CAD-CAM-EDM-DRO

Re: CNC mill conversion to plasma cutter

wjb1060@... (William Blocher) — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 14:26:53 -0700

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Re: CNC mill conversion to plasma cutter

lou@... (Lou Jackson) — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 12:44:55 -0700

U might want to read this thread ...

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/forum/threads/adding-a-plasma-cutter-to-my-cnc-mill.326803/

From what I gather, cutting speed and proper grounding are the primary issues you might need to overcome.

Lou

CNC mill conversion to plasma cutter

wjb1060@... (William Blocher) — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 11:01:34 -0700

Hello Group,

Just wondering what the down side would be to using my Haas VF2 and mounting a plasma cutter to the quill? I was thinking of putting a 15 X 20 water tray on the table. This must be a bad idea because I can't find anybody on YouTube that has done this. I'd appreciate anybody's opinion. I don't have experience with plasma cutters but I've got a customer with a lot of smaller parts (3/16 thick 304ss) that just wouldn't be practical to mill.

Thanks in advance,

Bill

Re: 1mm lead screws on X and Y axis... should I use threaded captures one side or both sides of the axis?

dombaines@... (Dom Baines M1KTA) — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:35:02 -0700

Thanks, Will probably just go with one as the sync, binding issues are not to be discounted. Yes any thread lubricants will act as a magnet for swarf hence the planned extra shield either side of bed, and a vacuum of course. Dom

Re: 1mm lead screws on X and Y axis... should I use threaded captures one side or both sides of the axis?

roylowenthal@... (Roy) — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 16:33:12 -0700

I'd go with a single nut - if you use 2, you'll have to come up with a way to make one of them adjustable to ensure it stays in synch with the other one. I'd also avoid grease lubrication - it ALWAYS acts as glue for wood dust. A better choice is something like NEOLUBE that leaves a dry film of lubricant. (There are other brands; I'm familiar with NEOLUBE because the major free world navy that gives me retired pay used it.)

< https://neolube.com/dry-film-lubricant/ >

Roy

Re: 1mm lead screws on X and Y axis... should I use threaded captures one side or both sides of the axis?

ncmeinc@... (Harko Schwartz) — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 07:59:28 -0700

Don’t forget to put a special grease on the threaded rod it is called kluber grease and it never deteriorates get on amazon

Show a full picture of the machine

Regards

Harko

1mm lead screws on X and Y axis... should I use threaded captures one side or both sides of the axis?

dombaines@... (Dom Baines M1KTA) — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 07:38:55 -0700

Might not be really clear so will try to take a photo...

but.... Y axis, threaded rod use to translate the stepper rotation to a linear motion.... but should I fit just one capture nuts to one side or one to both sides of the gantry that connects to the X axis (same on X and Z).

CNC will machine wood and not to hyper precision so not using linear rails etc.

Regards,

Dom

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

TomH--CNC@... (Tom Harrison) — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:12:58 -0800

When a 15hp Cazeneuve hydraulic pattern lathe -- functional but being retired -- arrived on a low trailer, I moved it off the trailer and into my shop using a 10' 12" i-beam, many short 2by4s to stack on each side, and an ordinary floor jack to lift the lathe, slide the trailer out from under it, and lower it onto some 2-ton dollies built for the event. Same setup was used again to get the lathe onto the floor. And yeah, if that forklift wasn't so expensive to rent....

Tom Harrison

At 2022-11-05 06:05, Paul Amaranth wrote:

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

animal@... (mike allen) — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 11:00:15 -0800

I saw a trick once that I thought was a good idea for casters . The guy put hunks of PVC pipe around his casters , they rested on the ground were not attached & were free to move . So when

he moved his machines the PVC would move anything out of the way that a caster wheel may have tripped on before it could reach the wheel.

animal

On 11/6/2022 10:39 AM, Brian McKenzie wrote:

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

@... — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 10:39:53 -0800

I use either pipe rollers or skates for moving around onsite. If using skates, use only three for something like a Bridgeport, not 4. The slightest imperfection in the flatness of a concrete surface will cause one skate to drop out if placed in all four corners. Then your machine will tip over.

Have crated several machines for transport long distance, lifted locally by crane equipped trucks. For one expensive VMC purchased in Australia, I travelled there to pack it myself by wrapping it up with many sheets of 2inch thick polystyrene sheet, which I later used for workshop insulation. The machine was then rolled neatly into a shipping container, which container was then eventually set down on my driveway, after a sea voyage that I could follow online.

-Brian

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

wmrmeyers@... (Bill in OKC too) — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 17:53:50 -0700

That would be the right way, and every other way.

Bill

William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)

Aphorisms to live by:

Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

SEMPER GUMBY!

Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.
Physics doesn't care about your schedule.
The only reason I know anything is because I've done it wrong enough times to START to know better

On Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 04:19:11 PM CDT, mike allen <animal@...> wrote:

There's 2 ways to secure a load to a trailer .

animal

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

animal@... (mike allen) — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 14:19:07 -0700

There's 2 ways to secure a load to a trailer .

animal

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

elson@... (Jon Elson) — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 08:19:25 -0700

On 11/5/22 09:05, Paul Amaranth wrote:

I'm in the process of moving my shop about 100 miles. It's quite
possible to do this by yourself with some thought and the right
equipment. Forklifts make life very easy, but are not essential
(although if you can get one, do it).

I just moved a Bridgeport R2E3 CNC mill about that far. I had to call around a bunch, and found out there were few outfits that had lift gate trucks anymore. We ended up renting a Ryder truck with a 2500 Lb lift gate, and took the head and ram off the mill to lighten it and lower the center of gravity. Sliding the mill off the lift gate and onto my basement floor was a big challenge as we could not get the truck lined up for a straight shot into the door. It required comealongs and lots of plywood.

Jon

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

paul@... (Paul Amaranth) — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 07:05:21 -0700

I'm in the process of moving my shop about 100 miles. It's quite
possible to do this by yourself with some thought and the right
equipment. Forklifts make life very easy, but are not essential
(although if you can get one, do it).

I'm using skates, a toe jack, a johnson bar and a drop deck trailer and
just moved a mill yesterday. I use a chainfall to pull the machine
up onto the trailer deck and then chain it down with binders and add
a couple ratchet straps for good measure. If you're carrying a load
you want it to be part of the trailer. I once saw a trailer carrying
a backhoe flipped over and the backhoe was still attached even though
it was upside down. I try to ensure anything I'm towing is fastened
similarly.

You need a proper vehicle though. I've carried 3000 pounds lathes
in the bed of my dually pickup without issues. Towing 5 or 6
thousand pounds gross weight is not an issue either.

Or, just look for a local rigger and use the universal tool: money.
Sit back and watch them take care of it. I had a machine moved
cross country and the local rigger took care of it from the trucking
terminal to my shop. I just pointed to where it should sit.
Didn't even break a sweat :-)

Do make sure the rigger is insured and reputable. I once had
a guy drop a 3000 pound lathe 3 feet onto asphalt when his strap
slipped (no damage, although the asphalt gave a little). At
least it didn't slip when it was 6 feet in the air.

Paul

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

animal@... (mike allen) — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 19:11:42 -0700

WHen I picked up my new to me mill & lathe a few years back I rented a tandem axle uhaul with the high sides . I rented a fork lift for 4 hours & had it delivered @ a hour after I arrived

at the pickup location . I lifted the mill from the top & put it on a pallet that was in the trailer . Then I strapped the mill down to the pallet & secured them both to the trailer . Then I removed

the top of the mill which was the motor , the whole head assembly & the casting between the two . I had almost a 500 mile drive & wanted to lower the CG of the unit . I strapped the top assembly to a pallet & strapped it in the trailer , & loaded the lathe . Made the 500 mile fine , though it was a much slower drive than I usually drive . The next morning I unloaded everything with my backhoe where it all has been sitting for 2 years while I finished our new house . I hope to have the machine room all framed up & ready to move into hopefully in the next month .

Not really much to moving one of these machines , just a TON of Common sense .

good luck

animal

On 11/4/2022 5:27 PM, Tom Harrison wrote:

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

TomH--CNC@... (Tom Harrison) — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 16:57:07 -0700

Last time I bought a large piece (an Eagle 400 mill), the seller arranged for the truck to deliver it, and I arranged to rent a large forklift to remove it from the truck. I was surprised that the delivery of the forklift did not include OPERATING the forklift, but the driver WOULD explain best practices (like, DO NOT LIFT FROM THE BOTTOM, but instead use the mill top lift point). He explained the controls, because I had never driven a fork lift before, and this unit had to be carefully moved deep into my shop barn. End result? No problem, no damage, nothing knocked over, didn't fall into the 6' maintenance pit, etc. All went fine. Total moving cost, across town, less than $700, not counting my nervous sweat.

You can do it. Just ask a lot of questions, and go slow.

Tom Harrison

At 2022-11-04 06:45, Tim Goldstein wrote:

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

timg@... (Tim Goldstein) — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 06:45:59 -0700

You can have equipment like this shipped without crating. I have done it a number of times. On the recipient end contact some of your local rigging companies and tell them you are looking to have a piece of equipment shipped to you. The ones who can arrange for this will want to know what the item is, where it is coming from, where it is going to, and details such as type of facility (appears to be residential on both ends), if there is a loading dock at either end, if there is equipment to load and unload the machinery on both ends, etc. I am guessing you could use a rigging company on the senders end, but I have always used a rigger local to me as it was easier to work with and know they are reputable.

Tim G

Autistic, He/Him/His

www.TimGoldstein.com

Neurodiverse Communication Specialist �� Emotional Speaking

Author - Speaker - Trainer - Consultant - Vocal Coach

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

jensor4@... (Jack) — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 15:24:01 -0700

Bridgeport Series 1 with 2 Hp 3 phase motor. 9 X 42 table with ball screw slides.
I’ve mostly only used it as a hobbiest, mostly making tooling, etc. I paid $5000 for it about 2005 and it had been retrofitted in its history with a Bandit CNC. The Bridgeport was manufactured in the late seventies. That system was designed for tape input but I didn’t have that capability, therefore no way of storing a G code program that I would manually enter in. Then realizing that the old Bandit system was no longer supported, for example if a card in the card rack failed, it would be useless.
On Google I discovered the Linux EMC software available to interface it with a PC through its parallel ports, I successfully converted it to that setup. I kept the original power supply and motor driver boards. I have all the documentation for the conversion that I did.
Acurite glass scales on X and Y axis.
Engraving jig with motor is included.
Kurt 5" vise
7" rotary vise
Cold Air cooling gun
Bejur spray mister
EDM power supply and control box. See demo photo of hole through carbide in photos link.

For photos they are available on Google MyDrive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dTATMW9DM6REIOg-c9RihZbmx4Uw8YnG?usp=share_link
$5,000 OBO.

I am selling because I am now approaching my time here on earth although I am not ready to go at 89.
I hope you are close enough that it would be reasonable to see it.
Jack Ensor

Re: Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

dkmach2@... (dkmach2) — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 14:00:34 -0700

I am interested. Can you send pictures please? Do you have a way to get it on a skid and in a crate, and load it on a truck? I can arrange the freight.

What is the asking price?

Thanks,

Denis

On Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 06:01:02 PM CDT, Jack via groups.io <jensor4@...> wrote:

[Edited Message Follows]

Bridgeport Series 1 Vertical Mill running on Linux EMC2 CNC. This mill had been retrofitted with a Bandit CNC and because it was no longer supported, I converted it to run on a PC using Linux EMC2 CNC as an operating system. All documentation is included. Also has Acu-rite X/Y axis glass scales. 42" X 9 3/4" table.

Bejur Spray Mister

Ball Screw slides on all axis.

2 Hp, 3 phase motor

I bought this mill in 2005 (or there about) and as a hobby machinist the mill has not been used very much, usually making myself tooling.

Weighs approximately 2000 lbs.

Engraving jig with motor is included.

EDM for small hole setup that I fabricated is included (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5WZqYl_aZ8 .

Set of Erickson Quick Change interfacing collets.

Many end mills and saws

Boring bar head
Located New Windsor, MD.
Is anyone interested?
jensor4@...

Bridgeport CNC needs a new home

jensor4@... (Jack) — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 13:11:01 -0700

Bejur Spray Mister
Ball Screw slides on all axis.

2 Hp, 3 phase motor

I bought this mill in 2005 (or there about) and as a hobby machinist the mill has not been used very much, usually making myself tooling.

Weighs approximately 2000 lbs.
For photos they are available on Google MyDrive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dTATMW9DM6REIOg-c9RihZbmx4Uw8YnG?usp=share_link

Engraving jig with motor is included.

EDM for small hole setup that I fabricated is included (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5WZqYl_aZ8 .

Set of Erickson Quick Change interfacing collets.

Many end mills and saws

Boring bar head
Located New Windsor, MD.
Is anyone interested?
jensor4@...