[pete from TN]

I may actually be in my own little world....but you DEFINITELY live in your own little world that is for sure.... Hope you feel better soon.. peace

Pete

[hoss2006]

Move on pete.
Hoss

[Maglin]

Potentiometers are cheap. I would try one from the Rat Shack ::shiver:: and if it fixes I would replace it with a good one. Hell you have another machine to barrow parts from. A lot of cheap switches will arc when they are moved slowly. Thing is the more you do it the worse they get until they arc even when you move them fast and eventually the contacts get burned to crap and they no long work. I would get a new one from the Grizzly.

[hoss2006]

A little heads up for the any of my CNC conversion folks watching If you want to do the head flip mod.
Mill .050 off of the front face of the Z axis stepper mount to allow for the slide traveling above.
I'll send out a zip download when it's all said and done but there's just too many of you to be doing it piecemeal.
Thanks, Hoss

[diyengineer]

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcjj-Mcu6KE&feature=related"]YouTube - Werkzeugwechsler BF20 Optimum mit Mach 3 und CNC Tool Controler Steuerung.wmv[/nomedia]

Skip to about 50 Seconds. I like those covers!!

Pretty sweet machine.

How would one get spindle orientation?

Also, i forgot to put the small bolt back on the spindle inside the quill. I'm guessing that is the slot that lines up the R8 right? Ill have to sneek it in the access hole.

[hoss2006]

Very cool, his other video shows the bellows close up, something every DIYer could manage on their own and for a variety of mills.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TXWqhT7uiY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL"]YouTube - BF20 Optimum Teleskopabdeckung fà¼r Kugelrollspindel Trapezspindel CNC kein Faltenbalg[/nomedia]

You just need some type of pickup on the spindle like the C3 I have and basically use it like a home switch.

Hoss

[hoss2006]

Found this site that has some pretty cheap ready made bellows that could be adapted to any of our machines.
A V Ibrahim Industries.
They can make custom telescoping metal covers too, their order form lets you specify exactly what you want.
Telescopic Covers Manufacturer from India.
Bob has a pretty simple idea with some free CAD drawings.
CNCCookbook: IH Mill Way Covers
Hoss

[hoss2006]

As I figured the gib strip problem was stupor related.
I had it installed correctly but after I took it all apart again, I noticed the little brass pin
that the locks use to press against the gib strip was sitting proud.
I must have bumped the lock handle around while I had things apart and it pushed the pin
out of the hole a bit.
The ones in the saddle just fall out but these in the head slide needed tapped with a hammer and punch to move.
They are out of the way now and I don't intend to use the lock handles again.
The gib strip sits in there just like normal now.
Time to move on to the next task.
Hoss

[diyengineer]

As I figured the gib strip problem was stupor related.
I had it installed correctly but after I took it all apart again, I noticed the little brass pin
that the locks use to press against the gib strip was sitting proud.
I must have bumped the lock handle around while I had things apart and it pushed the pin
out of the hole a bit.
The ones in the saddle just fall out but these in the head slide needed tapped with a hammer and punch to move.
They are out of the way now and I don't intend to use the lock handles again.
The gib strip sits in there just like normal now.
Time to move on to the next task.
Hoss

Nice!! Monster Z axis haha!

[hoss2006]

Nice!! Monster Z axis haha!

Oh yeah!
I'm not up to going downstairs to use the ZX45 to open the column slot so I'm
doing like those without a 2nd mill could do, using a drill and grinder.
It'll give me another 3.5 of travel for a total of 18.5.
Had to flip the z ballnut to the top of the ballnut mount but it can still
go as high as before.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

The column mod is done, the slot was opened up 3.5 inches.
Now, technically, I have 18.5 inches of Z travel.
With an endmill in the collet and allowing for clearance of the table under
the head slide at the max rear Y travel, the travel is 17 inches.
With the head tilted at 90 degrees, the centerline of the spindle will be about
4 inches above the table at the lowest point with the control box removed of course.
Now my G0704 has
19 inches X travel
9.5 inches Y travel
18.5 inches Z travel
more or less.
Freaky enough for me.
What was next? Oh yeah, the simple head spacer.
Hoss


[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehss-9JoMes"]YouTube - G0704 Column Mod for Z Axis Flip.wmv[/nomedia]

[hoss2006]

With the mill back together for the moment, I need to make a few parts to complete
the rear stepper mount and the simple head spacer.
The big chip tray is a pain to constantly take on and off so I whipped up this
little version in about a half hour.
Reused the pvc pipe and fittings along with some shower curtain.
Real easy to yank on and off and keeps the chips off the floor.
Starting on a round simple head spacer since I found a chunk of 5 inch.
The print for it and the original simple head spacer are below.
I posted a link to some longer head t-bolts at mcmaster before but I'm going
to make some myself.
Why buy when you can just make it.
Hoss

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgByPzBraGw"]YouTube - G0704 Mini Temp Enclosure.wmv[/nomedia]

[hoss2006]

If those print jpgs aren't clear enough, here's the dxf's.
Can't wait to get this stuff done and that stuff done, I have some cool plans for that big chuck on this mill along with the 5th axis.
Hoss

[diyengineer]

WOW! The finish on that part is really really nice and shiny! looks amazing!!

With the mill back together for the moment, I need to make a few parts to complete
the rear stepper mount and the simple head spacer.
The big chip tray is a pain to constantly take on and off so I whipped up this
little version in about a half hour.
Reused the pvc pipe and fittings along with some shower curtain.
Real easy to yank on and off and keeps the chips off the floor.
Starting on a round simple head spacer since I found a chunk of 5 inch.
The print for it and the original simple head spacer are below.
I posted a link to some longer head t-bolts at mcmaster before but I'm going
to make some myself.
Why buy when you can just make it.
Hoss

YouTube - G0704 Mini Temp Enclosure.wmv

[hoss2006]

WOW! The finish on that part is really really nice and shiny! looks amazing!!

But now I'm gonna powdercoat it.
I didn't bother with the holes for mounting the spacer to the head with 10-32s.
Only temporary.
Ah, lots of Z now, still 6 inches left.
Hoss

[DSpeck]

Now that it's fully opened up for business , can it still hold the same tolerances when cutting (i.e. do you have to give up anything for the increased travels?)

[hoss2006]

Actually I'm not finished yet, still the head spacer to install but didn't notice
any difference in cutting so far with the head flip or column spacer.
Still breezed though .200 DOC with a .500 endmill.
LOTS more testing to do later on.
Hoss

[diyengineer]

Actually I'm not finished yet, still the head spacer to install but didn't notice
any difference in cutting so far with the head flip or column spacer.
Still breezed though .200 DOC with a .500 endmill.
LOTS more testing to do later on.
Hoss

Still planning on building one of those big brace structures that support the column? I think you dropped a link of it a few pages ago (possibly a German company that sells them for the BF20, if my memory serves me right).

[hoss2006]

maybe, the column spacer didn't seem to affect it any and the brace wouldn't do anything to help
the head spacer.
Still may make one though so it could cut as well as my zx45.
Hoss

[diyengineer]

maybe, the column spacer didn't seem to affect it any and the brace wouldn't do anything to help
the head spacer.
Still may make one though so it could cut as well as my zx45.
Hoss

Might as well make it a mini ZX45 haha..