Zahnrad Kopf
Diamond
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2010
- Location
- Tropic of Milwaukee
Anyone ever made ( or have made ) a custom way cover?
Looking for GOOD ideas. Not interested in halfassery.
Some Romi turning iron ( G10/15/20 and maybe others ) have a solid way cover behind the turret. They dealt with this by putting a tunnel/hump like cover extending off the side of the machine enclosure. Romi is a good company and built ridiculously solid machines in my experience, so I am sure that they had their reasons. ( and I don't care what they were ) However, this strikes me as uncharacteristically stupid in its execution. A collapsing cover would have saved a significant amount of floor space and because we are splitting hairs to make do what with we have until finding a new home, it is bugging the crap out of me. I could really make use of that space were it freed up. Sounds fantastic, but it is what it is.
I've already had the "tunnel/hump" off the machine a few different times during maintenance activities, so I know for a fact that it is not necessary, save to accommodate the solid cover that extends out of the machine enclosure when the turret is sent home.
So, the question is has anyone made or had made a custom way cover? A collapsing/overlapping cover would be the ideal, but I'm sure it's more work and money than is worthwhile on an older machine. ( despite it being insanely accurate and stable throughout the days ) I'm thinking a soft, accordion or bellows type cover would be the perfect solution, here. But how does one get an accordion or bellows cover to conform to the typical slant bed style?
Not interested in removing the "tunnel/hump" and letting the sheet metal way cover shoot out into space when necessary for various reasons, not the least of which is safety. ( there is also the whole "plowing into the wall" issue )
Do they sell bellows in that configuration, that one could trim for lengths and make end plates for? It sure would make an old, valuable, beloved machine more loved...
I know exercising my google-fu will return a few places that advertise custom way covers. I'm looking for people THAT HAVE DONE IT and have some insights, admonitions, recommendations, and/or lessons learned from doing so.
Thank you.
EDIT -
I should have been more clear...
I understand that proper metallic, telescoping way covers, bearing brass/rubber wipers are going to be cost prohibitive.
I am referring to synthetic / rubber / neoprene / fabric / whathaveyou type accordion/bellows type covers, and inquiring about making them for / adapting them to a machine, or having some made for same.
I can make the end plates / attachment plates simply enough.
/EDIT
Looking for GOOD ideas. Not interested in halfassery.
Some Romi turning iron ( G10/15/20 and maybe others ) have a solid way cover behind the turret. They dealt with this by putting a tunnel/hump like cover extending off the side of the machine enclosure. Romi is a good company and built ridiculously solid machines in my experience, so I am sure that they had their reasons. ( and I don't care what they were ) However, this strikes me as uncharacteristically stupid in its execution. A collapsing cover would have saved a significant amount of floor space and because we are splitting hairs to make do what with we have until finding a new home, it is bugging the crap out of me. I could really make use of that space were it freed up. Sounds fantastic, but it is what it is.
I've already had the "tunnel/hump" off the machine a few different times during maintenance activities, so I know for a fact that it is not necessary, save to accommodate the solid cover that extends out of the machine enclosure when the turret is sent home.
So, the question is has anyone made or had made a custom way cover? A collapsing/overlapping cover would be the ideal, but I'm sure it's more work and money than is worthwhile on an older machine. ( despite it being insanely accurate and stable throughout the days ) I'm thinking a soft, accordion or bellows type cover would be the perfect solution, here. But how does one get an accordion or bellows cover to conform to the typical slant bed style?
Not interested in removing the "tunnel/hump" and letting the sheet metal way cover shoot out into space when necessary for various reasons, not the least of which is safety. ( there is also the whole "plowing into the wall" issue )
Do they sell bellows in that configuration, that one could trim for lengths and make end plates for? It sure would make an old, valuable, beloved machine more loved...
I know exercising my google-fu will return a few places that advertise custom way covers. I'm looking for people THAT HAVE DONE IT and have some insights, admonitions, recommendations, and/or lessons learned from doing so.
Thank you.
EDIT -
I should have been more clear...
I understand that proper metallic, telescoping way covers, bearing brass/rubber wipers are going to be cost prohibitive.
I am referring to synthetic / rubber / neoprene / fabric / whathaveyou type accordion/bellows type covers, and inquiring about making them for / adapting them to a machine, or having some made for same.
I can make the end plates / attachment plates simply enough.
/EDIT