T&C grinder research ???-450? Mine is a Kao Ming

[TheArsonSmith]

Been doing some research trying to find manuals and what not for my Kao Ming 450A Tool and cutter grinder. Turns out to be a fairly common base and has been sold under many different makers including Kao Ming, Enco, Jet, Mazak, standard and many others. Currently it seems a company in Vietnam is still making them and accessories for them.

Some of the model numbers I've found that show all visually identical machines with I'm sure slight variations:

450
450a
CT-457
FCT-457
KGU-450a
JCG-450a

The only manual I've been able to find is a reprint sold on ebay and amazon search for ckm-kgu-450a. I haven't received it yet but will report back more when I have.

The first attached picture is of mine, the rest are of similar ones from other vendors. If anyone has any more info on this T&C grinder I'd like to make sure it was all put together for anyone that may find one in the future.

Now on to wiring up my rotary phase converter to see if I can make some sparks!!

Also found this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxx3LqCqhIE

 

[TheArsonSmith]

Some video of me getting it powered up and making first sparks with it:

 

[Barncat]

Watched your video, and it appears yours is in better condition than my enco 450. I can't get my table to move left or right with that big rod, the hand wheel won't move at all. Any idea if there is any sort of a lock on the table?

 

[TheArsonSmith]

It's a rack and pinion system, the dial/rod/lever just goes into a small gear under the table then there is a rack on the bottom of the table that it meshes with.

You can check if the gibs are too tight (should be a row of allen heads along either the front or back) They should be just snug enough to keep the table from moving front to back, but allow it to slide left to right. It could also be rusted shut, in that case get some WD40 or other rust removing solvent that can penetrate into it and brake it lose. Depending on how the coolant was taken care of this could very likely be the case.

When I get home I'll remove the table and snap a picture of what is underneath so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

[Barncat]

I loosened all the gibs. I think it is probably rust. It would be great to see a picture of the table off.

 

[TheArsonSmith]

Best auto selected title shot ever!!

 

[Barncat]

Thanks for that. It looks pretty simple, mine probably is rusted. The big rod that screws into the collar around the handwheel will move the collar, but not the handwheel on mine, the handwheel is stuck firm. I need to look at it again and see if there is some sort of roll pin that should be connecting them that has sheared. I sprayed a lot of pb blaster on it last week and have been letting it soak.

 

[TheArsonSmith]

I made a new guard for the side that was missing one:

I also got the manual in. It's a pretty poor copy and every other page is even upside down. I may try to re-produce it to see if I can get slightly better results. Most of the pictures look like copies of copies of copies.

 

[TheArsonSmith]

Question about this grinder and anyone with any experience, would it be worth while to get a magnetic chuck to do basic surface grinding? what is the technical difference between a T&C Grinder and a surface grinder?

 

[Barncat]

I made a new guard for the side that was missing one:


I also got the manual in. It's a pretty poor copy and every other page is even upside down. I may try to re-produce it to see if I can get slightly better results. Most of the pictures look like copies of copies of copies.

Exactly how the manual I got looked.