Gate / Bridgeport Interract / Project

[kingcreaky]

Hi All

I have not been too active around these parts in a while, other projects have been taking up lots of my time. My little lad is now 4 and taking much more of my time, and Im also 6 months into a new job. However, things are starting to calm down, and i got itchy fingers for a winter workshop toy / project.

Some of you may recall, Earlier this year I took ownership of an old Bridgeport Mill, er http://www.mycncuk.com/threads/8856-bridgeport

Since ive owned it, ive done a few bits and peaces to it, most notably with the help of an old member from round here (John S) We converted the old three phase motor, to a more modern unit with matching VFD.







The original plan was that I was going to convert this to CNC, and despite being advised this isn't a brilliant idea, I got quite far down the planning stages, almost to the point I was about to start placing orders

However, eager ebaying presented a different option, and last night, after work, I shot down the a50 armed with my car trailer, and bought this bad boy







This is a CNC mill (bigger in shadow than my bridgeport), the unit was covered in wax and stored away new in 1996. so is completely unused. It comes fully equiped with ballscrews I literally need to install some steppers / servos, fit a spindle motor (ala like I did on the bridgeport)

what could possibly go wrong?

As its much bigger in the flesh than it seems in the picture, and my trailer was about on its arse carrying the bridgeport, I decided against dragging it home last night, so need to make some alternative arrangements and collect it at the weekend...

For all those interested, Il keep you all posted, throughout the build.. as it happens, Live!


Few things... Reckon il get away with steppers? if so, what size?

anybody got any INT30 tooling they want to sell?

[komatias]

Good score! Was looking at then too. But no space for it yet.

If you go stepper motor route, get nema 34 12nm hybrid servos from the likes of leadshine. They are worth it. If the machine had cranks i would have said go the servo route but steppers will be fine. Worth investing in a dro too, just to keep a tab on how the machine performs.

Keep us updataed on how it goes and who moves it for you

[GEOFFREY]

That looks like a geat purchase, and a real bargain if the cash laid on the side is what you paid. You really do seem to be able to sniff out some good deals. Well done. G.

[kingcreaky]

its arrived boys :D

My paranoia got the better of me so decided to hire a trailer.. despite me asking for a "twin axle plant trailer" the dumbo delivered me this single axle... so technically, its plated no greater than my own trailer. just looks better.

Rather than dwell on it, I shot up the motorway, and the guy dropped it on with the backhoe of a JCB. My old van strugged to tug it back, but we got there in the end

benefit street is now fully occupied.



bit tight.

[Neale]

How did you unload it? I bought a lathe a little while ago and had it loaded on the back of a flat-bed transit (about 1200kg) and found a friend with tractor with front loader. Sometimes you need friends, especially with a steep drive to negotiate...

[kingcreaky]

I have an anchor point within the concrete floor of the garage, at the back but central to the opening. I used it for my lathe, the bridgeport etc

essentially the method is, chock the trailer. use the come-along (ball and tackle) and a series of ratchet straps to drag off the trailer against the anchor point.

If I had a friend, (or a for that matter, friend with tractor) that would of been a great idea :D

[GEOFFREY]

That looks like a close thing with your garage door height. Any pics of the come along (does that mean rollers). I am sure that you now have the best equipped workshop in your road. G.

[Lee Roberts]

2. Way oil.
4. Stains. Cutting compound, do you really wanna get that deep?, wd40 works great for rust stains too.

.Me

[kingcreaky]

2. Way oil.
4. Stains. Cutting compound, do you really wanna get that deep?, wd40 works great for rust stains too.

.Me

thanks lee. Was hoping for some kind of chemical, ive tried soaking in wd40 for 24 hours, scrubbing, if it means using cutting paste, I think il leave the stains there.

ordered a couple of servo's for x & y
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...037562887.html

intend to use a standard nema 23 4nm stepper for the quill (x)

The spindle, is intended to be driven by a "vari-drive" pulley. This is essentially two discs, that are wound apart (by spindle speed winder)

This picture shows the spindle pulley (with the top cover removed) here you can see the two discs


a hand-wheel mechanism essentially parts the two discs, effecting where abouts on the diameter of these discs the belt grips, which in-turn changes the drive speed of the spindle



problem is, I dont have the corresponding (sprung) pulley for the motor (or a motor for that matter at this point) I need something like this



the pulley itself is NOT cheap. new, as a set of parts about (£300). As I intend to drive a motor via vfd I may just scrap this mechanism? thoughts?

below this, there is a back-gear, that I can still utilise even if I remove the variable disc arrangement and replace with flat pulleys?


FYI, if anybody is interested, I note the seller has another one for sale.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GATE-5BK-M...8AAOSw5VFWLoEr

[komatias]

On my KRV, I have used a VFD too. I still use the back gear on it which gives some serious torque gains.

The real question is if the motor you select will be able to give you the same amount of torque in the low frequency range as in the normal 60Hz range. If it can then go with a HTD type metric belt and pulley system. You can then keep the back gear too.