I saw where an improvement could be made in Atlas's original design, by using flanged (thrust surfaces) sintered bearings for the carriage feed handwheel shaft.  I counter bored both sides for the new bearings (Figure 1).  I held the apron on an angle plate mounted on the topslide.  I held a boring head in the chuck, and fed the apron into the bit with the topslide.  I had locked the apron less carriage in place.

Figure 1