The Shop > Tools
Sieg SX2p HT Review
Will_D:
Dave,
Many thanks for the update. Axminster UK list "T-Track" - when you KNOW what to google for its a doddle!
Will_D:
Fitting The DROs
First let’s check the axis definitions [again]:
The Y-Axis handwheel moves the saddle in and out towards the column
The X-Axis handwheel traverses the table past the column (also usually the longest axis)
We never have a problem with Z, it’s the vertical movement of the knee, quill, head whatever.
I decided to fit the Eason ES-12, 3- Axis display along with their magnetic scales.
These cost a bit more than the optical ones but they are much shorter than their optical counterparts. Only 60 mm longer than the required travel as opposed to more than 100mm for the optical.
Also they are non-contact so there is a bit of leeway in fitting (not that we should be slack about fit!) Also they are basically sealed so no need for protection from swarf/coolant.
The ones I got are multi part.
The Aluminium extrusion (pre-drilled every 100 mm).
The magnetic strip with sticky backing.
A stainlees strip that fits over the mag. Strip
Not shown below are lengths of ‘o’ ring that are squeezed into and over the SS strip to lock it all in position.
So there is no need to use the sticky backing. Nice if you have to take the scale apart.
As seen the scales are pre-drilled every 100 mm with some large countered bored holes. As I don’t have transfer punches I decided to use my old Eclipse spotting punch. Turned/ground down the tapered puch to 1/8” and then turned up a button from 304 ss [*1] to be a snug fit in the c’bored holes with a 1/8” bore. Simples to spot the extrusion. (For other transfer punching I just need to make new buttons)
Next it was time to make up some brackets for the Y axis:
Used some 3mm aluminium angle:
Note: Now you can see the o-ring material in place.
And also for the Y-axis. Not the slides have been removed and this is looking at the back face of the slide.
So after much adjusting measuring cleaning sanding the Y Axis is done:
And at the back, next to the column is the Y-axis head:
And yes I know I have lost some 27 mm of Y travel but what the heck!
Again a celebratory brew was called for - no photo though :coffee:
I must say that the Eason display is the 'dogs' It weighs about 10 kgs and appears to be bullet proof.
A very impressive bit of kit. The built in functions and the display also rate highly on the 'dogs-dangly-bits' scale of things. [Btw: do our transatlanic cousins understand these refs. to 'dogs' ??]
Any ways 2 axes done now the Z axis - admittedly probably the least important axis but probably the most difficult to bracket up.
So far the two axes have taken 3 days ( well ok 12 man hours)
Footnotes:
1: Why stainless buttons?
A long long time ago my shop was in a damp cellar or 2 in Manchester. All the jigs/fittings/calipers etc took on a shade of rust. When i moved to Ireland I ditched all the mild steel and replace it with stainless - mainly 304 as its brewing safe. The free'er cutting grades often have sulphur in them which discolours in the presence of beer and food (i.e. BBQs).
I am lucky in that I have accees to the main Dublin scrap merchant (Hammond Lane) and they are great about me scrounging the SS piles. Usually i get it for free. Oh yes a few bottles of home brew works wonders
When the mill is ready I will be making one or both of Harold's grinder rests in stainless!
It really anoys me that they still make calipers, squares and similar hand tools in ms when after about a week of handling your swet will cause them to rust - unless you are anal about cleaning/putting away/have shares in WD40
John Stevenson:
You could get a bit of the lost 27mm back by chopping the bottom off the Z axis dovetails, they are not used that far down.
DMIOM:
Or maybe by inserting a suitable riser block? and if you made it the full width of the machine base, you could maybe have jacking bolts in the four corners which would bear against the base and help with tramming?
Dave
Will_D:
So finally its the 'Z' axis.
After a lot of thinking this is what I came up with:
Whilst at it, I decided to modify two of Arcs Indexable handles to replace the fiddly M4 hex key slide locks for the X and y axes:
These are M5 by 40 as ordered, they were shorted to suit, turned down to 4mm and re-threaded.
Now the above picture and this one:
Makes me ask "Does my bum vice look big in this?"
It is the new type 3, 3" precission vice from Arc:
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Workholding/Machine-Vices
I thought 3 inches?, that's about right for an X2 but it when delivered iy's rather big and weighs 5.3 kgs!
It is BEAUTIFUL tho' :drool:
Don't you just love gardened tool steel
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