R2E3 Refinishing?scraping?

[A1CNC]

How do you go about refinishing the ways on a chromed Axis's ways?
My Y axis is worn through the chrome in the center of the travel. The prior owners didn't clean under the way covers I believe. Am I Up the creek or is it save-able?

Thanks for any replies.
Eric

[machintek]

I have seen the ways ground to remove the chrome and to create a virgin/true surface. To this was glued turcite and scraped in.

George

[jmelson]

Originally Posted by A1CNC How do you go about refinishing the ways on a chromed Axis's ways? My Y axis is worn through the chrome in the center of the travel. The prior owners didn't clean under the way covers I believe. Am I Up the creek or is it save-able? Eric

You can't scrape the chrome, it is way too hard. A really good carbide scraper blade will scratch it, just barely. There IS a way to work the chrome, though. You use an air-powered die grinder and a white, muslin-bonded polishing wheel from Cratex. They have these in the MSC and other catalogs.
Despite the power tool, it is slow going, probably slower than hand scraping cast iron.

Depending on where the saddle actually rides on the slide, it may not be a problem, depending on how wide the worn spot is.

Jon

[A1CNC]

Thanks for the replies,
I will have to figure out how bad it is.
I know I tried planing some parts and I could not get the tram correct in different areas. basically If I got the tram correct at one end and moved to the other end, the tram would be out. I did adjust the gibs according to the manual (.0005" Deflection)

Regards,
Eric