Old Bench Milling Machine

[OlCatBob]

Micke,

since you didn't include any dimensions, try this site... http://shopswarf.orconhosting.net.nz/collet.html

Bob

Perhaps it's a Hardinge 3C after looking at the pics again and seeing rough dimensions. Sorry

 

[schor]

Sweet score.

 

[itsme_Bernie]

That thing is so cool it is heartbreaking! Wow!

Keep us up do date on it!

Bernie

 

[Tool-in-the-Box]

I'm sorry but that is one sexy mill. Owning it must be like dating the prom queen.

 

[Uglydog]

She gorgeous!!
If you take her apart at any time, please consider posting some pics.
She looks heavy and likely runs smooth.

Daryl
MN

 

[Micke S]

There is often a reason when things are sold cheap. I've disassemble and cleaned the mill now. What I found so far is:
- The vertical drive slips a lot.
- The cooling system was disabled, the belt to the pump was removed.
- The is a noticeable lash in the vertical spindle.

The bottom of the casing is a reservoir for cutting/cooling fluid. It includes a mechanical pump that was stuck. I took it apart and cleaned it so it is fine now.

The lash was easy to get rid of by adjusting the spindle bearings.

The slip was caused by a nylon collet with worn threads. This collet transfer power to the vertical head. I just turned it down so it fits in an ordinary collet and it works great. In case the grip will decrease with time I'll make this part of brass instead. I'm sure there is a reason why it is made of nylon so I didn't want to make one in steel.

The turnable vise needs to be disassembled, cleaned and lubed before it is used.

Some pictures and finally a movie where it can be seen that it runs fine and straight now. The vertical spindle head needs a paint job.















[video=youtube;CcrShrJ9ID4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcrShrJ9ID4&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[Hawkeye]

Very nice, Micke. Good to get it running smoothly so easily.

I'd speculate that the nylon insert is meant to be sacrificial - something to break if something jams. I'd consider making a steel one, but with a slot at the top that will take nylon blocks that fit in your new slot and in the existing slot in the vertical head. Then you can make up a dozen nylon blocks and store them with the machine.

 

[Micke S]

Yes Hawkeye that would be a good solution. Another possibility is to make a plastic insert and use a collet that I did now, but use Delrin plastic (POM) instead of nylon. Delrin is much tougher than nylon and has good machining properties. I've used it for other applications and you can turn and grind it to precise dimensions. http://www.bpf.co.uk/Plastipedia/Polymers/Polyacetals.aspx

Today's exercise will be to put the parts for the cutting fluid system together again. I'll get a jug of synthetic Castrol cutting fluid and fill her up. The fluid is pumped via a flexible pipe to the workpiece and flows back by a pipe on the table floor beside the T-slots.

 

[FOMOGO]

Really glad you found your "Little Critter" at a great price. That machine just has that look of solid quality about it. From your avatar I'm guessing you are a Harley guy. Mike

 

[Micke S]

So, a few steps further...I started to put back the maintained pump for cutting oil. I don't have a large quantity of oil at home so I used a Turtle product for car window washer as the first step. I let about 5 quarts of this mixture pump through the system. What a dirty mess to start with but it soon became clean. The flexible pipe is broken but a new one is coming in.

All parts are stamped with a #5; pump parts, the table etc. and even parts of the vise. I gave the vise a good clean and removed some minor grip damages by filing.

Finally I made a test run on aluminium. This thing mills great and it is the first time I can mill so precise since the big drill/mill press is no near as stable and free from play.





[video=youtube;LtcH0N0dwfA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtcH0N0dwfA&feature=youtu.be[/video]

[video=youtube;OmHtsr5SD0k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmHtsr5SD0k&feature=youtu.be[/video]











[video=youtube;RFX4EKuI9Hs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFX4EKuI9Hs&feature=youtu.be[/video]