I bought a knee mill, ,,,what I think is a big mill for me as a hobby machinist. It's 4000 lbs, travels of 29+", 16", and 6". I named it, Charley.
Charley began life as a CNC machine back in the mid 1970's, but somewhere along the way, it was stripped of all its electronics but for the motor contactors. It has a 3 HP, 3 phase motor, variable speed pulley system. Charley has a 4 3/8" quill, (not a typo). It has an automatic oiler system, and a built in coolant system.
The used machine dealer I bought it from thinks it was built in Japan for a NY company, Autonumerics, which then added the electronics. It was sold under a name registered in 1969 Positool. An Atlanta company, Allison Machinery, sold the unit new, but the owner of that company remembers nothing about it, although he remembers handling the line. I have searched for many hours without finding anything about it.
My hobby for about the past ten years has been CNC, as applied to a 3-in-1 Shoptask, and then recently a 1440 lathe I converted. The only path I know well is Mach 3, Geckos, servos, (although I had a little experience with steppers, EMC, and other software in the early days).
So the task I've set is to make Charley live again as a CNC machine, and I'll do it with almost no money.
Jerry "Ozzie" Pryor
Old Curmudgeon