After getting all the parts of the mill down into the basement, re-assembly was relatively easy.

IMG_7718.jpg In preparation for my CNC conversion, I ordered some 1.25" Ballscrews with zero-backlash nuts. IMG_7719.jpg These are rolled ballscrews - really transmission grade, although they are 0.001"/ft lead error. They should be suitable for my purposes and they were a lot cheaper than ground!
IMG_7720.jpg Putting the table back on the knee was a little tricky to get both parts in the same plane. IMG_7721.jpg
IMG_7722.jpg IMG_7776.jpg Because the main casting got pretty scratched up while being moved, I sanded it down, bondo'd the gouges and repainted it with a two-stage epoxy type paint. The color match is very good.
IMG_7777.jpg The knee and table weigh almost as much as the main casting. IMG_7778.jpg
IMG_7781.jpg I came within an inch of the maximum height of the engine hoist. IMG_7782.jpg
IMG_7786.jpg IMG_7787.jpg I probably should have put the head/ram assembly on before the knee - the extension on the hoist wasn't quite enough to reach so I had to push it with one hand while lowering it with the other hand.
IMG_7783.jpg IMG_7790.jpg All back together!
IMG_7789.jpg You can see the 2ton hoist from before, which I used to move the mill into position. A long crowbar and some 1/2" steel rods probably would have worked better but I didn't have any. IMG_7788.jpg
IMG_7950.jpg Ready to go to work! IMG_7952.jpg You can't really tell from the pictures, but the mill is framed by two lollicolumns, which make it a bit cramped when you have to access the sides of the mill.

I even fixed the DRO which I'd broken in dissassembly. The VFD which I'm using to convert single-to-three phase is also very nice to have.

Return to the Virtual Smidgescape • Return to the 928 Pages • Return to the Machine Shop • Return to Comet


Text, photography and layout by C.S. Mo
Copyright © C.S. Mo, All Rights Reserved
Comments and suggestions to: randoma@vui.com