[pete from TN]

Yep, that is exactly how I work on mine.... Works great and you can do it without help. The bottom of the head has some flat areas on each side of the spindle nose and you can get some 2x material under there. My head is kinda back heavy but I put some 3/4 inch plywood under it and got it shimmed up level. Then you can back the Y into the column and line up the bolt holes at your leisure. How is that sweet Cinci working out for ya!! I am still working on trying to get into something like that but we will see how it goes... MERRY CHRISTMAS MAN!!! peace

[hoss2006]

Thanks for the head tips, I'll be mounting it tomorrow.
I have the mill up on the stand now, the rafters held just fine.
The stand had metric mounting holes for leveling feet which
it didn't come with, so I made my own and welded some good
1/2-13 nuts in place. I made a cardboard cutout to hold the 3 head bolts
in place while I position it, then I can yank out the cardboard before the nuts are tightened.
I'll be ready to do some cutting right away on Xmas break.
Hoss

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLL_qvLuN-g"]YouTube- ZX45 On the Stand.wmv[/ame]

[BobWarfield]

It looks happy there, Hoss!

:cheers:

BTW, for those in the cold climes (or those who use eBay like me), hockey pucks make wonderful leveling feet. They isolate the vibration very nicely. They also machine very easily:



Cheers,

BW

[Oldmanandhistoy]

BTW, for those in the cold climes (or those who use eBay like me), hockey pucks make wonderful leveling feet. They isolate the vibration very nicely. They also machine very easily:
Cheers,

BW

Hi Bob,

Nice idea with the pucks but would it not be better to fix the mill rigidly to the stand and fit pucks at floor level?

John

[BobWarfield]

I think it just depends on how you feel about it. I'm not real trusting of that stand relative to the mill in terms of its rigidity. If you rigidly tie the mill to it, it becomes the weak link.

I have another stand I welded up that is much more substantial. That one I would bolt to and put the hockey pucks on the floor perhaps.

Cheers,

BW

[QSPSB]

Hoss you should build a heavy duty bench around that stand for the mill... Perhaps build
4x4 post as supports for the bench legs, then construct some 4x4's placed as close to the mill stand as you can get them... Just a thought!! I can only imagine what your mill enclosure will look like for this beast of a mill...

Stoney

[hoss2006]

I have rubber on the leveling feet as well so it should be dampened enough, I guess.
Didn't even go downstairs today, too much good football.
I made the woodworking bench in the background that has 4x4 legs and table years ago.
Several of the drawers are empty so it should be handy enough to store some parts for the mill.
I have a rolling cart too that I'll put all the collets, vises, indexers, etc on to keep them nearby.
They've just been sitting on shelves because I don't really need them for the CNC mill
especially since switching to TTS.
Hoss

[whitehedr]

Obviously you did not watch the Bears/Ravens game if you watched good football.

Only 2 more games and this season will finally be over for the Bears. Lovie has to go!!!


Blackhawks did beat the Redwings tonight. They have been playing VERY well. One of the most exciting games in a while was against the Bruins the other night. Hockey as it should be played.

RWW

[hoss2006]

watched the Pens win a close one last night and the Steelers do the same today.
Something to cheer about for a change.
Hoss

[bill south]

Couldn't believe the Panthers (kitty cats) beat Minn. Vikings. Farr is still the man even though I have to root for the panthers. But, still love the bears. Too many years living in Chicago not to love them. Miss Wally Payton though. Greatest running back there ever has been (IMHO).
Nice progress Hoss. Did you take time and familiarize youself with the axis design? Now is the time to do it for future cnc mods.
Have a good day.
Bill

[hoss2006]

Yeah Bill, I'll probably start making notes once I play around with it.
Problem is my desk is littered with notes already.
I'm sure something will start happening sometime next year.
Hoss

[Willyum]

Great thread, Love the pics & video!

I'm looking at getting the Wholesale Tool version of this mill as well. Probably a Spring-time purchase for me. Engine hoist, for me will be a must! Used ones on Craigslist for $100-150.

Lookin' Good!
Will

[D.L]

Are you going to have a servo spindle motor for synchronous tapping?
(AC servo direct drive is the ultimate, maybe an ebay bargain to find?)
Will it be stepper or servo for x,y,z?
I like the ease of steppers, but servo's I'm told are the serious business.
I wish I could start right now, a lack of gainful employment makes it difficult get the ball rolling.

[Starleper1]

Depending on size you will pay more for the servo motor and drive then you paid for the whole mill.

[TOTALLYRC]

Are you going to have a servo spindle motor for synchronous tapping?
(AC servo direct drive is the ultimate, maybe an ebay bargain to find?)
Will it be stepper or servo for x,y,z?
I like the ease of steppers, but servo's I'm told are the serious business.
I wish I could start right now, a lack of gainful employment makes it difficult get the ball rolling.

Servos are not all that bad but I think it is more the unfamiliarity with their tuning and setup that must people suffer from.
Their are enough people here on the zone to backstop you when you go the servo route.

Mike

[hoss2006]

Are you going to have a servo spindle motor for synchronous tapping?
(AC servo direct drive is the ultimate, maybe an ebay bargain to find?)
Will it be stepper or servo for x,y,z?
I like the ease of steppers, but servo's I'm told are the serious business.
I wish I could start right now, a lack of gainful employment makes it difficult get the ball rolling.

When the time comes it will be servo all the way.
I don't plan to put a weak stepper system that can barely move the empty table
back and forth, as I've seen done.
I'll have plenty of practice with it by then and know how hard it can be pushed.
The motors and drivers will need to equal that.
When the bug gets me, I'll probably start hunting Ebay for some big motors and go from there.
Hoss

[bill south]

As Hoss said, fleabay is the ticket. Motors used to be cheap there but the world has moved on but they still can be had for the patient shopper. Looking forward to the transformatoin Hoss. Tool Changer on the new monster???
Bill

[hoss2006]

I'm sure it will get all the bells and whistles Bill, eventually.
Hoss

[mattmark]

Hey everyone,

This is my first post to CNCZone - I've been reading quite a few posts over the last while. Great thread - i'm considering the RF45 Clone from MTW (i live in Toronto, Canada, so i figure shipping from anywhere else would be crazy)..

I'm the complete opposite from Hoss - never used a mill before in my life, but now that i have my own little space in the basement as a workshop, i figured i'd take the plunge. any reason to save $50 to get the super x3 (doesn't sound like it from all the threads i've been reading)?

the only issue for me right now (also maybe enough space to add the 1 phase 220v to our already crowded electrical box) is how to get the beast of the RF45 into the house onto a small landing and down 6 narrow and steep stairs?

any thoughts out there?

was thinking disassembly outdoors, and doing a ramp down the stairs with a pulley system (although not sure where i can anchor). use an engine hoist for the rest.

thanks,

Matt

[hoss2006]

The head comes off just by removing the 3 nuts so that's about 250 lbs.
You could remove the motor first too.
The column would come off by removing the 4 allen bolts.
The table and saddle could be removed from the base
so you'd be left with 3-6 hunks from about 100-250lbs.
pretty easy for 2 people to move around.
If you can back a vehicle up to the door you could use that as an anchor
or nail a couple 2x6's together long enough to span the door frame as an anchor.
Tack them in place or leave loose, the weight on the pulley will hold it in place.
The effort will definitely be worth the payoff, these are solid machines.
Hoss