So I tried posting this once before and nothing happened...
Anyways, I recently acquired an old benchtop Elox ram EDM from a local surplus auction. It's a Type 6-1407, with an Anilam MiniWizard DRO. I got it for scrap value (maybe less) so whether it works or not I got a decent deal on the workbench that it came with. My google-fu has not found any information on this thing, besides this listing for the same model machine: IFE Machinery Inc Sales.
Attachment 208778
Since I know nothing about EDM and have no information, I have grave doubts about my ability to get this thing running. When I went to look at it, I was impressed with how massive the thing is. I had assumed that EDM machines might be lighter weight than mills, since they don;'t have to deal with the same strong cutting forces. This thing weighs at least 300-400 lbs., though. While pondering how best to get it to my house, I was struck with a crazy thought:
What if instead of trying to use it as an EDM, I just slap a spindle on it and use it as a mill? Obviously trying to put a Bridgeport head on it would be a little ridiculous, but I figured that a Taig mill spindle or one of the water-cooled Chinese spindles from eBay might not be too hard to attach and operate. The base certainly seems rigid/heavy enough for light duty use. The basin would make keeping flood coolant contained pretty simple. The table is a bit small, but not too small to be useful.
I'm not sure I would trust a homemade rig to mill 316 SS, but for aluminum and the like it seems feasible to me. I know nothing about machine tool design or construction, however, so I'm hoping one of ya'll can offer some sage advice. The main potential problem I see is that the table might be too flimsy, since I don't think it was intended to much resistance when moving it around. It looked sturdy during my cursory inspection, but I was mostly concerned with figuring how how I would move the beast.
Buying a spindle of any kind would double my investment in this machine, so I'd like some idea as to whether it would work and/or be useful.
So what do you think? Is this crazy or feasible?
Thanks,
Adam K