[Whizbang]

Hey guys, its been christmas for the last day. I recieved my g0704 and a lot of tooling and equipment. Here are some photos below. I plan to cnc this machine but dont know where to start whether to take it apart first or just start trying to make things. I have the full hoss2006 dvd set so I have plenty of projects ahead of me.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1052066...40734972058114

https://picasaweb.google.com/1052066...40728525736258

https://picasaweb.google.com/1052066...40807336250610

https://picasaweb.google.com/1052066...40852827464978

https://picasaweb.google.com/1052066...41074996454194

https://picasaweb.google.com/1052066...41056485811186

I have wipped everything down with degreaser. What is a good way oil to put on the machine? Should I take the table apart and clean the castings, is it as easy as it looks? I have a large granite slab incase I need it, what kind of spotting fluid is best? Also I believe that i have the 3 bolt mod already done. I haven't broken in the spindle yet.
Any recomendations on what path to start down first?
Is there anything that I'm missing?
My glacern vise that is keyed doent fit in my T slot.
Any recommendations on digital scales?
Preliminary runout left to right on the table is .002" at the very left hand side.

any and all help is greatly appreciated thanks!

[hoss2006]

Lots and lots of goodies, congrats!
Start by going down thru the manual and follow the suggestions on what to prep.
The keys can be taken out of the vise for now, if they aren't hardened, you can cut them down later on the mill.
Run the corner of a file across them, if it cuts it's soft enough to mill, if it bounces off, it's hardened.
Recheck the table later after you've gone thru and made gib adjustments per the manual.
Are you keeping it manual and want good glass scales or just something just ok till you CNC?
Grizzly.com
Hoss

[Whizbang]

Lots and lots of goodies, congrats!
Start by going down thru the manual and follow the suggestions on what to prep.
The keys can be taken out of the vise for now, if they aren't hardened, you can cut them down later on the mill.
Run the corner of a file across them, if it cuts it's soft enough to mill, if it bounces off, it's hardened.
Recheck the table later after you've gone thru and made gib adjustments per the manual.
Are you keeping it manual and want good glass scales or just something just ok till you CNC?
Grizzly.com
Hoss

I think the keys are hardened my files arent really doing anything. I am breaking in the spindle now. there is a erratic sutle popping noise that is occasionally heard when running in high at 2200 rpm.
Also i would like scale just till i get it to cnc point the grizzly link was great but do those accurately fit the x and y or is a lot of modification needed?
I have also noticed that during breaking i can only keep within 5 rev/ min of the target 600 1000 and 2200 rpm is this common?

[Whizbang]

double post

[Whizbang]

I noticed alot of run out in the spindle and jacobs chuck is this common?

https://picasaweb.google.com/1052066...49148674214322

[hoss2006]

That end of the spindle doesn't matter, the bottom where the tools go that is supported by
the bearings is what matters.
The top where you measured is the drawbar retainer and the upper end has some flex because
it's narrow and unsupported.
Hoss

[Whizbang]

I need some help with my machine. I know I have backlash in the table but I don't know how much because all of the scales on the machine are in 2 thousandth increments, so its very difficult to read any uneven measurement. I need to know where to get good digital scales and how to best install them for the best precision. All of the plans I have for the things I want to make go out to 3 decimal places and are not really nice even values, such as http://www.g0704.com/images/g0704%20...20block_01.jpg , but I feel I cannot make these types of things without better precision scales.

My overall plan is to CNC this machine so I do not want to spend a ton of money on the scales, but my goal is to acquire something that quick and easy to install. I need the machine up and running accurately so I can make the components for the CNC conversion. I am following Hoss's CNC conversion kit.

Is there ball screws and nuts I should get now, prior to the CNC conversion? Links would be appreciated.

Any advice and/or recommendations as to my next steps would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Whizbang]

Or are there lead screws and nuts or kits I should get before the cnc conversion?

[691175002]

If you have never operated a mill before you should hold back on the scales. You will know when or if you need them once you have experience. The print you posted of the tramming block is very simple.

Having scales doesn't change the fact that you will need to turn the handles between markings, and that shouldn't be a problem. Vernier calipers and micrometers require you to split each division into 10 by eye.

[Whizbang]

If you have never operated a mill before you should hold back on the scales. You will know when or if you need them once you have experience. The print you posted of the tramming block is very simple.

Having scales doesn't change the fact that you will need to turn the handles between markings, and that shouldn't be a problem. Vernier calipers and micrometers require you to split each division into 10 by eye.

yes most milling machines I am use to are bridgeports and clausing kondia where every mark is .001 meaning one rev is .100 of an inch and 10 revs in 1 in. scales would be easier and much more accurate if the trying to eye ball between markings. digital scales with dro modules would make the milling of the cnc components alot simpliar

[109jb]

sorry double post

[109jb]

I understand what you are saying about haveing DRO to make stuff manually a lot easier especially since the screws are metric, but they put english dials on the handwheels. Since you are going to CNC, you eventually won't need the scales on the machine unless you are going to use them as feedback somehow on a servo driven system. That being the case, mught I suggest using cheaper scales like these:

24" Digital Readout Scale Bridgeport Mill Lathe DRO Table Linear Magnetic Remote | eBay

12" Digital Readout Scale Bridgeport Mill Lathe DRO Table Linear Magnetic Remote | eBay

They work just like digital calipers work and would be easy to mount. They can be cut to length. For about $100 you can outfit a G0704 x and y axis. Should be plenty good enough for making the CNC conversion parts.

[Whizbang]

Thanks 109jb I ordered some similar ones.
Can some experienced g0704 users tell me if I tighten down the lead nuts really tight will i have enough accuracy to make all my plates for phase one of hoss's cnc conversion. I took the mill apart last night and over to a friends house (who has a pretty warn bridge port with alot of run out) to drill the 2 holes needed for the head tramming aids. I will probably have to make the tramming aids and rest of the plate parts on my mill if you guys say it will be accurate enough.
As for the stand offs I can use fairly accurate lathe I have access to.

There has been one thing that has been bugging me about my g0704 as I run any indicator across the table (right to left) the the indicator stays at zero up until the last 5-6 inches and drops -.002. is there a way to tell if this is due to saddle and gibs or just the top of the table? I assume if it is the top of the table i could remedy this by having the top of the table ground but question if its worth doing yet as the cast iron will continue to set. Any comments?

[691175002]

Just make the parts and use calipers.

Every manual machine has backlash, you either feel when the threads engage and count from there or always approach from the same direction.

The plates will be fine +-0.010", or even looser if you drill the holes oversize. A bolt really won't care if its hole is too far to the left by the thickness of a sheet of paper.

In my experience table sag on a g0704 is primarily a result of slop between the saddle and the base/table which allows a non-centered table to tilt. Some of that slop can be corrected by fixing the gibs, but the table dovetail might be messed up by a few tenths which will be very hard to fix.


Know when your work needs to be accurate. When I made my conversion parts I scribed lines with a pair of import calipers, punched the intersections and used my mill as a drill press.

[Whizbang]

UPDATE: I received my digital scales I ordered cutting them down and fitting them wasn't to bad. I have managed to make the 8 standoffs for the x and y from the hoss2006 plans as well as the tramming aids. I hope to start making the x axis plates tomorrow. The issue I'm running into is the tramming itself.

The part 1-3 series of tramming by hoss is good but his machine is already fairly accurate in part one and he doesn't adjust much were I had to. I think I have the spindle inline with the column fairly accurate. however adjusting the column to the table is a whole other story. I in the y direction I and with in a .00025ish range but in the x dir. I'm .005 to .007 and i cant seem to get rid of it. I ordered shim stock to hopefully slip under the dove tail to drop the run out but i dont know how much i will be able to get rid of. also initial test with my indicator show the far left of the table drops .002 so i dot know really how to correct this. I ordered a coaxial indicator and hopefully it shows up first of the week and I can try to get this all sorted out. An suggestions are welcome thanks for reading.

I'm looking to start buying electronics along the lines of what hoss2006 recommends, however would servos be that much better? I built a cnc router and I just have steppers on it because of the rare likely hood of a motor missing a step cutting mdf.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

[kd4gij]

Looks good, you are going to wan,t to make covers for those scales. coolant ill mess them up. I found out the hard way.

[Whizbang]

Looks good, you are going to wan,t to make covers for those scales. coolant ill mess them up. I found out the hard way.

Agreed. So far I have been cutting dry and slow with aluminum. I am not doing too much machining until i can figure out why my column to table tram is out by 5 thou.(co-axial indicator on its way). Also surface finish on my part i have made are a bit rough some thing I haven't experienced before on a bridgeport. I am wondering if it is the lack of rigidity.(looking into epoxy granite)

I am looking into saddle Extensions to yield 10 -11" would be awesome but is it practical?
Would anyone be willing to share pics of any y axis extensions and head mods done i have seen hoss's and plan to do it or one similar. i am thinking of using either aluminum like he did or maybe a steel for more rigidity if I can do so with out it weighing too much.

Lastly can anyone sound off on the electronics they are using. I like the idea of smoother stepper ethernet card running everything. My cnc router uses parallel port to a g540. I don't want to use another g540, but instead maybe a c10 or c11. Is it possible to go from smooth stepper ethernet card to c11 to drivers to motors. I am curious of what other people are using on their 704.I would also fancy some recommendations on pendants, wireless ones seem cool but loss of signal when you have a estopable moment could be expensive.

[hoss2006]

You'll get a much nicer finish cutting aluminum using some type of coolant/lube, at least squirt some wd40 on there.
Saddle extensions?
There are several pendants linked here.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/1117056-post3299.html
Hoss

[Whizbang]

You'll get a much nicer finish cutting aluminum using some type of coolant/lube, at least squirt some wd40 on there.
Saddle extensions?
There are several pendants linked here.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/1117056-post3299.html
Hoss

By saddle extension I mean extending the y travel with extension blocks.Hoss do the lengths of the upgraded lead screws in your plans account for the y extension you did? what all information do i need to send the ebay seller?
thanks for the links on the pendants, I would like one with digital display, the shuttle looks nice but there is no listing of the cost. I saw this one but question the wireless Aliexpress.com : Buy 3 axis wireless remote pendant Ncstudio for CNC router engraving machine from Reliable cnc suppliers on SETCTOP

[hoss2006]

prints with 3 lengths of y ballscrew are included in the c7 ebay folder drawn in metric units.
decide which suits your needs as far as motor location and send them the prints you want made for the x,y,z.
Avoid those chinese pendants, they don't work like proper mpg's and only go to 2 decimal points and lag.
The one you linked is for ncstudio and not mach 3 by the way.
Hoss