[pp7]

And it is worth exactly what you are paying for it is...... forget the 110v conversion. I purchased my Lathemaster RF45 machine years ago and they actually offered it in 110 or 220v and you could switch it back and forth if you wanted. It even came with a control unit mounted on the back that had the proper magnetic relays to allow you to use the forward, reverse, and mine also came with a power head lift mechanism( Very cool if you do not have CNC). I ran it for a little while on the 110v in my garage on my closest outlet and it never seemed to run right, never seemed to have too much HP, and worst of all messed up the contactors in the back control unit in just about a month or two of use. I thought I do not have 220v anywhere near I am gonna be using the machine so that Is why I bought it that way but after I got it I wish I had not done it. Get yourself a 220v outlet wired with some decent heavy gauge wire and a proper breaker to the place you want to keep the mill and enjoy it. IF you ever decide to go CNC you will be glad you did because you can then use a phase converter to run three phase motors and have variable speed. let alone if you buy a lathe or whatnot most decent sized machines are 220v single phase.


As Far as CNC goes, I used to think I would never need it because I often make one off projects but let me tell you now that I have it I simply CANNOT IMAGINE NOT HAVING IT!!! It makes it possible to do things that you just simply could not or would not want to without CNC. It really is amazing and if you can find a couple simple products to make you could easily pay for the costs of the conversion. Let alone the precision possible and the fact that you then basically have three axis power feed units that are infinitely variable even without programming. It does cost a bit but it really is worth every single penny.... peace

I agree with you about the 220V. I already wired mine for 220V this morning. I went to Lowe's and got a few feet of 10/2 wire, a surface mount breaker box and a double throw breaker. Cost me $50. I tapped into my old 30amp breaker (goes to my house stove). I wired from the old breaker to my new surface mount breaker box. I put a 15 amp double throw breaker in the new box. It took me about 45 minutes before I was up and running. (The hole above the old breaker box was already there so I used it for convenience.) Machine seems to run great. I'm using a 5" vice from Grizzly.

[pp7]

You guys got my curiosity started. How much would it cost to CNC my machine?

[hoss2006]

Figure about $1000-1500 for the electronics (servos) and several hundred for the materials to build
the motor mounts and drives.
Add another several hundred for the odds and ends.
Hoss

[pete from TN]

I believe I put just over $2k into this machine including the belt drive conversion and I either made everything myself or someone I knew made them for me. If you go steppers you could probably do it cheaper a bit and I bought my electronics parts where some guys make their own power supply. I also used Geckos G320s and servos which could be done with other components but I would not recommend it unless you are just after a higher power servo for a much larger machine. My setup is MORE than powerful enough.... If you scrounge around you can really save some money, you can use scavenged plugs and control boxes and whatnot. I would not be surprised if you could get it done for under $1k if you really scrounged and did a lot of the work yourself. Peace


Pete

[D.L]

I hope this is not too off topic, I spotted this large compound table with similar table size. Comes with steppers and ballscrews for an ok price, i'm a bit suss on the structural soundness of the base having been down the compound table road myself.
Still, all converted ready to go, i'm tempted.

[hoss2006]

yeah it's an ok deal.
a bit smaller and lighter duty than an rf45, maybe a bf30.
good if you have a manual kneemill.
hoss

[pp7]

Anybody know where I can get a forward/reverse rotary switch for my zx45? Mine takes 2 hands (and a grunt) to turn. Otherwise, I love my new machine. I am so glad I got a big machine, I needed every bit of it.

[hoss2006]

The switches at Automation Direct are top notch.
Selector Switches Illuminated & Non-Illuminated Overview
Hoss

[pp7]

I opened up the switch box and the rotary switch has a total of 12 connections, 6 on each side and is rated for 360v. This may be a difficult switch to find. Anybody tried to replace one of these?

[Starleper1]

You can replace it with a drum switch. See here

~Scott

[pp7]

Can somebody tell me what all these wires go to? It's a ZX7045 mill (enco) hooked to 220v, single phase. Bottom conduit with 6 wires comes from motor. Top goes to 220v ac supply.

[pp7]

I squished a load of dielectric grease into the drum switch around all the contacts. Works great now. Thanks for the help guys, your ideas got me to thinkin'.

[fer_mayrl]

Hey Hoss,
I have been going back and forth trying to decide weather to get a G0704 or ZX45 type machine. I am leaning toward the ZX45 mainly because of the motor issues the G0704 has.
That being said, i was looking at the grizzly page and noticed that they dont have the G0484 model anymore and that they introduced a new one G0720 heavy duty mill which has a very steep price.
They also have the G0519 mill/drill/tapping machine.

I want to CNC this machine that is why I wanted the G0704, so I could get your plans and DVDs to make it easier.

DO you think the G0519 is a good substitute for a ZX45 type machine? and a good candidate to CNC?

THanks
Fernando

[dsdmax]

you might also look at IHCNC if you want a machine that big... i know they have had some stocking issues too but looks like a great machine. still about 20% more than the Grizzly but a bigger machine as well.

[fer_mayrl]

Yea, I have already looked into IH too, thing is, I will also get a G0602 lathe from grizzly, and a shop press from them too. Since I will be shipping this to my freight forwarder in the US to have them exported to Mexico, If they arrive at different times I will get charged more for handling and storage.
If they all come from grizzly at the same time (which I have already checked with them, they will wait to get all in stock and then ship everything), then I would not have that problem.
Thanks
Fernando

[hoss2006]

Yea, I have already looked into IH too, thing is, I will also get a G0602 lathe from grizzly, and a shop press from them too. Since I will be shipping this to my freight forwarder in the US to have them exported to Mexico, If they arrive at different times I will get charged more for handling and storage.
If they all come from grizzly at the same time (which I have already checked with them, they will wait to get all in stock and then ship everything), then I would not have that problem.
Thanks
Fernando

In that case, the g0519 is the same as the g0484 without the bigger motor or extras.
Give grizzly a call, they still have the g0484 in the new catalog for $2375
with a powered z, x axis powerfeed and a stand.
Hoss

[thedave]

Hoss, did you have a lot of head droop on yours? I got mine all tramed up as best I could. When I locked the X with the top thumbscrew, the head moved up .008. the bottom thumb screw only moves the head .0005. I am going to adjust the x gib tonight, to see if I can fix that. Anything else I should look for while I am doing that?

[hoss2006]

I believe you mean the Z but I haven't used it much since I got it, heck the DRO is still half hanging on it yet.
Only snugged the lower lock the times I checked and didn't notice any appreciable difference like you.
It's just a big manual steel hogger for me at the moment.
Hoss

[D.L]

Hi Hoss, it's been about a year or 2 since i followed your work. You did a great job on the little X2 (that tool changer was epic), i see the RF45 is a slow burner for now.
I hopefully have accumulated enough parts to get started on mine, I wish to go the route of welding a steel Z column with ball rails, mounting it on an rf30. Reason being peck drilling is torture on a dovetail slide, I'm also making a bt30 spindle from odds an ends, dc, encoded.
I'll start a build log when the donor mill is being torn down, i pretty much have the rest of the bits after 5 years of gathering bits.

Looking forward to your RF45 build, when you have all your bits gathered i'm sure it's gonna be humdinger! Cheers!

[hoss2006]

Good luck with the build D.L, better late than never as they say.
Maybe someday I'll get back to mine, never know though probably not.
Keep at it, Hoss