Thread: Shop Maintenance
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10-26-2020, 01:14 PM #41
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10-26-2020, 01:48 PM #42
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g-coder05 liked this post
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10-26-2020, 03:22 PM #43
All our turning centers have air-powered parts catchers except those only used for 2nd ops, and they all have blowguns.
But I can sure remember when the extra cost of extending the air lines factored directly into my paycheck. And that definitely qualifies the thread for inclusion in the Shop Owners forum.
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10-26-2020, 06:27 PM #44
Mori Duraturn 25XX is Hydraulic turret lift, Hydraulic turret index, hydraulic chuck open/close, electric lube
Mori Duraturn 20xx Hydraulic lift, servo index, hydro chuck, electric lube
Those don't have a single air connection on them
Mori NL - Hydro lift ( actually it's a zero-lift so hydro unlock ), servo index, hydro chuck ( main and sub ), electric lube
It does have an air connection, but only for part eject on the sub, chip blow on main and sub and parts catcher up/down.
If you have no air, just jumper the pressure sensor and the machine isn't the wiser.
Haas SL series: Pneumatic turret lock/lift, so right outta the gate it does need air.
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gregormarwick liked this post
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10-26-2020, 09:21 PM #45
As a millennial who loves vintage equipment, I think it comes down to something i noticed with my boss. He would rather spend the money on a new one than waste time trying to diagnose and fix our current one/a new one if needed. Just today I was boring out a hard emegency collet. He said "dont waste time, just go spend the 35 bucks for a new one."
A lot comes down to just not dealing with the hassel.
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10-26-2020, 11:47 PM #46
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10-27-2020, 12:17 AM #47
Some see hard, different than others, that is why there are "blue pills"
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10-27-2020, 07:15 AM #48
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10-28-2020, 11:15 PM #49
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12-08-2020, 12:47 PM #50
A lot of talk about compressors here and I agree that having a backup is very important. Most shops are dead in the water without compressed air.
Probably the second most important piece of equipment in the shop is the saw unless all your stock is precut by the supplier.
In most shops the first order of operation is cutting the stock to length. When the saw is down, one by one the machines become idle until the saw is back in operation. Unlike fixing the air compressor where everything is back up and running the saw can only cut so fast so it takes a while before things are back to normal.
What maintenance have you done to your saw lately? Gearbox and hydraulic oil changed regularly? Blade guides and alignment been checked? Still cutting dead square and to correct length?
In a lot of shops the saw is the red headed step child, rode hard and put away wet. Not given a second thought till it's down.
Mr Bridgeport.
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12-08-2020, 01:01 PM #51
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12-08-2020, 02:03 PM #52
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12-08-2020, 04:12 PM #53
Getting this right is a never ending task in life.
Last place I worked my cost to the company was probably around $100/hr. They would chastise me for wasting money ordering a $50 part, but were impressed when I spent 3 hours making one with $40 in material. So, $300 in labor that could be doing something else to save $10? Not such a good decision.
There is a time and a place for buying robust things, repairing them, and for simply walking over and punching a hole in something so you don't have to order the $100 one that already has a hole and doesn't show up for 3 days, but the balance is key.
I've had to make class X gauge pins, that are going to get used maybe a dozen times, on a worn lathe. It's good to know how to do this, but it's a lot better to plan in advance and buy one for $10 a couple days prior.
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Bobw liked this post
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12-08-2020, 06:15 PM #54
One reason I've heard, is insufficient oil temperature due to stopped condition cool down caused condensation and rusting. I don't really buy into that theory, but possibly if the compressor is outside in winter. Some screws, the rotors themselves touch and the driver drives the driven, with the benefit of a film of oil cushion. Other screws, have a gear set, and the rotors never touch. Balanced loads? I don't understand the reference.
But I'm all up for acknowledging a good reason and explanation of why screw compressors aren't supposed to run in start-stop mode.
Edit: I found this article that points to motor starts per hour as the issue with screw compressor run/stop mode problems. So monitor motor temps may be a good idea. And I suppose a VFD to reduce starting current could be another solution.
Choosing a Shop Air Compressor: Reciprocating or Screw Type? - Fluid Power Journal
Yes. I've seen many and purchased some saws over the years that were treated with less respect than the shop restroom. Most times, a special blade is fitted that has around 1000 teeth per inch. IOW, the finest tooth pitch blade available, and thats all that is used no matter what's being cut. Because the foreman got tired of buying courser blades that got stripped of teeth in short order.
I just recently bought a Doall 16" Metal Master from the remnants of Seneca Fallls Machine Group. 2 blades came with it, both were rounded off like someone was trying to cut hardened metal. The last person to try to use the saw with the dismal blade, must have been saying interesting and colorful words to it. I've got an 18" Grob, that has saw marks on the guides, and guards, that I can't explain how anyone could manage to get the blade in a position to make them.
One of my customers, years ago, asked me to look at their Doall horizontal saw. Somehow, an employee managed to get the blade on so the teeth were against the idler wheel flange, and it got cut completely off. I saved the wheel, by turning the blade contact surface down a bit, and created a new flange. Doall wanted $850 for the wheel. Bandsaws are very much abused in most shops.Last edited by dkmc; 12-09-2020 at 01:18 AM.
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