Converting a BF20

[sgman]

Hello

I believe I found a BF20 Equivalent from Busy Bee Tools in Canada

Its a Model Number -CT129.

It can be found at this website - http://busybeetools.ca

Is this an exact equivalent to a BF20?

Can anybody tell me where to buy a CNC Kit for this unit?

Thanks

Steven

[sgman]

Hello

Here is the direct website access for the BF20 type machine I am interested in


http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/pictu...9&NTITEM=CT129

Thanks for any help

Steven

[chalky]

As far as I know there are two bf20 type mill manufacturers, Weiss and Optimum. Both mills are made in China. The mill you've highlighted is one of these, probably a Weiss. Again as far as I know, there is only one difference between the two machines; the Optimum has scraped ways ( or at least scrape marks on the ways ) whereas the Weiss has ground ways. The current Weiss machines have an MT3 spindle - not sure about the Optimum, they may still have the original MT2 spindle. Either way they have a much higher build quality than most comparable Chinese machines and are excellent value for money ( got one myself ).

[ataxy]

Weiss machine comes with a mt2 taper, holder and tool are not as common here in america as the r8 but are not that hard to get by.
the machine Busybee is suppose to start to sell but from the last news i got they dont have it yet in stock is a Weiss machine.
basicly the difference you will find between the Vario bf20 and the Weiss wmd20v is scraped way over grounded way and the Weiss comes with a 600w motor while the Vario as a 800w.
structuraly both machine are the same and have the same option of having a longer table, the "L" version, wich gives you +/- 18inchs of travel in x over the standard 11inchs
both have dial graduated in 0.002 on the x and y axis and 0.004 on the z axis but the distance in between the graduation is so big that its not hard by eye to split it in four, graduation are a tad more then 1/16 in between.
currently the only place i know in Canada that cary the weiss machine is Garant machinerie in Levis, Quebec but Busybee was suppose to have it in store 2 week ago but i got no news or havent heard someone say they got it.
i own this mill and i have tryed a seig X3 and performance wise both machine are on the same level and should not be viewed as a in between the x2 and x3 mill also some site, as Garant, publicise the head as tilting 45 degree, this is an error as it can tilt 90 degree it the scale on the head carriage that stops at 45... well at least on mine.
one final note for cnc conversion the table and saddle does not offer enough room to fit in a 5/8 square ballnut as it is, this is in part due to the fact that the table is cast and not machined on its under side.

also might be worth investigating the Busybee site only advertise the mill and does not say if it comes with equipment wich i guess is why the mill as such a different price from Garant wich comes with some tooling and cabinet so you may want to check it out if it does come with the same stuff then its one hell of a deal @1100$
edit: oups my bad just checked it and they now advertise it with some basic equipment

[ironDigit]

Hi there,

I owned one of these meself one with scraped-like ways.
A fine machine wich i happen to have come across several satisfied owners.
For cnc i would surely recommend ballscrews though the original leadscrews have been used.
Optimum offers bolt on cnc-kits for the bf-20 wich also fitted mine wich was a a different brand ,i must note though that you'll find the optimum cnckits quite crappy i guess is the word .I've recently came across an example were an optimumlathe cnckit did not fit the optimum lathe ??And i also spotted that the parts are totally cast and unfinished ,though it's topnotch casting iMO the bearingseats should atleast be bored.

Any 2nm torque w,3-axis stepper driver set will run your machine and if you do some reading you might set yourself up with a better or atleast cheaper then the optimum conversionkit.

good luck.

[sgman]

Hello

Thanks for the tip about getting a machine from Garant Machinery

Awesome deal,,,$999.00 (with a stand) Plus Busy Bee wont have any (until the end of April)

I need to pay for shipping across Canada but I think for that price (Its worth it)

Oh and it has scraped ways to...

I still need to find an easy cnc install Kit, I wonder if any one could make me an adapter kit to mount the stepper motors.

Thanks again

Steven

[ataxy]

the one at 999 is the wms16v wich is like a x2 the other is the wsm20v it comes with stand-chip tray-vise-3/4 drill chuck-all the allen key etc,etc, they talk about on Busybee site-a nice ER-25 chuck with 6 collets-7 2xflutes hss endmill-50pcs clamping kit... i think thats it, oh and so far the customer service at Garant for me as been A-1 the offer excelent aftersale service. here is some cue if you want the longer table they sell it for 280$ if you can wait and 380$ if you want it inside the month it comes with the longer screw, end plate, new handle and new bearing and is definitly a must in my point of view

[sgman]

Thats to bad about the machine being an X2, (Should have read the fine print before I jumped)

I guess I will need to investigate the alternatives (This has not being an easy selection to determine price/size/cnc kits/ etc...

I will continue to "hunt" for the best setup I need.

So far the best "out of the box" deal I have found that closely matches my needs it the deepgroove! taige mill, its a little heavier than an sherline and a little lighter than an x2

It seems thought the travel on the x,y,z is pretty good for a machine of that size.

any comments about the deepgroove machine...??

Thanks again

Steven

[sgman]

ataxy

Did you refit your bf20 to cnc?

And if you did can you tell me how to cnc it..

I think the best deal is busy bee for 1098.00 FOB Vancouver (where I live)

I need to wait until the end of April, but maybe I can order the cnc kit parts in the mean time and have all parts arrive a close to the same time

Any comments, or suggestions...

Thanks again

Steven

[ataxy]

Originally Posted by sgman Thats to bad about the machine being an X2, (Should have read the fine print before I jumped) I guess I will need to investigate the alternatives (This has not being an easy selection to determine price/size/cnc kits/ etc... I will continue to "hunt" for the best setup I need. So far the best "out of the box" deal I have found that closely matches my needs it the deepgroove! taige mill, its a little heavier than an sherline and a little lighter than an x2 It seems thought the travel on the x,y,z is pretty good for a machine of that size. any comments about the deepgroove machine...?? Thanks again Steven

when i said it whas like a x2 i meant size wise but its not an x2 and it is slightly bigger but only slightly

Originally Posted by sgman ataxy Did you refit your bf20 to cnc? And if you did can you tell me how to cnc it.. I think the best deal is busy bee for 1098.00 FOB Vancouver (where I live) I need to wait until the end of April, but maybe I can order the cnc kit parts in the mean time and have all parts arrive a close to the same time Any comments, or suggestions... Thanks again Steven

no not yet i have all i need here the motor, ballscrews, drivers, etc, etc. but i am so busy at home starting my little shop that i dont have the time for now to get started but if you want to cnc it here is the first thing you will need to do get the underside of the table milled out or the ballnut wont fit, secondly i highly recommend you get the x3/sx3 kit from kelling but change the transformer for a 48v/7.3a and change the 425oz motor for the 495oz in all this will come down to about 650cnd with shipping then get some decent ballscrew with double ballnut this is in my point of view the best you can do to get as much precision out of your machine as for the rest a semi decent computer, actualy anything in between a p3 1ghz/512mb ram and a p4 2ghz/512mb ram is going to be ok, as long as you dont use it to do or install anything else
also if you take your time and look at it making double ballnut out of single ballnut is not that hard and can save you some money

[chalky]

Are any of the spindle gears on the bf20/wmd20 plastic? Haven't had mine apart yet. In the same vein has anyone done or planned a belt drive conversion for the bf20/wmd20?

[ataxy]

There gear from the motor is brass but the one to wich it connect is plastic cant remember the name of it, it grey.