I am preparing rigging (drop deck trailer and pallet jack) to bring an old Index 555 milling machine home to add to my little shop. It's small, in good condition and the price was right. Looking forward to this addition.
But I have a few questions:
1. Does anyone have manuals on the 555/645 mills? I've requested info from Wells-Index, but awaiting their response. I've also seen the manual sold on eBay, but would prefer to go to the manufacturer or someone who owns/used to own the mill.
2. Is it worth tearing this thing apart for cleaning, painting and re-aligning? I have not particular purpose for this machine, thus no major expectations of it. It's really just for fun.
3. The spindle taper is B&S #9. Regrind to R* will cost nearly $500 w/ shipping. That's substantially more than I paid for the machine. B&S #9 collets seem to be readily available. Any reason to sink that kind of money into it just to be able to use R8 collets?
4. I have single phase in my garage based shop. Need 3 phase for this thing. Based on what I've been reading a static phase converter is cheap, but inefficient. A rotary phase converter (RPC) is noisy and expensive. A variable frequency drive (VFD) is inexpensive and effective. VFD seems obvious. I've got one already I can try from my CNC router. But I also have the X power feed motor (see picture). Can the VFD be used to power both? Still use the belts/gearing on each motor to control speed, but have the VFD just feed the main power bus? I can buy another VFD, but I like the idea of the pulleys and gears and knobs and all that mechanical stuff.
Thanks in advance for any feedback/advice.
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