MadModder
The Shop => Our Shop => Topic started by: CrewCab on August 01, 2009, 04:27:36 PM
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After burrowing and sorting through the debris and clutter that has amassed in my little workshop during the last few months of inactivity :scratch: ............... it appears I now need to make a few changes :bugeye:
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/DSCF3997.jpg)
Can you tell what it is yet :med:
CC
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Make it untidy with a couple of projects:-
You need a good dose of :proj:
Have fun
Stew
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Blimey Stew, it was untidy to the tune of .............. "I opened the door and things fell out" :bugeye: ............... you have no idea of the trauma involved in "skipping" all those "things I might need sometime" :( ................. just so I could get in :dremel:
CC
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I won't tell, as long as you get on with it and don't drag it out. :lol:
Bogs
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Does this help ::)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/DSCF4000.jpg)
CC
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Bloody hell, you've bought a meat safe to keep the black pudding.
John S.
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Methinks a very tight squeeze is on the cards, and not from the better half.
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Was going to say you will have to buy some equipment to fill the void, but it looks like you already have solved that problem! :headbang:
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Methinks a very tight squeeze is on the cards, and not from the better half.
Your right John :bugeye: ............. after having a measure up I've now widened the available space so everything should squeeze in
The base is in place as you can see above, I've managed to get the individual lumps into the workshop ......
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/DSCF4006.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/DSCF4004.jpg)
but that's as far as I can go till I rope in some (large) assistants ..... think I need a lie down now (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Smileys/smiley-sleep013.gif)
anyway, once the jigsaw is complete it should look like this .................
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/Chester626t.jpg)
CC
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Very nice! I think that is the mill I am going to end up getting. Please let me know how you like it.
Eric
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Wow thats a nice bit of kit I was looking at that mill but just couldn't make the space for one.
It'll add a lot to your capability and fun.
Enjoy
Stew
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I love the little X2 but have to confess the extra mass should make a tremendous difference, plus the extra capacity of course .......... similar to the Boxford vs the 9x20 lathe, similar size but the difference is quite noticeable.
I've been thinking about a bigger mill for a while and after chatting with John (BS) a fair bit, came to the conclusion this was my preferred option. This one is 3rd hand and came with a load of extra bits, large tilting vice, R8 boring head (neither of which I've got) loads of collets, and a few other assorted bits. I don't think it's had a lot of use, everything seems smooth and quite tight and there are hardly any marks on the bed etc.
Anyway once I manage to get it back together I'll give it a try and let you all know if I've made the right choice ............... or not :scratch:
My eldest son is making noises about wanting a small mill and a lathe ......... :thumbup: ........ which is good, the downside being that replacing my dwindling workshop funds by selling the other machines might not happen ........... they may end up being donated to a worthy cause (Mrs CC's words) :hammer:
CC
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Nice looking bit of kit....looks new, not 3rd hand.... :thumbup:
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Always fancied one of those to throw a CNC kit onto.
Mind you the space would be a nice thing to have as well ::)
John S.
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Hoaaah,nice piece of machinery :thumbup:...if this is the kickoff for a buy-a-new-machine race,i hope to be second as i still need a nice mill to....like that one :clap:
Now where is that towel to clean off all this drewel from my keyboard :D
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Mind you the space would be a nice thing to have as well ::)
I know John, the guy had a nearly empty garage as well, sadly, try as I might, I couldn't squeeze any of his free space into the Van :smart:
CC
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Well after a
bit lot of physical effort ............ mostly on the part of my 2 sons mind :bugeye: ............ thanks chaps :beer:
it's in place
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/DSCF4010.jpg)
so things progress slowly .................
CC
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:clap: :clap: :clap:
Good to have some help init...
I'd be really interested in your comparisons of differences....that's a good looking machine you have there..... :nrocks:
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The lifting equipment ............... once all in place of course :thumbup:
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/DSCF4007.jpg)
CC
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I'd be really interested in your comparisons of differences....
I don't suppose it's really fair to compare the lil' X2 which weighs 55kg (120lbs) to a mill weighing 410kg (970 lbs) ......... they are totally different machines, I've been torturing a bit of aluminium and it certainly makes "making chips" a lot easier and faster ........... and gives a nice finish, I'll try and find a bit of steel to throw at it later.
It was John (BS) who pointed me towards this particular mill a while ago (Thank you BS), I was considering an X3 at the time but I think this one is going to be fine, anyway I'm off to make a stop for the power feed limit switch as there's only one ........... before Mrs CC finds "more important" things for me to do.
CC
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Darren,
The 626 was my first choice after spending months rooting thru the internet for customers comments, specs, etc.
A little extra cash popped up at the last minute, coupled with a very good discount on the small Bridgy clone I have now, otherwise I would have one of these in my shop now.
Like everything, no home machine is ever perfect, except this model, according to a lot of other users, apart for a few minor niggles, came very close to being just that.
Largish capacity, with the knee for versatility, coupled to rigidity and a size that could be accomodated in a fairly small shop (as Dave has shown), offers very good value for money.
John
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It's a nice piece of kit that's for sure, I'm a happy camper .....................
well I was .................. till the power feed stopped working :bang:
<edit> and happy again now ............. the power feed is fixed. <edit>
anyway, one thing at a time ....................
spent a couple of hours making a new stop for the limit switch, mainly aluminium with a little steel Tee Nut, it certainly just takes little things like that in it's stride, with the X2 I'd have been taking lighter cuts and would have been very steady with the mild steel, this one cuts steel like the X2 cuts ally :thumbup: ............... but then again it is in a totally different league. I'm not disappointed with the X2 by any means, it just left me wanting a little more power ............... the 626 fills that requirement very well, to press anyway.
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/DSCF4019.jpg)
Nothing exciting, but it's kept me happy this afternoon :med:
as for the power feed .................... I'll start another thread :scratch:
CC
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Dave,
Get thee a spring on there, just like the original.
The table carries on moving slightly after it hits the stop while the motor runs down. Without the spring loading, you with soon smash the limit switch apart as it comes against your fixed dead stop.
There are reasons for most things being on a machine, that is the reason for the spring.
John
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Well spotted John....... :smart:
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I only have a limited supply of springs, :scratch: I tried a 6mm bolt with a spring and it didn't work until the spring compressed entirely ............... OK ......... springy no worky properly :hammer:
I tried the bolt "as is" about a couple of dozen times at varying speeds and it worked fine each time, so that's why it's "as it is" at the moment, but .......... You are absolutely correct John, and I will be sourcing a bigger spring asap and modifying the stop to match the original.
:bow: Well spotted :headbang:
CC
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Can't you make a spring to fit?... :dremel:
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Can't you make a spring to fit?... :dremel:
please enlighten me :thumbup:
CC
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S - P - R - I - N - G you know as in Boing Boing Zebidee
John S.
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Sorry Dave, I keep forgetting. I have got centuries of gathering behind me, and it didn't occur to me that you wouldn't have the correct sized spring in stock.
Shame you don't live a bit closer.
John
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Dave,
Before you well and truly get the wee wee extracted by all the leg pullers.....you can make a spring on your lathe.
That bit I remembered from metal work class at school...some, well lets say a long time ago..... :lol:
Take a length of round bar slightly smaller than the bolt diameter (the spring will spring open slightly larger than the bar) Chuck it up in the lathe and at the same time trap some wire between the jaws. Turn the chuck by hand, you can do it under slow power but take care, and wind the wire around the bar.
You have just made a spring...... :)
Spring steel is prob best, but I find SS welding wire works OK if you have any?
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Cheers Darren :headbang:
No I don't have any Spring steel or SS welding wire ::) ............. however I will try and remedy that situation :thumbup:
Thanks, I'll give it a go asap :dremel:
CC
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Spring steel will serve you better as SS welding wire can make a bit of a weak spring in my exp. If you can only find SS wire go for the thickest dia you can get hold of.
Don't buy a whole reel, I'd rather put you some in the post before you do that..... :thumbup:
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If you don't mind posting a couple of foot that would be great, how do you want payment, drop me a pm perhaps.
Cheers
CC
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Payment....don't be silly....just PM me your add.
I'm not sure if the gauge I have will be strong enough for your needs, but give it a go anyway and see..... :thumbup:
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:thumbup:
Thanks
CC
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Well I've spent a bit more time "playing" today ............... Mrs CC's words, I feel it's more "Important Research" mi'self :thumbup:
anyway, tried the mill out on ally, brass, steel, cast iron and even titanium .................. it just gets on with it; whereas you need to "Drive" the little X2 this one sets about removing metal like it's on a mission, I feel like a spare part ................ just there to twiddle dials and spray a bit of WD40 about :coffee:
OK .............. I love it :bow:
anyway, a question for you more experienced engineers out there ...................
On the X2 I have a locking pin to stop the quill rotating while I undo the draw bar to change tooling, there is no similar device on this mill, I've downloaded the Grizzly Manual and it says
"Keep one hand on the tool, loosen the adjustment hex nut, then completely unthread the drawbar"
It just doesn't feel right, how do you tighten and loosen the ER collet chuck :scratch:
CC
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Sounds like you're having loads of fun there..... :)
Both my mills have no spindle lock, I just use a large spanner to hold the collet. A lock would be nicer though.
it just gets on with it;
That's exactly what I found with my new mill, it's a real eye opener........side mill 2" thick steel at 20thou...shock horror it don't even break a sweat. End mill 20mm sink it 50 thou and transverse, the same result again....
I've not tried much more as yet but that's good enough for me. I would imagine your baby would be similar...
Have fun...... :dremel:
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I an having fun Darren, thanks ............... unfortunately work will interfere again come tomorrow ::) and it looks like a busy few weeks ahead so little workshop time for a while methinks :bugeye:
Tightening the ER Collet is no problem ............... spanner on drawbar, C spanner on Collet, it's loosening it, the collet chuck unscrews before the drawbar :scratch:
Having said that, then I was able to unscrew he drawbar just by holding the pulley :coffee: .............. just seems as though something is missing though :smart:
CC
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Can't you hold a spanner on the collet holder itself? Can on mine... :scratch:
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........ just seems as though something is missing though :smart:
CC
Yup, the two flats on the collet chuck to hold it whist you wrench the collet nut off, gottaanglegrinder ?
John S.
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Yup, the two flats on the collet chuck to hold it whist you wrench the collet nut off,
I thought of that earlier ..... :scratch: ........... and just to make sure I wasn't having another "hacksaw blade" moment I've gone back and looked again ............ no flat's present :bang:
It came from Arc Euro, JS can you get them to send me a pair of flats to retro fit :lol:
CC
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All you need to know..... :thumbup:
http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=1498.0
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All you need to know..... :thumbup:
I was sat here thinking, OK I can mill two flats on the chuck, ......... but ............ how do I hold it :scratch: ........... so cheers, :thumbup: whilst I've not yet progressed to 5C stuff, I can stick a round bar in the collet chuck and hold it in the milling vice, I'm not needing half a thou accuracy here after all, half a mil will be fine :smart:
I'll be back :dremel:
CC
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Nah, forget holding by the collet, it's not stable enough......read on in the thread..... :thumbup:
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.....read on in the thread..... :thumbup:
OK, off to cook tea then walk the dogs, be back in a while :wave:
CC
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Why for all the trouble milling flats? Just drill a couple of say 1/4" holes in the side, and then make a peg spanner.
Then just to get you out of the crap for the moment, you can use a tommy bar for tightening up, while you make your peg spanner out a bit of hotted up bent bar and a piece of 1/4" silver steel, or whatever size you drilled your holes.
John
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:bang: I just got back from milling some flats :dremel: .............. whatever, it's just different ways of cat skinning ain't it .................. a hole would have been easier though :hammer:
Not to worry, it works fine ...............
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/DSCF4022.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/CrewCab53/Metalwork/626/DSCF4024.jpg)
CC :thumbup: