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Type: Posts; User: digits

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  1. Replies
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    Re: My aluminium CNC Mill/Lathe build.

    Not quite a decade later, but anyway, no I never did try my BT30 spindle in anger. Maybe in another 20 years when I'm retired ;)
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    Re: Another BF30 CNC Conversion....

    Loving the sausage press! Like Longrat I probably don't need one either but CNC cider press sounds like a good up cycling project!
  3. Replies
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    Re: BT30 Spindle project

    They are physically too large to fall out of the holes in the gripper body.
  4. Re: I think my mill's motor is on the way out :( (BF30-clone)

    Unfortunately I've still not logged many cutting hours on my WM18 - but I intend to pick up the pace soon. I now have a 32A supply by my mill, so I could actually up the stall torque parameter on the...
  5. Re: I think my mill's motor is on the way out :( (BF30-clone)

    Very true but the magic there is in the drive - or not as it would appear in the case of these mills...
  6. Re: I think my mill's motor is on the way out :( (BF30-clone)

    Electric motors aren't designed to be stalled! They will just overheat if they're consuming power but not spinning. There is nothing to limit how hot they can get except for how well they are...
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    Re: Another Warco WM18 CNC conversion (BF30-clone)

    The dimensions, mass and column mounting method are all BF30 like. It just isn't made as well IMHO. It is half the price though...
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    Re: Another Warco WM18 CNC conversion (BF30-clone)

    Oh no it isn't!
  9. Replies
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    Re: Another Warco WM18 CNC conversion (BF30-clone)

    Well, I have finally moved, which really brought home just how much heavy stuff this hobby involves! I decided to break my mill down and transport it in the boot of my car, rather than trying to lift...
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    Re: New Opti BF46 - soon to be CNC'ed

    Have you managed to make any more progress? I've seen a BF46 in the metal myself now, and I'm very interested to know how well they CNC...
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    Re: Lathe - Bigger motor or bigger bore?

    How about the Warco WM290V - it is more pricey, but seems to have both a 38mm bore and a 1.5kW motor...
  12. Re: BT30 spindle built from scratch, with ATC possibility.

    Wow - what a fantastic project! Excellent work!
  13. Replies
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    Re: New Opti BF46 - soon to be CNC'ed

    Nice set of bits you have there :) Having 3-HP in the axes sounds a bit insane though - well, done! :D
  14. Thread: Optimum BF 46

    by digits
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    Re: Optimum BF 46

    Very interesting to hear about the CNC version, but I'd guess the price will be truely eye watering if it's anything like their smaller machines that they've CNC'ed!

    Are you going to do anything...
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    Re: Another Warco WM18 CNC conversion (BF30-clone)

    Thanks for the link! My BF-30 clone had a brushed DC motor and rather iffy controller board, which is why I went servo, but is there anything really wrong with the stock BF46 motor and controller?...
  16. Thread: Optimum BF 46

    by digits
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    Re: Optimum BF 46

    I put a 1.8kW servo on my smaller BF30 clone with a belt drive (1:1 ratio IIRC) and it is great for mid size cutters, but really, I miss the back-gear for drilling steel etc. The way the big...
  17. Replies
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    Re: New Opti BF46 - soon to be CNC'ed

    Glad to see that this thread is still live! Hopefully you'll be able to post some pictures for us to enjoy once you've had some more time to work on your new mill.
  18. Replies
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    Re: HAFCO HM48 geared head CNC conversion

    What other equipment do you have access to? If you have a lathe, then boring out those big holes in those bearing mounts shouldn't be too bad. Otherwise, as others have suggested, I would consider...
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    Re: Another Warco WM18 CNC conversion (BF30-clone)

    IMHO having the extra bearing mounts and the Y-axis screw sticking out the back is handy for a CNC conversion - the fact they have a ballscrew kit that's bolt in is also a plus to me - milling out...
  20. Replies
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    Re: Another Warco WM18 CNC conversion (BF30-clone)

    Well today, I made the journey to Excel Machine Tools in Coventry to have a look at a real Opti BF46 in the metal. Unfortunately I had forgotten my tape measure, but believe me, it is a beast! The...
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    Re: VMC Mill Splash Guard design 2nd Iteration

    Looking good! Does that mill have linear rails on all the axes, or just the Y?
  22. Re: Are there any big-travel CNC desktops available in UK/Europe?

    I think that M2LS is probably based on the Opti BF20!

    You seem to have to go for very large machines to get much bigger travels once you go to a 'proper VMC' - but unlike most benchtops, they...
  23. Re: Are there any big-travel CNC desktops available in UK/Europe?

    Yes, that's possible! I am going to go and see a BF46 at the end of this week - it will be interesting to see where they've added 200kg over the BF30!
  24. Replies
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    Re: Another Warco WM18 CNC conversion (BF30-clone)

    Yes, you're right - it would probably be quite doable in two setups, and I will probably give that a go for a few trial parts, but as I am hopefully moving to a larger workshop soon, I am hankering...
  25. Re: Are there any big-travel CNC desktops available in UK/Europe?

    Hmm, the Opti website and user manual disagree slightly - the manual says 520mm in X and 260mm in Y which is significantly larger than your machine IMO. I really would like 200+ mm travel in Y...
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    Re: 10"x12" Scratch built lathe

    That is fantastic! I guess that would be perfect for softening the ends of ballscrews before machining them too - even heating due to spinning might help keep them straight :)
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    Re: Another Warco WM18 CNC conversion (BF30-clone)

    Well, it's been a while since I've updated this thread - and a while since I've used the mill in anger!

    I have a few complex 3D parts I want to make, and the work holding was hurting my head a...
  28. Re: Are there any big-travel CNC desktops available in UK/Europe?

    Thanks - I think that's just a bit smaller travels than the machine I currently have. I may go look at a 'real' Opti BF46 soon - they are not cheap though!
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    Re: VMC Mill Splash Guard design 2nd Iteration

    Very nice looking enclosure! Are the sides just sheet metal, or have you got some stiffening to stop it vibrating when the mill is running?
  30. Re: Are there any big-travel CNC desktops available in UK/Europe?

    TBH I am very tempted by a Tormach - I already have a lot of TTS tooling, but the X-travel is a bit too short for my liking.
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