Will build a Benchtop mill including Castings! Comments appreciated.

The Basic's of Machine #1 have been completed for some time and Greg & I have been
considering what's next !

We have installed a Gecko 540 in our Machine Console which can drive 4 axis motors,
and we are presently utilizing only three!

The subject of installing a TRUNION has been considered.

W. Smith, Mission Viejo,CA

Nice Trunnion!


Mike

Mike, Your comment is much appreciated!

The Trunion Table picture enclosed in my last post was one of several
included in my post #238, page 20 of this Thread.

We have now decided to prototype the concept and have received the casting
for the rotary table. ( see enclosure)

Have observed quite a few Amateur Builders experimenting with 4tn & 5th axis
these days and this seems like an easy way to get there!

W. Smith, Mission Viejo CA.

I have spent considerable time recently researching Arduino/Grbl and stumbled upon an interesting thread here on CNC Zone.
The author is GRBL GRU and is developing a terrific FREE Cad program on his thread in real time!

forums/uncategorized-cam-discussion/311876-cnc-forum.html

Definitely worth a look!!

W. Smith, Mission Viejo, CA

I haven't posted recently because I had submitted the information on
our "ULTRA" Model Bridge Mill to Digital Machinist Magazine
and was waiting for the article to be published.

Our new mill was featured on the cover of the Fall quarterly issue
published on Oct 6, and the editor George Bulliss and his staff did
a magnificent job in composing the article, " Design and Construction
of a CNC Bridge Mill".

They even referenced this thread for background information on
the project!

If you are a subscriber, please let me know what you think of the article.
Your input would be much appreciated!

W. (Ted) Smith, Mission Viejo, CA

This is the front page of the latest issue of Digital Machinist Fall 2017 vol 12
Attachment 376054

Totally Awesome!


Well Done!


Congratulation's

Insufficient superlative vocabulary to commend the Smith family engineering co!
Great work gentlemen.

I found your work today in digital machinist magazine, then read this thread end to end.
That took a while.
It was Well Worth It!

Bravo!

Please count me in as interested in bridge mill castings and drawings set if they ever become available!

Cheers!
Chris

Yes Smith, great work as always and again glad to see your kicking !!!!

Hi Guy's,

Hope more than 3 of you were able to view our article in Digital Machinist Magazine!

IT was much more concise and to the point than what I presented here!

W. (Ted) Smith

Hi All,

Greg & I have begun modifications on our current design of the Bridge Mill.

The latest configuration will expand on our spread upright design which was
shown earlier. Enclosed are some sketches of the proposed design.

Proposed Changes:
1.-Add 2-3 inches to the height of the Bridge Columns to raise the existing Cross Bar.
2.-Add two extensions to the existing Base Plate to add a footing for the extended columns.

I've removed the patterns from the shed and have started work on the modifications.

Hope to show some Progress soon!

W. (Ted) Smith

Attachment 380548Attachment 380550Attachment 380552

I like it. rngr1

The New Configuration Bridge Mill is finally in work!

The revision to the Pattern for the Side plate is in work and 3.5 inches was added to the height.
This translates into an additional 3.5 inches in Z axis travel or 11.0 in. total.

We anticipate adding the wings to the Base plate will be a little more time consuming but
this modification will allow increasing the machine table from 11.5 x 12.0 to 12.0 x 16.0 in.

It is our intention to increase the work area by passing long pieces both front to back as well as side to side.

more progress next time!!

W. (Ted) Smith

The next task in the Bridge Mill upgrade is to add "wings" to the Base Casting.

This revision should not be too complicated because there is adequate space available
to add the two extensions ( wings).


http://www.cnczone.com/forums/

Before Modifying the Base Plate Pattern to incorporate the wings
I decided to test the concept by adding the wings to an existing Base
Plate casting !
Looks like some additional machining will be required on the prototype
but think to results should be interesting!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CNCfun&games

Before Modifying the Base Plate Pattern to incorporate the wings
I decided to test the concept by adding the wings to an existing Base
Plate casting !
Looks like some additional machining will be required on the prototype
but think to results should be interesting!!

---

The Match Plate Patterns have been Modified to Incorporate the changes and I have decided
to drop the patterns of at the local Aluminum foundry and have several sets if the parts cast.

With all the emphasis on 3D Printing these days, I believe this configuration would provide
the basis for a very nice 3D printer.

At any rate it sounds like a fun Project!!

W. Ted Smith, Mission Viejo, CA

I recently picked up a copy of digital machinist shown above and stumbled onto this build. Wow this is amazing. Were plans ever published that others could follow? Been catching up on the thread here so if it is in there I apologize for not seeing it yet. Congrats on making the magazine and all the dedication, currently reading about 2012-13 changes. Thanks again.

Edit: Interested in a cad model, step format is fine. Again thank you.

It's been 3 years and not a peep from the OP. Guess that's how things go in 'Hobby Town'...too bad, it looked like a viable little machine.

Stuart

Yeah that is ashame. Thanks for letting me know.

The unfortunate reality is that I think most of this forums members have slowly moved on to other forms of internet communication. Likely Facebook. The problem is that groups there are so disorganized because anybody can create one on a whim. I think dedicated forums will make a return at some point, but the love for Facebook is going to have to dwindle a bit.