[Xnaron]

Mine is coming too...

[Ldguinn1]

Were you ever able to get a part cut after your 5th axis? How did it work? What controller did you use to control it? I'm sure that these questions have already been answered but I must have missed them... Thanks for the reply, thanks for fueling my addiction.

[hoss2006]

The 5th axis software is still waiting on my laptop for me to get into.
Too many other projects I'm tackling first.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

Mine is coming too...

Congrats, welcome to the ever growing family.:cheers:
Hoss

[Connor]

Yeah Ian that's a real good idea.
I actually got the lucky link from Connors thread where he's doing something kinda like that.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/bencht...s_g0704-7.html
Right now I just keep stuff on the floor under the table.
Gotta stop buying stuff or things are going to start piling up in the kitchen.
Gotta put your idea on the list, then figure out how to CNC it.
Hoss

Sadly I've been sick for the past week and haven't had time to do anything. I hope to be able to get back to it soon. Nice looking Vise grip BTW.

[aarggh]

Shame your sick, hope your better soon Connor!

I was thinking it's funny how over time people end up coming to the same or similar patterns of thought based on their experiences, requirements, and what they are doing. I recently picked up a 70kg vise, and was realising just how damn heavy and awkward it was, when I got to thinking about the boom truck that will be delivering my mill next year, which led me to think a gantry/boom style arm would be useful for the rotary table and vise. And when I saw a pic of a tapping arm, I thought "that's it!", the perfect solution for moving heavy stuff!

Then I see on this thread it was very far from a unique or even remotely modern idea :-)

I'm now actually also tossing around the idea of a mobile, repositional gantry arm, for moving around the workshop, or even an overhead beam and lifting hook assembly as a solution, whatever comes easiest I guess!

I think we're all getting older, so whatever makes life easier and safer has to be good!

Sorry Hoss, I'm not hijacking your great thread, honestly!

cheers,
Ian

[hoss2006]

Good ideas are always welcome Ian, no worries.
Yeah an overhead crane would be sweet.
Loved those in the shops I worked that had them.
Get better soon Connor, looking forward to the finished lifter.
Hoss

[Maglin]

Hoss,

If I remember correctly, a while back you mentioned a 30 taper spindle and pull stud type drawbar... if im wrong then what are your thoughts on a mod like this...I did contact a spindle grinding service and was quoted $275 to get the stock R8 spindle reground to CAT30...The only thing im wondering about is how to fit a pull stud type drawbar inside such a small spindle...

Might be a lot cheaper to buy a ntb30 spindle. Grizzly might be able to get you one.

Sent from my Incredible 2 HD using Tapatalk

[hoss2006]

Highly unlikely since no one sells a machine this size with an nmtb or 30 taper spindle option.
Optimum/Top Tech won't even go as big as R8.
Hoss

[loply]

Highly unlikely since no one sells a machine this size with an nmtb or 30 taper spindle option.
Optimum/Top Tech won't even go as big as R8.
Hoss

Hoss - for what it's worth there is a UK supplier selling the same mill with an R8 option. See AMADEAL Ltd.. I'm sure I've seen a video of a continental European chap with an Optimum one sporting an ISO30 too...

[hoss2006]

Hoss - for what it's worth there is a UK supplier selling the same mill with an R8 option. See AMADEAL Ltd.. I'm sure I've seen a video of a continental European chap with an Optimum one sporting an ISO30 too...

Yes I just posted in another thread this morning about Amadeals R8 but
Optimum/Top Tech have made a point of stating they do not/will not offer R8 because they think it's too big.
The Optimum bf30 has an iso30 spindle option but not the bf20 which is the size of a g0704.
A bf30 is much bigger than a bf20.
Not saying a bf30 iso30 spindle couldn't be reworked to possible fit a bf20,
anythings possible if you have a mind to make it work.
Hoss

[slinger]

Hoss, Please forgive my my lack of CAD skills, but what about adding a cantilever handle to the vice grip? It seems to me that the vice does not balance well at the point of clamping. With a cantilever handle, the vice would remain mostly level while lifting it.

[hoss2006]

Great idea! I think I might have to do that instead, glad I didn't cut the other one yet.:cheers:
Hoss

[hoss2006]

Just found a good deal on a lightly used lathe spindle that should be great for the slant bed lathe project.
Been on the lookout for one that can use 5C as well.
Not ready to actually start it (I'll make a new thread) but couldn't let it slip away.
I should learn to just stay off ebay, it'd be cheaper.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

Alright, the vice grip 2 ala slinger.
I had to raise it up so I had room for my fat fingers between the 1 inch handle and the vise.
Thanks slinger.
Hoss

[Trike]

I just got the mill, crate looked in good condition. Once I took the stand out, I noticed a ding in the top front of it, it didn't look like something hit the box though. I'll have to see how visible it is once the tray is on.

Is it me, or do the new mills look used when it's delivered. The white paint looks pretty dirty, I see black grease marks on the yellow emergency stop button, and little paint chipping here and there. Am I just being overly anal?

When you guys got your new machines, was the entire machine covered in cosmoline?

The date on the side says 9/11. I would assume this is a new machine since it takes couple months to get here from china. I haven't removed the side panels of the crate yet, in case I did get a used/returned machine. Hopefully I'm just being stupidly anal and it'll all clean up.

It did show up really early, I ordered it last saturday, and got it today.

[hoss2006]

I just got the mill, crate looked in good condition. Once I took the stand out, I noticed a ding in the top front of it, it didn't look like something hit the box though. I'll have to see how visible it is once the tray is on.

Is it me, or do the new mills look used when it's delivered. The white paint looks pretty dirty, I see black grease marks on the yellow emergency stop button, and little paint chipping here and there. Am I just being overly anal?

When you guys got your new machines, was the entire machine covered in cosmoline?

The date on the side says 9/11. I would assume this is a new machine since it takes couple months to get here from china. I haven't removed the side panels of the crate yet, in case I did get a used/returned machine. Hopefully I'm just being stupidly anal and it'll all clean up.

It did show up really early, I ordered it last saturday, and got it today.

Doesn't sound like it's anything abnormal but a closer inspection will tell.
You can see pics of mine on opening day.
g0704.com
The table was the only part covered with grease and paper.
Several people have been getting mills delivered this week based on my inbox.
Hoss

[Connor]

Good ideas are always welcome Ian, no worries.
Yeah an overhead crane would be sweet.
Loved those in the shops I worked that had them.
Get better soon Connor, looking forward to the finished lifter.
Hoss

I'm still trying to decide how I want to make the anti slip setup.. I'm thinking making a 2 parts. One that mounts to the arm, and then interchangeable jaws so that I can use it with different size vises.

On the overhead cranes... I installed in my shop a 6' Unistrut as a track, and made a trolley out of 4 sliding glass door wheels (metal ones, not plastic). It goes inside the Unistrut. I installed it so I could move my mill the back of my shop. Wishing now I had installed 2 rails and then I could have made a cross rail that would allow me to move stuff all around my little 11' x 7' shop.

[Mad Welder]

...............When you guys got your new machines, was the entire machine covered in cosmoline? .............Is it me, or do the new mills look used when it's delivered......................

Hi guy's sorry to but in on an ongoing thread but if it's any encouragement to you Trike I thought I was the only one who saw grease thumb prints on the paint…..but not to worry I suppose at times during the initial shipping from factories smudges are bound to happen…and yup my table was covered in grease and greaseproof wrapping.

After 6mths of internet searches I myself last February bought the German Optimum BF20L Vario (g0704)…..and Hoss thanks again too for your replies any time I sought advice and I just finished my CNC conversion only a few days ago.

and believe it or not Hoss a big part of my decision to buy the BF20L was based on finding your website while doing my research,
and I also used one of your advised configurations for my hardware components….so thanks again....:cheers:

[Trike]

Doesn't sound like it's anything abnormal but a closer inspection will tell.
You can see pics of mine on opening day.
g0704.com
The table was the only part covered with grease and paper.
Several people have been getting mills delivered this week based on my inbox.
Hoss

Sorry Hoss, for invading your thread. let me know if you want me to start my own thread.

I think I overreacted a little, since this is what I saw first:

http://turborocco.com/gallery2/var/r...g?m=1321572594

The left screw is completely crooked and not threaded in all the way. The touch up paint they slathered on didn't help the initial reaction.

http://turborocco.com/gallery2/var/r...g?m=1321572556
http://turborocco.com/gallery2/var/a...g?m=1321572545

That whole front plate isn't lined up and scratches here and there.

http://turborocco.com/gallery2/var/r...g?m=1321572568

chewed up handle

http://turborocco.com/gallery2/var/r...g?m=1321572587

Most of the white paint looks like that.

http://turborocco.com/gallery2/var/r...g?m=1321572574

looks fine from a few feet away.

I realize most of it is cosmetics and can be cleaned up, but the left box with the motor controls wasn't put together all that great.

I feel some play in the quill with the initial takeup, not too worried about that since It'll be converted to CNC.

I'll start tearing it down and clean it up. I still have to add a electrical drop to where I want it before I can position it.

I'll be curious to see if other g0704's in this batch look the same. I also noticed others had a protective wrap on the plastic shield, mine didn't.

Hoss, judging from your pics, yours looked a lot cleaner out of the box. It just looks like someone went trigger happy with the cosmoline.