I wish I had made the locks years ago. They only took an hour to make.
I eventually got tired of scrabbling trying to find hex keys to lock the ways when milling etc.
These locks are so useful you would not believe.
The end of the locking screws bear down on the gib strips.
It takes under half a turn to lock the ways.
↓ This is the lock for the cross slide.
The cross slide lock is small and slim, so it does not interfere with the tailstock.
↓ This shows the lock in the tight space between the carriage and tailstock.
↓ This is the lock for the carriage, at the far side of the cross slide.
It is easy to find and operate.
↓ Both ends of an M8 bolt are turned down to size.
The head is drilled using the Cross Drilling fixture.
The 4 holes in the head are tapped M3 all the way through.
The handles are made from 3mm silver steel, threaded M3, then hardened by heat treatment.
The handles are small and do not need much force to lock the ways.
There are four holes, so that the handle can be positioned appropriately.
