Thread: Clearing space to fill it

Today I had to move some heavy metal.
I had bought a really cheap FP4A Dialog 11 almost sight unseen, willing to be surprised.
In order to fit it in the shop I decided to get rid of that FP4MA Contour 2 that still took up space. Well those FP4A(MA) are really odd. The single servo for the y and z axis combined requires all kinds of technical stunts with shafts and bevel gears and more shafts and hydraulic clutches and hydraulics axis clamps. Combine that with a clueless attempt at a control conversion and zero maintenance for many years and you end up with junk. The junker happened to pass by anyway so off it went.

The truck with the FP4A Dialog 11 arrived today too. First I took some pictures of the way it had been loaded. I would not really have considered the sheet metal as good tie down points. Not a single strap was actually attached to something solid. The control arm was not fixed and left to swing with each turn, getting stopped only when the housing hit the enclosure. The machine was loaded with a crane and they had not put a pallet under it. But I managed to pull it forward enough. I had to take the enclosure off and the universal table to be able to get the forks in far enough. No problem.
The table actually had the center bolt and the original tool for it. I have been looking for one of those.
Note the routing of the tie down straps:




For the heavier machines I have to call on a different neighbors forklift. That thing is great:


Machine safely in shop:


The universal table turned out to be in good shape with good top (very dirty here):


On the subject of dirt. The cabinet:

,which is indicative of the general machine condition.

Inside the control cabinet a lonely circuit board is floating around:

But hey, at least a control is in the cabinet, which was not certain and not necessarily expect at the price.

The tool I was still missing for the universal table. Ratchet to tighten center bolt.


to be continued....

I assume the machine is junk, but will clean it during the week enough to touch it. Unfortunately no documentation with it and no parameters. The machine is newer then expected, being from late 1991. Sheet metal is dented in many places and even has rust in some areas. I have a gallon of KrudKutter allocated and a bucket for the chips. At least I get to play with a Dialog 11 machine for the first time.
And spring is finally here:

Originally Posted by Martin P

Machine safely in shop:


....

You have no grounds to complain about the strapping job when you turn around and park a VW bus on top of the machine! What is really going on in that photo???

LOL, that is funny Russ!
Martin- could you elaborate on the special wrench for the Universal table- I do not have that wrench and have never seen mention of it. Where does it fit?

A matter of perspective!
Behind the machine is a single post (to the right) car lift, on which for the past 4 years the bus has been sitting. I kind of wonder if it the lift still works ...

Below the room shown is a cellar. On occasion I also wonder about the load capacity of the floor.



Colt. the wrench tightens the center bolt on the universal table.

Nice work on the riggers part....
Never thought about the later vertical tables on the machine..
No "T" slots just threads for the bolts in the correct spots. wondered how they handled the "key" on the table back. Of course they still needed a short "T" slot for the center bolt. Thanks for the photo.
In contrast to the board "Master"...i still think the "A" machines look pretty clunky..or rather a bit overweight and bloated. I don't mind seeing the working parts...
Although it would be fun to have a D11 to run for a time. Hope yours is not dead!

Wonder if that machine has the normal gear shift spindle or some sort of vector drive motor?
Guessing it would be a 4000 RPM machine.

Thought your shop had full tile flooring and all...must be the auto repair section we see here.
For a quick moment i thought you had moved again....

Keep us informed on the D11 progress.

Cheers Ross

Yes this is the automotive shop, not really meant for machinery (the exact layout of my property is suited to confuse invaders).
I will post detail pictures of the machine as I progress. It does have standard shift motors hidden under all the sheet metal. I will take detailed shots from below. Odd is also the large left side metal cover with all the holes (cant be seen in picture). These are meant to provide air for the spindle motor, but also collect chips. I am looking for my shovel already. One bucket for chips may not suffice.

Martin
Scrap price has gone up
So save those chips
I hope you know what you are doing with the cellar below
If that floor fails it isn`t covered with the shipping insurance anymore
I am glad for you the table turns out oke
So to get familiar with the layout of your property I have to sell you a couple more machines

Peter from Holland

Originally Posted by Colt45

Martin- could you elaborate on the special wrench for the Universal table- I do not have that wrench and have never seen mention of it. Where does it fit?

Steve:
That dog legged handle is to tighten and loosen the center pivot bolt on the universal Tool Makers table. It has an internal spline machined inside its end in a full circle. (female)
The center "T" bolt nut is also splined for half of its length. The top half is smooth and round turned to the clear the minor diameter of the internal spline on the handle. By pulling the handle forward, you get to the smooth section and you can reposition the handle for another bite. Move the handle toward the rear and it engages the splines on the nut and you can make another small turn before needing to move and reposition.
Bit of a pain as you are fumbling below the table and amongst the chips and oil.....And yes my table has this device.
Cheers Ross


On edit: I forgot to say that the handle stays with the nut...you do not remove as it is captive being retained by a snap ring at the top of the nut.
Take a look under your uni table...it might be there.

Originally Posted by peterve

I am glad for you the table turns out oke

Peter from Holland

Yes, me too!!!!
Makes me not feel guilty.
Cheers Ross

Interesting info re the wrench (sorry to drift in your thread M).

Do I understand correctly this is for the pivot bolt at the top center of the mounting flange (parallel to the X axis mounting surface), about which the table tilts left to right? I just looked at my table and I don't have that wrench or anything that looks like it, just a 19mm bolt head (a bolt head or cap screw-like nut, not a nut with a through-hole)...

I have to reposition the table later tonight will see if I can get pictures.

Yep, think you are correct.
Bolt center top that is the center of rotation when you tilt the table out of plane with the "X" travel....
Fits into the top "T" slot of the vertical table....When you incline the table to the right or left you need to loosen that bolt to allow freedom of movement, then tighten when angle is set.
If you look at the photo Martin's machine with the VW on top you can see the single short "T" slot that takes the bolt.
It is pretty difficult to get to if the table is tilted forward at the same time, so the handle is an attempt to make use easier...
Martin tells me that the lever is a rare item , that often they are missing and the center bolt is just not used.....
Cheers Ross

I just looked at it again, I don't have the bolt or a stud there at all, just what looks like a bushed hole- maybe the lack of pivot is part of why it's a pain to set the tilt angle on that plane. Always wondered what that set screw visible from the top is for.

Martin-are you still Deckeling on 2 continents or back in der Vaterland for good?

Originally Posted by AlfaGTA

No "T" slots just threads for the bolts in the correct spots.

Seems at the point these machines were built Deckel was doing one or both of two things.Cutting corners for economics or diching there traditionl utilitarian ways for "this machine is a 4 axis cnc mill there is no reason to put t slots here were a table will be bolted in place."Except for when the best way to set up and machine something is to bolt it directly to the knee table where t slots used to be.