[robcap]

Found a user manual for a Optium BF20L. Should be a close match for the Grizz.

http://www.velleca.it/manualiforum/bf20_vario_gb.pdf

[madtownrob]

WOW - go away from the computer for a few days and there are 2 more pages to this thread! After hearing that HOSS has bought one (or is buying one) and will be CNC'ing it, I will be going this route and waiting to see what he comes up with. I kept looking and reading up more on the BF20 after I started this thread and found out just what the Grizzly mill was and it does seem that this is a pretty nice mill.

The only thing that was still pushing me more towards the X3 was the CNC fusion kit, but now if Hoss is going to come up with something first so I don't have to try and invet this - well that's the big game changer!

Thanks for all of the information, links, and input everyone has posted in this thread! - Rob

[Enraged]

anyone else notice the "high speed adapter" listed in that optimum PDF, page 22 has the part number, installation starts on page 33.

[Crevice Reamer]

The only thing that was still pushing me more towards the X3 was the CNC fusion kit

Michael at CNCFusion has informed me that he plans to market both regular and Deluxe CNC kits for the G0704--Just as soon as he gets HIS G0704 delivered. They will cost similar to the X3 kits.

CR.

[rwestbr]

Hello, I found this on Alibaba,wonder how much $

http://sinotek.en.alibaba.com/produc...l_SINO20V.html

Robert

[hoss2006]

Michael at CNCFusion has informed me that he plans to market both regular and Deluxe CNC kits for the G0704--Just as soon as he gets HIS G0704 delivered. They will cost similar to the X3 kits.

CR.

That's good, Michael does fine work, just so long as the wait isn't as long as for the lathe kits.
Frees me up to provide plans for the DIYers out there that can go CNC for FAR less money.
Elbow grease is economical as long as it's yours.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

Found a user manual for a Optium BF20L. Should be a close match for the Grizz.

http://www.velleca.it/manualiforum/bf20_vario_gb.pdf

Thats cool, nice that they provided some dimensions too.
Might be a new use for my Dewalt Laminate Trimmer.
Hoss

[hoss2006]

Any ideas about how to increase the Grizzly G0704 Z travel to match that of the X3?

Man, you are never satisfied.
Do you have parts to make that need a certain amount of travel?
You can machine parts that are bigger than your mill, you just have to learn how
to set them up.
Hoss

PS, I DO see an easy way that the Z and the Y could be increased with one extra part
but is it really necessary.

[madbee]

Thanks robcap !! Just what I was looking for. This is a serious manual at 60 pages, looks like distance of the z-axis might be different from Grizzly's.

Found a user manual for a Optium BF20L. Should be a close match for the Grizz.

http://www.velleca.it/manualiforum/bf20_vario_gb.pdf

[kanton]

Originally Posted by kanton:

"Any ideas about how to increase the Grizzly G0704 Z travel to match that of the X3?"

Man, you are never satisfied.
Do you have parts to make that need a certain amount of travel?
You can machine parts that are bigger than your mill, you just have to learn how
to set them up.
Hoss

PS, I DO see an easy way that the Z and the Y could be increased with one extra part
but is it really necessary.

Yeah Hoss,

Is that why you got a ZX45 and ordered a Grizzly G0704 rather than continue doing everything on your X2?

[hoss2006]

Yeah Hoss,

Is that why you got a ZX45 and ordered a Grizzly G0704 rather than continue doing everything on your X2?

The ZX45 is for Heavy Duty milling in steel the X2 can't do and the G0704
will be my new "Lab" mill upstairs instead of building another modded X2.
You've been asking about increasing travels for a year and a half,
I think this mill will make anything you need to make and the price is right. If you don't NEED more travels, why worry about it.
Hoss

[Starleper1]

I'm not sure if kanton is a machinist and even actually has ever worked in a real shop before, but I am, and I do, and I came to realize that 90% of the parts that I actually make can be held in a normal Kurt 6" vise. That doesn't take much travel at all. The other 10% require clamping to the table.

Creative setups are what I enjoy, and really is how you can make parts that are considered "oversize" for the machine.

Just my 2cents.

[caveryt]

I’m not a machinist. I got my X2 off of Craigslist about a year ago after seeing all that Hoss has been able to do with his. I’ve kept it manual while I learn, and I must say I didn’t realize how talented a true machinist is. My plan was to CNC the X2 this year, but I think I’m going to reconsider and take a hard look at the G0704. The work envelope of the X2 is fine for most of what I’ve wanted to do, but I find myself cutting a lot of 304 stainless and something with more power and rigidity would be nice. Most of what I’m doing now is cutting 7/16” W x 1” D slots in 304 SS bar stock. Would the G0704 be enough, or should I look at something even larger like the ZX45?

[chalky]

Just for info there are a set of plans for a BF20 CNC conversion in the downloads section of www.einfach-cnc.de I'm not sure however that the saddle dimensions of the BF20 and Grizzly G0704 are exactly the same so be careful. Had a Weiss WMD25LV for nearly three years now and I have to agree with Hoss that this range of machines is the future of home shop milling. I can't understand how Weiss can produce machines of this quality for the price they do, even bearing in mind the fact that they are located in China. Recently got a WMD16L for my smaller work and the quality is just as good as that of its bigger brother - unbelievable. I still get a kick out of putting a dti in the spindle and running it over the full travel of the table in both directions. Barely a flicker on either machine. Incidentally their lathes are just as good as their mills - got me one of those too.

[ibuildstuff4u]

Are we sure Weiss is making these machines? Could they be copies made cheaply from someone else? To me they look like a Sieg.

Just a thought,

Dale P.

[chalky]

Interesting point. The G0704 looks like a Weiss WMD20LV but the label says BF20LV which is an Optimum rather than a Weiss model number. The G0704 is definitely not a standard Optimum machine. Could be a Weiss rebadged for Grizzly. Some European importers sell rebadged and slightly rejigged Weiss and Optimum machines. To stir the pot even further I know of at least one other chinese company producing "BF20" look alikes. If the G0704 comes from Weiss, or less likely from Optimum, then they'll be bl--dy good machines. Have no idea about the quality of anything other than Weiss or Optimum machines. Given the choice of all of these machines I'd go for Weiss because of their consistently high mechanical precision. I guess someone could ring Grizzly up and ask where their machines come from.

[rlfervan]

Drats. I was going to order a G0463 next week after weeks of reading and thought and now this!! Has anyone checked parts availability from Grizzly?
I think that will still apply From what I read the G0704 from Grizz has A R-8 spindle.
WHAT TO DO???

[chalky]

No Brainer - go for the G0704 you won't regret it.

[iandh]

This looks like a nice machine, but I'm not sure if it is nice enough to warrant switching out my G0463.

The other thing is that once I finish my ultra-rigid CNC router project, I'm going to cannibalize the CNC parts from the G0463 and convert it back to manual... I don't know I if I like the manual features of the G0704 comparitively. The top mounted crank is the worst one for me, I have a really bad shoulder and that could get to be pretty horrid. That's one thing I really love about the G0463 when used manually.

I'd really need to use the machine first before making judgement, but the saddle also looks a bit wimpy. I'd get pretty nervous about having my 4" vise and a 25+lb part hanging off that with x-axis extended. I do love the taper gibs though, wish my G0463 had them.

edit: I don't know, maybe the saddle doesn't really look that bad. I think I need to see a few detailed user reviews and comparisons before I make any decisions.

[chalky]

No problems with 50lb loads on the fully extended x axis, but I gotta agree that the height of the z axis handwheel is probably the only poor design feature on the G0704. I guess that you can motorise it as some people have already done.