X2 column mod- I went over kill!

[chronic]

Here are some pics of the plate I siliconed and bolted to the back of my column.

It makes such a big difference! I'm thinkin if I gave up on the idea of having head tilt, and welded some tabs onto the bottom then bolted it straight to the base it would be pretty solid. But I'm not sure if I need too, i'm positive any further movement is just the rest of the flimsy mill.





Edit Haha, I did get a shot of the wasp that was hovering around my mill while I took pics.

[nofx]

So thats a 1 x 5 peice of flat, 1018? I think your column is now stronger then the table. Nice work very clean.

[Dougal]

Looks good, but until you tie it into the base you're only practising.
Did you measure the difference before and after?

[Dano523]

Want the truth, you did not go far enough,

Granted that the column does have flex in itself and needs to be resolved, the bigger issue is the way that it's mounts to the base, and that is where you will see the big pay out instead.

The greatest first step is just a 1/8" plate that has been bolted to the back of the column about 12 " up, then that plate bolted to the base as well.
X2 Mini-Mill Column Brace (photo & video)

Don't get me wrong, your support is a step in the right direction to stiffen the column for less flex in it itself, but should have been about 7" wider at the bottom so you could bolted the reinforcement plate to the base to take the base to column flex as well.

If you don't want to start over, then mill a section of steel that will fit in between the new back plate and the base, then bolt them up rock solid.

Also, when doing such, make sure to tram the column up as well (front to back) before finalizing your bolt pattern holes since I have yet to see a X-2 that did not need to have the front column mount that didn't need to be shimmied (so the head is level to the table front to back.

[chronic]

For sure, I'll definitely do this now that you guys are pushing me in the right direction. I have looked at the base and wondered...
I have a rotary table that can tilt so I usually use that vs the column anyway.

Believe it or not, it's actually within a thou front to back. Its pretty good which is cool, I've never needed to shim.

I didn't measure the deflection before and after. I should have. My test was a 5/8" 4 flute finishing end mill plunging through an aluminum block 1/4-3/8"ish doc.
I used to have to use a fine rougher for deeper cuts like that, 2 or 4 flute finishing end mills that big used to buck like crazy. It still had some vibrations, but not nearly as bad! It plowed through much nicer than it ever did before.


Oh yeah, its .750 X 4" 1018. I kind of guessed the depth of that under cut for the column bolt too, worked out good I went down .125 about. Probably could have gone a little deeper to give full thread engagement on the nut. But I'm sure it'll live with one missing thread.

[Arich0908]

I wouldn't weld any thing to it if it were me. I would worry bout it being out of tram or having to tram it. Maybe you could bolt some tabs to the column and base. Why not just do away with the front tilting feature, the whole yellow part. Make a bracket that some how removes that part and maybe you can raise your Z axis at the same time.
I have only a SX1 with long table but when I bought my new base I had the option to have the tilting head I said no thanks I seen you guys with X2s have enough problems so I passed.
Do you not keep you mill bolted down? Bolt it down and add rubber feet under it and you wont believe how well your mill will preform.

[Dougal]

Here is my solution:

Planning an X2 conversion.

[alex781]

Here is my solution:

Hehe dropping it off the edge of a table? Seriously though that is a good idea, I guess all those bolts remove the need for the 'dish' shape washer.

Shame a floor standing drill press seems to be required for drilling the holes in the base.

[chronic]

Doug I like your's!

Arich, it is bolted down. I have one on the front of the side you can see and another on the other side. I just didn't have any more long bolts lol
I'm kind of confused when you say dont worry about it being trammed in though?

[Arich0908]

I think you misread what I said.
I was saying I would not weld it because I would worry bout tramming it. I use my column bolts at the base to tram mine.
SO yes worry bout it.

[hoss2006]

check out Petes version here, still allows column tilt.
http://www.hossmachine.info/Shop_Info.html#x2%20column
Mine has oversize holes to allow a couple degrees adjustment for the column.
Hoss

[Dougal]

Hehe dropping it off the edge of a table? Seriously though that is a good idea, I guess all those bolts remove the need for the 'dish' shape washer.

Shame a floor standing drill press seems to be required for drilling the holes in the base.

I drilled and tapped all the base holes by hand. With an electric drill but you get the idea.
The top hole group is 1mm oversize, the pivot and lower holes are 2mm oversize. This gives heaps of movement for final tramming. The standoffs between the back of the base and the channel have their length tuned by hand when finally tramming.

There are a range of solutions from maximum stiffness to almost wasting time. I went for maximum benefit and minimum effort. I'm very happy with the results.
I'm not a believer in filling columns with concrete/epoxy/lead either. I consider higher stiffness (shift natural frequencies higher so resonance doesn't happen) to be of far greater value than trying to damp out vibrations once they've occured. Extra mass without extra stiffness lowers the natural frequencies and can make for more vibration.