[JQ_Quint]

I'm still not decided over my machine guys..

"if" i go the bench mill route i'm down to 2.

Either the "Warco GH Universal" or the "Lux Mill" from Chester Machine Tools.

They are similar price and spec.

Does anyone have any preference and why?

Many Thanks
J.

[irving2008]

Cant answer your question but interested in the answer as looking at the lower end Warco v Chester mills at the £700 level. Can't find much info on the backlash/endfloat/runout specs of either but read lots of issues about the Chester ones needing a lot of fettling to get them right (but then read the same about X2/X3 etc)

[JQ_Quint]

Yeah i've read loads about the x2/x3 machines needing literally a rebuild to get them running nice. I really do refuse to spend about a grand on something that needs that level of attention from new..

I'm concerned you've read the same on the chester machine? I hadn't spotted any bad press on these......

J.

[Cube3]

I went to the Midlands Model Engineers Exhibition last weekend and looked at both the Lux and Warco GH Universal. From what I could tell they are exactly the same machine and just branded for Chester or Warco.
I think the Lux machine is more expensive but it does come with some tooling. The quality of the machines are pretty good, but saying that I would expect them to take good quality ones to an exhibition.
I am about to order the Warco GH Universal and convert it to CNC. I have quite a lot of learning to do before I start to order CNC kit but will start with pulling apart the GH and designing the conversion.
Simon

[JQ_Quint]

I could of done with gong to that exhibition too...
The main specs on paper i've noticed is that the warco has more X travel, 0.5hp more power and also has power down feed....

But i'm only quoting off their documentation, not got any real evidence..

Very interested in your project though...(cnc conversion..)

What made you choose the warco for your project?

J.

[blighty]

i have the lux,( RF45 ) and by the looks of things they are the same mill. the only difference i could see on the warco mill is the handle's on the X/Y look better, the lifting crank thing for the z is on the other side and its green.

apart from the column on my one being well out of square, the RF45 is a very good mill. i have now cnc'ed 2/3 of it (working on the z) and so far happy with the results i'm now getting.

don't think you will have any problems cncing this machine, got the X and Y done in a day.

[Oldbloke]

I went to the Midlands Model Engineers Exhibition last weekend and looked at both the Lux and Warco GH Universal. From what I could tell they are exactly the same machine and just branded for Chester or Warco.
I think the Lux machine is more expensive but it does come with some tooling. The quality of the machines are pretty good, but saying that I would expect them to take good quality ones to an exhibition.
I am about to order the Warco GH Universal and convert it to CNC. I have quite a lot of learning to do before I start to order CNC kit but will start with pulling apart the GH and designing the conversion.
Simon

I have just purchased the above machine, currently standing on a pallet in the garage. I propose to make similar modifications to those sugested by yourself but being a total novice at the art I am not sure where to start. I have read some of the articles in the MEW on the subject but it is always better to have a a specific piece of kit available to visulise the full extent of the project. I would appreciate any interchange of ideas for example when you say 'pulling apart' does that mean removal of the entire bed?

Oldbloke

[Kipper]

I have just purchased the above machine, currently standing on a pallet in the garage. I propose to make similar modifications to those sugested by yourself but being a total novice at the art I am not sure where to start. I have read some of the articles in the MEW on the subject but it is always better to have a a specific piece of kit available to visulise the full extent of the project. I would appreciate any interchange of ideas for example when you say 'pulling apart' does that mean removal of the entire bed?

Oldbloke

At some stage it has to be stripped down to perform the conversion...Not as bad as it sounds as I imagine they haven't changed much mechanically since the last model.

Welcome to the forum! :rainfro:

[Oldbloke]

Hi Kipper,
Thanks for the reply.
The GH is now on its stand and ready to start chopping up metal. I am quite pleased with the machine so far, but a Bridgport it is not! it has required a lot of packing to get it level as the base is not square or flat.
First job will be a set of T nuts, just to get my hand in.
With regard to your planned conversion to CNC, have you got any firm ideas about suitable stepper motors, support bracket designs, electronics etc or are these things part of an existing conversion kit? Will your design require a different lead screw (ballscrew or something)?
I have invested in the WARCO motorised bed. Not suitable for CNC of course but I thought it would be a usefull facility.
As I mentioned before, I am a newbie to the black art of CNC hence the dumb questions. I am not finding this forum very easy to manage either.

Regards, Oldbloke

[Kipper]

Different stickers attached...that's the only difference.

Afaik they take the ones to the shows from the showroom floor.

X2/X3 seem too small for all round use.

[Kipper]

Hi blighty, how are you going to control the Z...move the entire head or just the spindle?

Any details online of how you did the X&Y?

[pete from TN]

So ya got a rf45 cnc'd!! PICS PLEASE!!!! I am in that long tunnel right now and could use some inspiration. Ya say you are happy with it, whattya making? I am very curious to see your setup and system parts you chose. Thanks and good luck...peace

[blighty]

the controlling of the Z is done by a 1290oz stepper that moves the whole head, class5 ballscrew and a zero backlash preloaded nut. gas springs will be fitted at a latter date. X and Y stepper's 960oz using the same class5 etc....

after some help from fellow forum members i have managed to get .005mm(ish) B/L on the y and .01 on the x. rapid has been up to 7500mmpm (295ipm) but i have slowed it down too 4500mmpm (177ipm). i did this because at 7500mmpm it would travel all of the y axes in 2 seconds and the X in 5. i thought this would be a bit to quick

at the mo i have only cut the z motor mounting plate under cnc. thats the bit i was happy about. i was using an 8mm cutter (full face cut) at 1600rpm, 5mm deep, at 200mmpm (8ipm). it did do a 2mm deep cut on the same cutter at 1000mmpm (39ipm) but the finish was not to good and it scared the s**t out of me. i have cut other stuff just for setting up steppers, feed rates, acceleration etc.... happy to say no loss of steps, yet

Pete

i found converting the rf45 was a breeze. as i said before, putting the nut's screws, mounting the steppers and getting it all working was done in a day. fine tuning both the y and X axes took 2 weeks. i'll post some pic's tomorrow so yourself and JQ_Quint will know what your in for

[Kipper]

I'm like a kid before Christmas now I'd be happy with those speeds on the router I'm building (at a very slow pace)

[blighty]

hopefully the z will be done for Monday and the whole mill fully cnc'd for Wednesday.

[JQ_Quint]

Blighty,

Did you fix your column squareness issue on your lux? If so how?
Why do you call it RF45, is your machine a chester machine tool machine?

My application revolves around cutting cast iron, once yours is cnc complete would it tackle cast iron ok?

p.s, would be great if you you-tube your finished project (after you have finished Z)...

p.p.s, this forum is starting to create marital problems...he..he..


Thanks
JQ.

[Kipper]

RF45 refers to the Rong Fu 45 as these machines are clones of that one.
Cast iron is easily cut with these machines....Very messy

Regards the marital problems....Good luck

[blighty]

hi JQ_Quint

not fixed the column yet. at the mo i have a 2.2mm of packing under the left side of the column. when the Z is done i'm taking it to a local engineering place to get it squared up.

its a chester machine, but it didn't come from them.

as to "the marital problems" i don't have that problem. yes... i may as well be married, but she's the one who sends me to my shed

[JQ_Quint]

Blighty / Simon / Kipper

You all own or are looking at either the warco or the lux machine, which is what i am looking at so hopefully you can answer the following:

Its just dawned on me that I wish to fly cut with about a 140mm dia cutter (mini head skimming), what is the distance between head centre and face of z column? This could be a major flaw in my machine purchase.....

Thanks
J.

[Cube3]

Oh no, don't get me started on Mini's.......I was a Mini nut 20 years ago....I have built and machined countless Mini heads......

As for the Warco GH as a suitable machine to prepare Mini cylinder heads. The X axis is spec'd as 584mm, your 140mm fly cutter will take 70mm either end to clear the head leaving you with 445mm travel which is very close to a Mini head I think. You will easily get a fly cutter in a R8 collet and clear the head which is probably only 80 or 90mm high. The throat is 280mm.
I am sure you may have other plans for the GH but if it is only for machining cylinder heads then £1400+tooling gets you a lot of machine shop time!
Simon