Way covers trap too much coolant and are a pain to clean... when will one of you enterprising fabricators make some decent sheet metal covers like the pro machines? I'd buy some! (Mikini has em, wonder if they'd fit?)...
Way covers trap too much coolant and are a pain to clean... when will one of you enterprising fabricators make some decent sheet metal covers like the pro machines? I'd buy some! (Mikini has em, wonder if they'd fit?)...
I call second set! I'm sick of having to hose chips off the Y after every single cycle.
Brian
WOT Designs
I use a "bib" on the back of the table for that very reason, the chips will also chew up those way covers.
mike sr
That's an option, but the covers and bib feel kludgey.. I'm hoping somebody will make some so I can ditch the stock stuff and have nice neat covers that don't collect chips and coolant. I suggested it to Tormach as an extra-cost option, but they didn't seem too interested.
I'm 110% with you on this !!!! I've played around with a few designs, but nothing solid. The wipers are the biggest pain to fit in properly or should I say make. Next would be the Y backside clearance. I can't remember off the top of my head, but they'd need to be under 1" - 1.5" W to clear. Last, don't forget the cross scissors frames.
Here's what the scissor frames look like.
Write up found here
CNCCookbook: IH Mill Way Covers
Tormach makes a "Chip flap" for the y Axis. I made my own and it works very well - virtually no chips collect in the way cover.
32780 - Y-axis Chip Flap Upgrade for PCNC 1100
Jeff
I've seen some that have no fancy bits on the back side, just a lip - as it extends, one piece catches the next one on the lip and pulls it along. Going the other way, it just pushes them to stack up.. Also, made like a shallow "A" frame for max coolant return.. Shouldn't bee too hard to do in sheet metal, just would rather make parts rather than modify the machine
delete
mike sr
I had some stainless steel laser cut and it's just offset bolts in the slots and the covers slide independently. It's worked good so far. They sometimes get a little crooked but straiten themselves out.
Adam
I thought for a long time about this and came up with a solution for my problem. When I was using the fly-cutter, big curly chips would get stuck in the y-axis bellows and they even started to puncture them. So I designed some stainless steel sliding covers to mount on top of the bellows.
Adam
Hi Adam.
Sorry this post is late. I think your way covers really do look slick. But before I make some like that please answer this question.
How have they stood up over time? Do you machine steel? I imagine tough little steel curlings could hook up under the plates and over time lift them apart and as the gaps develop then more chips would get under?
Any feed back welocome. Thanks. Keen.
Keen, I made these because when I used the superfly cutter, I was getting the curly steel chips as well. This keeps the chips out of the bellows, but it still does need some attention, but not near as much. I've had them on the machine for about 2 months now and haven't had a problem so far.
Adam
adamboon;
Can you share the construction details?
Many thanks.
Bill
billyjack
Helicopter def. = Bunch of spare parts flying in close formation! USAF 1974 ;>)
I second what bill south said. Those are really slick!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many old bridgeport and other knee pill owners have been looking for a metal solution for years. I may have to make a set of these for and old Mill right vertical mill that has abrasion on the dovetails do to chips falling on them!
Awesome Idea Adamboon, Hope you can share with us
I'd be interested as well. I have another thread going where I was just trying to do a simple Z axis cover. Offsetting the screws as was done here, would have helped me out a lot I think. Very nice solution.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/novako...ml#post1463236
Lee
That is a simple design! I like simple. I could probably make those without breaking too much stuff. Maybe even attach them to the bottom of the Z.
I think Ray did some like that on his knee mill. He used hinges. Takes care of two covers at the same time. I had similar made out of rubber on my first installation on my 80/20 mill. Worked pretty well, but my mounting bolts were under the table and corroded quickly. That rubber did help keep the bellows clear, but ultimately the front bellows did fail due to abrasion from chips. I then just used a rubber curtain on the Z of that machine. Rubber curtain bellows on the front and rear of Y as well. Not that great, but doesn't pack chips like the accordion style does.
The design in the video does look simple enough. Just make the reliefs in each section large enough to catch all the screws from the lower coarses. My fasteners worked pretty well too. They just did not bypass each other like Adam's does.
Lee