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  1. #41
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    357
    2 more pics of the milling head with a better angle as it was pointed out in another forum that it looked like the motor would interfere with other parts of the machine. No, there is no such issue.
    The machine is now basically finished. Additional accessories will be added for even more functionality. Hope everybody enjoyed the build. Now it's time to put the beast to work.

    Steve


  2. #42
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    197
    All I have to say is WOW!!

    I would never have gotten anywhere close to this w/o CAD and a ton $$$.

    Great job!
    -Jeff

  3. #43
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    82
    Wow very cool machine. Is there anything U cant build??

  4. #44
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Posts
    63
    Quote Originally Posted by Joezx10r View Post
    ...Is there anything U cant build??
    Probably NOT. You ready for me to come pick it up now Steve, so you can start on something new...LOL:cheers:

  5. #45
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    6463
    Hi Steve, Just got onto your thread on this m/c build. Rube gave me the thread ID, but I missed the blow by blow build notes from previous posts.

    I'm awed at your build rate.

    One thing with building from the ground up is you get to have a M/c that does what you want it to do, as opposed to buying one in and tolerating the shortcomings of design/cost problems, much like the Taiwanese mill drills with their cost cutting round columns that allowed the head to vibrate when doing even the most simple milling ops.

    I will say that it does resemble a horizontal borer in parts, but that is the beauty of a custom build, looks mean less than capability.

    The combination of pieces you used certainly makes for a neat M/c, and you are without doubt a workaholic bar none. LOL.

    One thing you will definately want and that is a MUCHO BIGGO angle plate and at the same time a large rotary table.

    I would also invest in one of those boring and facing heads.

    They cost a bit more but are without equal for facing work.

    This is not to be confused with one of those plain boring heads that only allow you to adjust the boring bar to get the diameter when the spindle is stationary.

    This will enable you to face a bore square to it's axis with recesses as well.
    The facing slide in the headstock is usually a feature of a horizontal borer and is powered to feed in both directions.

    The horizontal borer is much like a vertical mill, but on it's side, so if you have work that is milled, drilled and bored, such as the cylinders in a model engine block, then a large angle plate makes this a piece of cake.

    Where the hori borer comes into it's own is when you're line boring, where everything must be in line and square to each other, otherwise most of the operations are as per Bridgeport vertical mill type work.

    The rotary table is vital if you want to work on each end of a bore, and ensure that end faces are symetrical where needed.

    The fact that you can also use it as a CNC lathe, and in addition have a centre height capability to turn really big diametres is something that if you went to a M/c tool showroom would make the salesman scratch his head trying to match it, apart from a conventional plain hori borer costing an arm and a couple of legs.

    Even a conventional hori borer can't really be adapted to turning properly, and CNC is probably not an option for one anyway.

    I would have gone to a 3000 rpm 3 phase motor with VFD for the drive, but with at least a 10:1 primary speed reduction to get the low down torque needed when boring fairly large holes, like 100 mm diam in steel plate, which needs about 75 rpm maximum with High Speed Steel cutters, also if you are contemplating doing any iron castings etc, but that's purely a personal requirement.

    Blue is my favourite colour too, and I've gone from battleship grey to gunmetal blue for my machinery repaint work, a bit darker than your blue, but not so sombre as the old time dark grey machinery colour from days of yore, although I would not fault the grey for Bridgeport mills.
    Ian.

  6. #46
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    489
    Hi Steve, Like everyone else here, all I have to say is WOW. Superb build, and great looking machine.

    2 Questions:
    1. What type of paint is that? I like the look of it.
    2. Can you tell us the part numbers of the upgraded spindle bearings that you used? My mill needs some new ones, and the last set only lasted about 6 months.

    Thanks,
    Paul

  7. #47
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    357
    Thanks everybody!
    Hi Ian, this machine was fun to build. It is quite capable. The portable milling/drilling head works really well with it to.
    The 3 speed planetary transmission can provide mucho torque at speeds as low as 20rpm. The transmission is my favorite part of this machine. It is dead quiet and smooth as silk. The clutch has already saved my arse a few times.

    I do have a 360' cheapo table for it. Eventually once my wallet recovers as well as my motivation, I will completely redo the cross slide with a low profile rotary table as I know that is really a must have option.

    If I add another stepper ( and I will eventually) to the headstock's z-axis it will be able to face parts without a auto facing head with cnc power.

    Since the spindle is also stepper driven ( for indexing and 4th axis type milling work) it's quite a versatile little machine.

    Paul,
    It is just rustoleum Blue hammerite paint. The bearings are SKF abec 3 explorer series deep grooves. I should have gone with the tapered rollers. I don't have the part number handy but http://www1.mscdirect.com carries them in the size needed.

  8. #48
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    586
    could you post more pics? i think i love and need this bit i am not sure?

  9. #49
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    357
    Sorry I don't have anymore pics.
    Right now the machine is disassembled. I am going to make several improvements. It may be a while though as I am smack dab in the middle of my turbocharged 1978 Kawasaki kz650 project.
    Steve

  10. #50
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    586
    ok, but pics of bike project will do.

  11. #51
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    4

    Any updates?

    I just found this thread. All I can do is repeat what others have said. WOW!

    It's been a year since the last update. Is it back together? Sold so you can begin the next project? How's the Kawasaki?

    Keep up the good work,

    Guy in Sacramento

  12. #52
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    24
    Hello Steve,

    anything new?

    Do qou probbably have any pictures of the working machine?


    Greetings,

    Rene

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