SX3 style mill -- z-axis gib adjustment

[kayaker]

Kayaker, did you make the Z-axis mount for the DRO's on your mill? I have the EL700 kit but haven't started the install yet. Been waiting to get a bench built, getting my mill/lathe/arbor press issues straightened, etc... and slowly deciding how I want to mount the various axis. I like your approach to it. Did you mount your X and Y axis' scales directly to the machine/saddle?

The DRO Pros guys are great aren't they. I was greatly surprised at how they worked with me. I ended up with a custom 12x30x16 magnetic scales kit. I wouldn't have gotten the EL700 if they hadn't made it worth my while in multiple ways. I was impressed to say the least and I wasn't the easiest customer to please by any means.

WOW, that EL700 looks pretty slick! Nice.

I fabricated all the mounting hardware except the one black piece you see holding the reader head for the z-axis. That piece is bolted onto a bracket I made that mounts on the side of the head mounting hardware. I wanted to be able to remove the back cover from the column without having to disassemble the z-axis DRO assembly. I made all the brackets for the z-axis such that I could adjust the magnetic scale in any direction (left/right, up/down, in/out).

The x and y are mounted directly on the table/saddle. The magnetic scales are small enough that I was able to tuck the y-axis in tight enough that is doesn't interfere with the z-axis power feed which travels right up to the edge of the base of the mill. Because of the size of magnetic scales (rather lack thereof), both the x and y installations are barely noticeable.

Yes, the DRO PRO guys are great as are their videos. Their products are expensive, but I think for the exact same "model" they are pretty much the same as everyone else selling them. You definitely can buy less expensive DRO's and they may very well work just as well. I went with them for the support (which I have used).

 

[kayaker]

Another question for you... Does the top cover on your mill sit loose (screws too long)?

The top cover is part of the back cover. It fits tight, but if the screws were loose, I'd just cut them down to a size that fits properly. I did find that all the screw that hold the DRO covers were too long and all had to be cut down to mount in the holes provided on the magnetic scale end caps.

I'd like to see a shot of your EL700 mount.

 

[Pitchfire]

Thanks. I'll have to get a snapshot once I get the mill up on a bench and actually install it. The 7oo isn't much different than the 400 aside from the pretty pictures so I don't get lost, but the price difference in my case was minor (not sure why, just got a great quote after a phone call I guess).

I planned on doing the Z very similar to what you've done, so seeing yours helps visualize things a lot. Your X, Y mounts definately look meatier than those provided in the universal install kit (not to imply the DRO Pros ones are lacking in any way).

Aside from measuring runout on various things (old chuck, new chuck, q/c collet holder), and milling the T-slot piece for the Q/C tool post I got for the lathe, it has sat idly by for a month. Definately looking forward to getting it all together. I got it a month before my lathe but it looks like the lathe will be up and running without impairment sooner than the mill. Go figure.

 

[kayaker]

I planned on doing the Z very similar to what you've done, so seeing yours helps visualize things a lot. Your X, Y mounts definately look meatier than those provided in the universal install kit (not to imply the DRO Pros ones are lacking in any way).

You can't see from the photos, but I milled a small offset into the back side of the aluminum bar stock I used to mount the y-axis magnetic scale on to provide a bit of clearance as the base sticks out a tiny bit past the saddle. It worked out really well for a very tight clean fit which I needed, as I was saying, to avoid being in the way of the power feed. I really wanted to avoid mounting the reader heads with multiple angle pieces that effectively wrap right around around the scale.

Look forward to seeing some pics of your installation when it's up and running.

 

[Pitchfire]

Still haven't gotten to it, but found this approach for the Z-axis that I like and will likely copy:

 

[Pitchfire]

As to the Z gib adjustment, I hate it... I bent my top screw (but didn't break it off) trying to get it in line (it isn't stout at all). What ended up working best but still unsatisfactorily for me was fully removing the bottom screw and adjusting the top and then re-inserting the bottom.