plastic anyway.

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi Manfred,

I have purchased spares for my Compact 8 from Austria, yes they are not cheap. You may find what you want on eBay etc. if you are lucky.

Thor

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Hi Manfred

The top slide gib on the Emco 5 cnc lathe is made of steel, I have never had to make adjustments in 5 years of use.

Emgee

[A. OzenParticipant @a-ozen27218]

I was reading a lot of useful stuff on the forum lately, was not registered yet. Just seen your post, so I registered to tell how I solved this issue.

I had the same issue with my top slide gib, I ordered a 100cm brass strip, 7mm wide and 2.5mm thick and made a gib from it. My milling attachment was not sorted yet, I made the gib at my work on a larger milling machine, and sand the sides down with 1000 grid sandpaper on a flat surface. If you have a milling attachment, you can make it yourself.

The brass strip on top, the gib I made in the middle and the original gib under that:

[Jouke van der VeenParticipant @joukevanderveen72935]

When I bought a second top slide the gib was also missing. I made a gib strip from a 2mm thick PVC tube (in length direction of course) as a “temporary” solution and I must say: it works well. The concave side of it is directed to the gib screws.
For my second cross slide I made a gib strip from a brass strip and that works even better.

Regards,

Jouke

[A. OzenParticipant @a-ozen27218]

Sorry Manfred, I did not check the link you posted to EmcoShop, I thought you linked the gib only, but it was the complete top slide in the link.

According to the part list I have for the Compact 5 the gib has part number A5A05050 and EmcoShop sells that too, price is reasonable at €12.85, but I ordered couple times from them, and the shipment costs are really high, to the Netherlands it is almost twice as the item itself at €25

Here is the link to the gib: Emco GIB A5A 050 050

If you don't have a parts list, just search for a German manual of the lathe and at the end there is a parts list with exploded drawings of it. I figure that out after a couple of weeks when I got the lathe, and it is very helpful, the English version of the manual does not have part numbers.

[Manfred VormbaumParticipant @manfredvormbaum50307]

Thank you all for your responses.

I was reticent using mild steel for the gib as the two dovetails are apparently made from ZAMAK / MAZAK, a zink, magnesium, aluminium / copper alloy that I suspect is much softer than mild steel. Don't know what the implications of that are but not keen on finding out first hand.

I will try the PVC and brass suggestions in that order.

Thanks for the link at the emcoshop. Shipping to Canada is €53.83. Plus taxes and duties!

For an English (perhaps American) parts list you may want to go here:

https://www.searspartsdirect.com/model/1n45xgogz1-000247/craftsman-549289000-lathe-parts.

The Compact 5 was sold as a Sears machine in a fetching battleship grey.

[A. OzenParticipant @a-ozen27218]

Posted by Manfred Vormbaum on 24/11/2022 22:12:39:

….

Thanks for the link at the emcoshop. Shipping to Canada is €53.83. Plus taxes and duties!

….

The Compact 5 was sold as a Sears machine in a fetching battleship grey.

That is a lot of money for the shipment! I ordered twice from them, but I wait till I have a list of parts and accessories I want, that makes the shipment fee a little more acceptable.

I got the lathe 2 months ago, it was pretty stock, and the milling attachment was bought later by the previous owner, milling attachment was worn out on some parts, so I fixed all of that, and I wanted all attachments available when the lathe was new, got those too from ebay and local "ebay" like site, so it cost me a lot at the end, but it is complete now, and I am really happy with it. I also did a VFD upgrade with a new motor, added some self-made DRO on all axes.

Did a lot of upgrades on it, I uploaded some pictures of it here on the site in my album:

My Emco Compact 5 upgrades

[Jouke van der VeenParticipant @joukevanderveen72935]

Hallo Ozen,

I had a quick look at all those nice features you added to your Emco C5. Above you wrote about shipping costs from the Emcoshop (Emco Holz & Hobby) into The Netherlands. Do you live in The Netherlands?

Regards,

Jouke

[A. OzenParticipant @a-ozen27218]

Yes Jouke, I am from the Netherlands.

[Jouke van der VeenParticipant @joukevanderveen72935]

Good morning Ozen,

I sent you a PM

Regards,

Jouke

Edited By Jouke van der Veen on 26/11/2022 09:35:24

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