2020 POTD Thread Archive

[GoceKU]

Please tell me that is not a gash cut in the lathe bed with an angle grinder.

Yeah someone took an angle grinder and cut the bed to make room for bigger things to turn, i would never do that to a machine. You can see in this thread when i bought this machine the old machinist was using it to turn engormast flanges.

New member from Kumanovo, Macedonia, Europe

Hello to everyone i'm a new member of this forum, i've taken bigger interest in machining as of this year, i'm a car guy since i can remember, and that procute of speed and power has guided me in this branch, i own a lathe, stanko 1K62, medium in size but extremely heavy duty and very powerful...

www.hobby-machinist.com

 

[Downunder Bob]

Yeah someone took an angle grinder and cut the bed to make room for bigger things to turn, i would never do that to a machine. You can see in this thread when i bought this machine the old machinist was using it to turn engormast flanges.

New member from Kumanovo, Macedonia, Europe

Hello to everyone i'm a new member of this forum, i've taken bigger interest in machining as of this year, i'm a car guy since i can remember, and that procute of speed and power has guided me in this branch, i own a lathe, stanko 1K62, medium in size but extremely heavy duty and very powerful...

www.hobby-machinist.com

I can understand sometimes. I often wish my lathe came with a gap. but unfortunately it didn't, it's the only model in the range without a gap. But I'm stuck with it, other than that I'm very happy with it as is, just have to modify design sometimes so it will fit.

 

[AGCB97]

So whats wrong with a diy gap? Probably affects nothing else but resale value

 

[pdentrem]

Did some more work on the replacement mirror cell today. A little turning and milling on the lathe. Pierre

 

[Downunder Bob]

So whats wrong with a diy gap? Probably affects nothing else but resale value

I hear you, I have definitely thought about it, but have always found another way. on some machines it might weaken it, but that one looks pretty robust. If I had acquired a machine like that I think I would at l;east try to tidy it up, so it looks like it belongs there.

 

[BGHansen]

POTD was starting to fab up an enclosure for my Tormach mill. The guy I bought the mill from had made a full enclosure, but I didn't like the design. The panels were 3/32" steel welded in place; no access to the sides and back of the mill.

My plan is to have sliding doors on the front which are attached to either a hinged frame, or quick pop-off panels. That way I have complete access to the front of the mill. Same for the sides; either hinged panels or panels that lift off for full access. For now, the back will be covered with a shower curtain.

I'm using a product called Creform tubing for the frame. It's stainless steel tubing a little over 1" diameter. I found a bunch of it in a CL listing and have been using it to make racks and legs for various things in my shop. There are many variations of brackets available for tying it together. Makes for a pretty quick and sturdy structure.

Photos are of where I'm at after a day. Mounted a couple of 100W LED lights which may have to go. They came with the mill and do a great job throwing light on the table, almost to the point of too much light. I may end up with just one 5000 lumen LED shop light over the door area. More to follow as I make progress.

Thanks for looking, Bruce

 

[pdentrem]

3/32" steel! WOW overkill, no wonder you are changing to something more manageable.

 

[Cadillac STS]

Something to consider with making the enclosure for the CNC mill is making it easy to use flood cooling and cleaning up after the job.

Move all electrical items out of the box area. Make the enclosure to have sides that open and front doors. Can circulate coolant for flood cooling but also to a spray hose like a garden hose on the system. That way when the job is done open one side or the other reach in and spray down all the chips down into the bottom where they are screened out of the coolant.

That is how it worked on a HAAS mill that I was able to use for a while. Nothing inside the enclosure that could not be wet down with coolant and spray it all down at the end of the job nice and clean.

Side doors are key for cleaning.

 

[ttabbal]

Been working on some AXA tool holders. I decided to cut the dovetail first, so roughed out the slot and used a dovetail cutter from there. I went about 0.100 from each side and wound up slightly over the size I was aiming for, measure earlier next time. Doesn't matter for this though, I have a couple that are a little bigger than this and they work fine. Pulled the post from the lathe and it fits up nicely and locks securely.



I just used a ruler on the bandsaw, then milled them square again. Wound up with a 0.020 max height variation. Other than two intentionally short ones. The short ones were the last bit of the bar. Could have made one full height and scrap or two little ones. Figure I can cut them for 1/4" or maybe make a couple of boring bar holders for micro100 and similar size tools.



Leaning towards not leveling the others out. I have close to that much difference in the Chinesium holders I have from various sources.

Still need to cut the tool slots and drill/tap the hold down screws. Thinking about ordering a bag of cap screws from McMaster for them and the other ones to replace the grub screws.

 

[BGHansen]

Something to consider with making the enclosure for the CNC mill is making it easy to use flood cooling and cleaning up after the job.

Move all electrical items out of the box area. Make the enclosure to have sides that open and front doors. Can circulate coolant for flood cooling but also to a spray hose like a garden hose on the system. That way when the job is done open one side or the other reach in and spray down all the chips down into the bottom where they are screened out of the coolant.

That is how it worked on a HAAS mill that I was able to use for a while. Nothing inside the enclosure that could not be wet down with coolant and spray it all down at the end of the job nice and clean.

Side doors are key for cleaning.

Thanks for the tip. The current flood coolant set up has a wash down hose with a garden hose sprayer on it. I also have a Mistaway air filter that'll get mounted up top.

Going to make up a power panel too to manage all of the 110 stuff. I'll have a switch for the controller/spindle LED/spindle fan. Separate one for the lights, one for the compressor and one or two more for other stuff.

Bruce