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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
Milling machinist wannabee is the proud new owner of a 25 year old
Bridgeport Series I vertical mill, being delivered this week. I will be using the machine to fabricate firearm parts, mostly small parts. 10 pounds would be an unusually heavy piece. Being a newbie I need some real basic advice. 1) My concrete floor is out-of-level by 1/4" side-side across the 2' width of the machine base, and 3/8" front-back along the 3' length of the base. Would leveling pads be advisable?...or would steel shims under the base bolt holes be just as good? Or is anything at all even necessary? 2) I have single phase power. The mill is a 3 phase 2HP. No CNC equipment in the foreseeable future. I will add a DRO, and probably traverse power feed (I have longitudinal). I believe the power feeds are 110VAC plug ins and if so would be a separate circuit. I have gotten the full range of recommendations. Some say a static electronic converter at $150 is plenty sufficient; others say I should go with a $500+ rotary converter with a 5HP capacity (I don't plan to add any other 3 phase equipment); and one fellow suggested making a "pony motor" from a used 2-5 HP 3 phase motor, wired with the 2 legs of single phase input power to 2 of the 3 motor terminals, and then the 3 terminals to the machine, equipping the pony motor with a hand start pull cord, ever hear of that? I'd like to hear the thoughts of you experienced folks. 3) Suggestions as to a good 2 axis (with the 3rd on the spindle if affordable) DRO system a capable mechanic inexperienced with DROs could retro-fit? |
#2
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
In article , FLowen says...
gotten the full range of recommendations. Some say a static electronic converter at $150 is plenty sufficient; others say I should go with a $500+ rotary converter with a 5HP capacity (I don't plan to add any other 3 phase equipment); and one fellow suggested making a "pony motor" from a used 2-5 HP 3 phase motor, wired with the 2 legs of single phase input power to 2 of the 3 motor terminals, and then the 3 terminals to the machine, equipping the pony motor with a hand start pull cord, ever hear of that? I'd like to hear the thoughts of you experienced folks. The pony motor is a single phase motor that takes the place of a (dangerous IMO) rope pull. The larger three phase motor that is being started this way is called the 'coverter' motor or more commonly the 'idler' motor. You can see my setup with a 5hp idler motor and a 1/8 hp pony motor to spin it up before I turn on the power to excite the idler: http://www.metalworking.com/DropBox/_2000_retired_files/Conv.jpg The entire thing was built for free, and runs all my machines, none of which are more than 1 hp apeice. Because the motor is large in comparison to the load motors there is no fancy tuning required. The pony motor spins the idler up to speed, I turn on a fused knife switch to excite two of the three wires in the idler motor, and then it locks in to the line frequency and runs on its own. I lift up the hinged platform that the pony motor sits on and the belt flies off. The thing is so quiet when running I've been known to nearly forget and leave it running. It consumes about 200 watts when it is not powering the load motor. Jim ================================================== please reply to: JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com ================================================== |
#3
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
you can also just use a start capacitor and a momentary push button to
start a 3 phase 'idler' motor. This to me is a cleaner setup. But I would consider a VFD I leveled a machine with wood blocks |
#5
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
FLowen writes:
I have single phase power. Another option is DC drive: http://www.truetex.com/dcdrv.htm |
#6
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
In article ,
FLowen wrote: Milling machinist wannabee is the proud new owner of a 25 year old Bridgeport Series I vertical mill, being delivered this week. I will be using the machine to fabricate firearm parts, mostly small parts. 10 pounds would be an unusually heavy piece. Being a newbie I need some real basic advice. 1) My concrete floor is out-of-level by 1/4" side-side across the 2' width of the machine base, and 3/8" front-back along the 3' length of the base. Would leveling pads be advisable?...or would steel shims under the base bolt holes be just as good? Or is anything at all even necessary? 2) I have single phase power. The mill is a 3 phase 2HP. No CNC equipment in the foreseeable future. I will add a DRO, and probably traverse power feed (I have longitudinal). I believe the power feeds are 110VAC plug ins and if so would be a separate circuit. I have gotten the full range of recommendations. Some say a static electronic converter at $150 is plenty sufficient; It is not electronic -- purely electrical components -- voltage-sensitive relay, heavier relay, and starting capacitor. It is *useless* for plug-reversing -- e.g. when tapping in the mill and you need to stop and reverse the spindle quickly to avoid bottoming the tap and breaking it off in your workpiece. Also -- you only get about 66% of the motor's full power rating using one of these. others say I should go with a $500+ rotary converter with a 5HP capacity (I don't plan to add any other 3 phase equipment); Spending $500.00 for a rotary converter which you can make for less than $100.00 does not make sense -- except for a company, which is likely to be able to get the three phase from the power company. and one fellow suggested making a "pony motor" from a used 2-5 HP 3 phase motor, wired with the 2 legs of single phase input power to 2 of the 3 motor terminals, and then the 3 terminals to the machine, equipping the pony motor with a hand start pull cord, ever hear of that? I'd like to hear the thoughts of you experienced folks. A bit of mix-up of terms there. The rotary converter uses an "idler" motor -- a *used* (and therefore hopefully dirt-cheap) three-phase motor with perhaps 50% more horsepower than your milling machine's motor. This is started by one of several ways: 1) A pull rope to manually spin it up just before applying power-- simplest construction, but an exposed pulley while it is running. 2) A "pony motor" -- a smaller single-phase motor to spin the idler up just prior to applying power. I've seen these designed with the pony motor hinged to the plate holding the idler motor, and as it starts, the operator lifts the pony motor, and the belt is thrown off of the pulleys. 3) A voltage-sensitive relay, and a heavier relay, and starting capacitors (just like you would find in the so-called "static" converters.) This is the so-called "self-starting" rotary converter, and is probably the best bet for long-term service. Any of these can be improved by adding tuning capacitors to improve the balance of the generated third leg, and this can reduce the current drawn from your circuit breakers. (You would not be charged for that extra current, as it is reactive, not resistive, but it still wastes power heating wires, and sometimes tripping circuit brakers. There is a lot of information on this to be found in the archives of this newsgroup -- in particular, look for the articles by "Fitch" covering this subject. He took a good analytical approach to the design of one, which can save others from having to repeat the work. However -- there is yet a third approach, which *does* involve electronics. This is commonly called a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive). I *think* that your 2HP Bridgeport will have the variable-speed pulleys, so you probably don't *need* a VFD -- but one is more efficient than a rotary converter, and can allow you to fine-tune the speed if you have a step-pulley head on your Bridgeport. (It can also allow you to get a wider total speed range than the vari-speed pulleys alone. 3) Suggestions as to a good 2 axis (with the 3rd on the spindle if affordable) DRO system a capable mechanic inexperienced with DROs could retro-fit? Shooting Star would be a nice one. I'm sure that others will have their own suggestions. Good Luck, DoN. -- Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564 (too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html --- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero --- |
#7
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
I have a textile machine shop and use the cheap under $100.00 ststic
converter from McMasterr Carr on my Bridge-port... No problem for 10 years so far.... Works great... |
#8
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
The 3-phase problem is best solved with a VFD rated for single-phase input.
They are commonly available for about $200. The VFD provides soft start, variable speed, dynamic braking, reversible on the fly. Another advantage is you will not have to use the BP variable speed pulley system which is a known maintenance item. www.automationdirect.com is a good source for VFD's. If you can spend a little more for a DRO, I recommend the Newall 2-axis. It is very easy to install, with hermetically sealed scales and reader heads. Plus it comes with an assortment of mounting brackets that will fit damn near anywhere on the mill. www.candomachinery.com is a good source for DRO's and sells several different brands. For the quill DRO(3rd axis), the little dedicated Mitutoyo unit is easy to mount, battery powered, easy to see. Most any place that sells Mitutoyo handles them. Randy "FLowen" wrote in message om... Milling machinist wannabee is the proud new owner of a 25 year old Bridgeport Series I vertical mill, being delivered this week. I will be using the machine to fabricate firearm parts, mostly small parts. 10 pounds would be an unusually heavy piece. Being a newbie I need some real basic advice. 1) My concrete floor is out-of-level by 1/4" side-side across the 2' width of the machine base, and 3/8" front-back along the 3' length of the base. Would leveling pads be advisable?...or would steel shims under the base bolt holes be just as good? Or is anything at all even necessary? 2) I have single phase power. The mill is a 3 phase 2HP. No CNC equipment in the foreseeable future. I will add a DRO, and probably traverse power feed (I have longitudinal). I believe the power feeds are 110VAC plug ins and if so would be a separate circuit. I have gotten the full range of recommendations. Some say a static electronic converter at $150 is plenty sufficient; others say I should go with a $500+ rotary converter with a 5HP capacity (I don't plan to add any other 3 phase equipment); and one fellow suggested making a "pony motor" from a used 2-5 HP 3 phase motor, wired with the 2 legs of single phase input power to 2 of the 3 motor terminals, and then the 3 terminals to the machine, equipping the pony motor with a hand start pull cord, ever hear of that? I'd like to hear the thoughts of you experienced folks. 3) Suggestions as to a good 2 axis (with the 3rd on the spindle if affordable) DRO system a capable mechanic inexperienced with DROs could retro-fit? |
#9
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
I used a "static converter" for many years on a 2HP Bridgeport clone. The
static converter is not really a converter, it just gives the 3rd phase in the motor a temporary kick of juice when you hit the motor power switch. This allows the motor to start turning, but then the motor drops back to running on 2 power phases. The only drawback on this is that you only get about 2/3 of full motor power. However, on a Bridgeport type mill, that's usually plenty of power uniless you are planning on pushing the machine to the max. For the prototyping and small run work we do, I never had a time where the machine didn't have enough power with the static converter. However, I recently switched to a VFD to get the variable speed, instant reversing and automatic braking. I bought a 2HP Teco unit from Dealers Electric. It works great, and I really like it and I put one on my lathe also. If you go this route, buy the optional braking resistor, the allows you to set the spindle braking and reversing time to about 1 second. The documentation for this unit is a little cryptic, but they have an 800 number with pretty helpful tech guys that really know the units. If you're tight on dollars, I'll sell you my retired static converter for 1/2 of new cost, its the common Phase-o-matic unit, give me a call at 415-467-7886 x122 Good luck- Paul T. |
#10
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
What I did in your exact situation: level the machine adequately with
wedges, I used wood, but you can now make aluminium , and use a static phase converter. Worked passably well for me, I have stalled the motor a few times under heavyish cuts but I have a 1.5hp motor, so I am realizing only 1 hp. Upgrade later, unless you luck into a VFD at a great deal. Brian "FLowen" wrote in message om... Milling machinist wannabee is the proud new owner of a 25 year old Bridgeport Series I vertical mill, being delivered this week. I will be using the machine to fabricate firearm parts, mostly small parts. 10 pounds would be an unusually heavy piece. Being a newbie I need some real basic advice. 1) My concrete floor is out-of-level by 1/4" side-side across the 2' width of the machine base, and 3/8" front-back along the 3' length of the base. Would leveling pads be advisable?...or would steel shims under the base bolt holes be just as good? Or is anything at all even necessary? 2) I have single phase power. The mill is a 3 phase 2HP. No CNC equipment in the foreseeable future. I will add a DRO, and probably traverse power feed (I have longitudinal). I believe the power feeds are 110VAC plug ins and if so would be a separate circuit. I have gotten the full range of recommendations. Some say a static electronic converter at $150 is plenty sufficient; others say I should go with a $500+ rotary converter with a 5HP capacity (I don't plan to add any other 3 phase equipment); and one fellow suggested making a "pony motor" from a used 2-5 HP 3 phase motor, wired with the 2 legs of single phase input power to 2 of the 3 motor terminals, and then the 3 terminals to the machine, equipping the pony motor with a hand start pull cord, ever hear of that? I'd like to hear the thoughts of you experienced folks. 3) Suggestions as to a good 2 axis (with the 3rd on the spindle if affordable) DRO system a capable mechanic inexperienced with DROs could retro-fit? |
#11
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Seeking Milling Machine Set-up Advice
I just wanted to thank each and all for your input! This excellent
kind of info xchange makes all the frustrations with computors tolerable. Type to you all later. Thanks again to all. Fred |
#12
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