As I started to machine the kickstart shaft it became apparent that it was painful in several ways - partly due to the hot swarf coming off it and partly due to the fact that it was taking ages!
What I needed was the automatic feed. This is dead easy to engage and is always available on the lathe but I quickly found that the lathe couldn't cope with the feed rate given by the 20:80:20:80 gearing that the standard setup offers.
The Ted Hanson book suggests replacing the last 80 tooth wheel with a 3D printed 127 tooth wheel - but they are not commercially available.
Some browsing revealed that reduced feed gear wheels for the mini lathe or not commercially available on this side of the pond in any shape or form. Some posts on the 7x Mini Lathe Facebook group suggested that the best option was to go to Thingiverse.
As predicted I found some suitable STP files which I could print for free. However not being equipped with a 3D printer I resolved to look around Norfolk to see what I could find, and made contact with Regenerate3D in North Walsham who in exchange for some machining work and a spot of cash produced these lovely gears:
Contrary to what some folk have written about this gear size, the cover will fit without modification so you do not have to have your gears exposed while working.
The only negative side of this that I have found so far is that with the increased ratio from motor to lead screw, I can no longer turn the hand wheel on the lead screw and we'll have to remove or disengage the lead screw hand wheel for milling.
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