clifton77208
Aluminum
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2012
- Location
- Boise, ID
I picked up one of these machines about two weeks ago from HGR industrial surplus. When I got it home on my trailer, a few things were immediately evident. First, it was so filthy that the ways were non functional. When things are in this kind of condition, it is safe to assume that the lubrication system will be equally as dirty. Secondly, the spindle felt really nasty. I specifically purchased the model with the bronze spindle bearing. The reasoning behind this is that a bronze bearing may be cleaned up with some (usually minor) stock removal. Whereas, precision ball bearings require unit replacement (which is exceptionally difficult for an impoverished college student).
Upon disassembly, I found I was right about the lube system. Machine tools like it much better when you use oil on the ways as opposed to general-purpose grease. The spindle bearing looked pretty bad too. The paint was out of the question. Whatever gunk was rubbed all over this thing for storage had made an unholy, polygamist marriage of itself, ambient grinder dirt, and the paint.
The rest of my machine tools are sold by Chinese Freight. They work well enough for most things. But chasing a taper in an out of production bearing should be subcontracted to someone who runs a good toolroom lathe and has been doing this stuff for much longer than I've been alive. I found a guy who met this description and gave him the job of repairing the bearing fit. About a day and half later, I got my bearing, spindle, and thrust fitting back in nearly perfect condition.
Stripping the old paint was the hardest part of making this thing look reasonable. The smaller parts I was able to put on a little rolling service cart I have and wire wheel them in the front yard (neighborhood board is still crapping itself). I sandblasted some of the stuff too. The replacement paint is some kind of rustoleum grey. It was cheap and plentiful at Lowes.
At this point, the machine is most of the way back together. I need to install the micrometer screw assembly, hand cranks, spindle, and motor. The motor is currently away receiving new bearings and being wired (safely and without big gloms of electrical tape) for 110v single phase. The table runs flat enough. There is a bit more play than I would like in the x-axis though. I imagine that this is fairly common with these machines since typical operation involves running the hell out of this axis.
Upon disassembly, I found I was right about the lube system. Machine tools like it much better when you use oil on the ways as opposed to general-purpose grease. The spindle bearing looked pretty bad too. The paint was out of the question. Whatever gunk was rubbed all over this thing for storage had made an unholy, polygamist marriage of itself, ambient grinder dirt, and the paint.
The rest of my machine tools are sold by Chinese Freight. They work well enough for most things. But chasing a taper in an out of production bearing should be subcontracted to someone who runs a good toolroom lathe and has been doing this stuff for much longer than I've been alive. I found a guy who met this description and gave him the job of repairing the bearing fit. About a day and half later, I got my bearing, spindle, and thrust fitting back in nearly perfect condition.
Stripping the old paint was the hardest part of making this thing look reasonable. The smaller parts I was able to put on a little rolling service cart I have and wire wheel them in the front yard (neighborhood board is still crapping itself). I sandblasted some of the stuff too. The replacement paint is some kind of rustoleum grey. It was cheap and plentiful at Lowes.
At this point, the machine is most of the way back together. I need to install the micrometer screw assembly, hand cranks, spindle, and motor. The motor is currently away receiving new bearings and being wired (safely and without big gloms of electrical tape) for 110v single phase. The table runs flat enough. There is a bit more play than I would like in the x-axis though. I imagine that this is fairly common with these machines since typical operation involves running the hell out of this axis.