drill press x/y cross-slide

[Dan S]

Hello guys,

Does anyone know where I can get a decent drill press x/y cross-slide, something for under $100 if possible? I have seen a few on eBay that look good but I would like to get something new if I can.

Any suggestions?

[cowanrg]

www.shars.com has one. its one thats one ebay a lot. they sell it for $100. i got it new off ebay auction for ~$70. their website has some issues so i couldnt find it, but i got their catalog in the mail too, and it has it in there for $100.

oh, and they are also located in st. charles, IL. its a few hours away from you, but if you want to take a little drive, you could save on shipping.

[Dan S]

Cowanrg,

Do you mean like this one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...846924232&rd=1

This one looks like it is a quality piece; I just wish they had more information on it.

This is the one thing that always bugs me about buying stuff online; I can’t pick it up, hold it, or test it out, and then they tell you next to nothing about it. Ok I need to stop I’m getting off on a ranting tangent. lol

[sendkeys]

if you need a smaller one maybe. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47838
that would be free shipping seeing its over 50 bucks.

i bet if you can wait around it would go on sale hehe

[Dan S]

Sendkeys

This is the machine I will be using it on.

Z travel (end off chuck to work surface)
10.75”
17.75” if I remove the platform
350-4000 rpm
5/8” chuck
.75 hp
5.75” column to center of chuck clearance
Table/base is 8” wide

so if I can id like to try for 14” x 8”

[sendkeys]

looks like mine with a grey paint job If it's anything like mine its a good drill but has some play init. So paying extra for a precision table would kind of be a waste. I think if it was me i go with the cheapest table with the size you need on ebay. Do little lapping on the table so it moves easy. then put some cheapo digital calipers for placement feedback. then backlash wouldnt really matter.


http://www.5bears.com/cnc09.htm

says he went with the "Pitstool Wholesale" table on "ebay seller" said it was "ok". but i think he went with the size smaller table?

Originally Posted by 5bears feedback First I must say that everything below the table is quite frankly junk. The leadcrews, handles, and base are crude and suitable only for coarse drill-press use. But the table is excellent! Go figure. Nice, reasonably close-grained cast iron, it machines beautifully, no hard spots, and best of all the table is accurate, as far as I can measure with my tiny granite surface plate. A quality straight-edge layed across the surface at various angles shows a good black-out fit.

http://stores.ebay.com/Pitstool-Whol...enameZl2QQtZkm

[Swede]

Interesting, I was going to reply to this thread, scrolled to the bottom, and someone did it for me! That "review" was from my web site. The table in question is the one Dan mentioned:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...3846924232&rd=1


I have bought two of these, both strictly for the table. Both of them had a nice, flat, and accurate table. Often these Asian tables are not truly flat, or the iron is not seasoned and stresses in their manufacture cause them to go out of truth, but this was not the case with these. I'll reiterate what I've observed - the leadscrews, handles, and bearings as they came out of the box were junk and unsuitable for use with a CNC system without major rework. It is totally feasible to do this kind of work, though, but don't underestimate the effort.

On one X/Y table, the bearing housing was completely broken through due to shipping damage. In this case, it couldn't even be used as a drill-press table.

But the price is right; the table is 6" X 18", a nice size for a small bench mill, the T-slots are perfect for full-sized BP table tooling. I scammed a very rare 3" Kurt vise from eBay which is perfect. A 4" vise fits but is a tad large. The table comes apart and machines with ease. Slap a couple THK rails/blocks on the bottom, and you have an instant axis. I recommend these due to the cheap price and overall nice accurate table.

[Dan S]

Swede

What do you think of these, if they are just being used for drill press use? I’m not going to be using it for cnc, or milling work. I just want something to help position things more accurately on the drill press.

I found this one today; it’s smaller but seems to be of a higher quality.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWA:IT

[Swede]

Dan, I think for drill press use they'd be very nice. A permanently mounted tilting vise would top it off perfectly. Hopefully they'll pack it for shipment better than they did with one of mine. Be sure you have the necessary throat space below your press spindle. Also, I did NOT test the accuracy of the screws and the dials. Hopefully it won't be one of those metric leadscrews with inch graduations which are often off quite a bit. For just moving the work beneath the drill, that wouldn't be an issue. Looking at the one you chose, it looks like a 20 TPI leadscrew, so maybe that aspect will be fine.

I'd also disassemble and generally deburr and clean the ACME screws, get out some of the casting grit which is always part of tools like this. I'd say go for it, keeping in mind it's not a Yuasa, and won't have that scary-smooth, silky feel of a top quality unit.

[anoel]

Dan, That's the X/Y base from a Harbor Frieght Micro-Mill. it's not the worst...

But probably not as nice as the other table mentioned here. The shaft Bearings are just plain bore bearings. These need to be modified for a thrust or replaced to get really smooth travel without sloppiness.

[nervis1]

Jezus God please don't do it.

Thats how the addiction started for me. Flashback.....

Oh yea, just a 65 dollar slide table for the drill press, a 3/8th end mill, my project will be easy... complete...done. No need for a mill.


6 months later I have a mill drill, tooling, a 9X20 lathe, tooling, garage shrinkng.

Oh God not a cnc site where they tell you how to convert that mill drill into a CNC machine! Oh S*&%

6 months later one converted mill drill, more tooling, coolant tank, garage getting smaller, hobby funds shrinking.....

Rough part finishes...slow feeds, not enough HP, maybe I should look at a used cnc machine?

Figures, I stumble across a great deal on a VMC, can't pass it up. Mill drill sold, 6k lb VMC in the garage 6 months later, garage imploding, funds shrunken, tool carts now to hold the tooling, .....huge air compressor

The slide table is just to get you hooked, pretty soon your eyes will start to wander along with the wallet. Best not to get started.

[Ken_Shea]

In responce to the poor slob named Nervis1, I am with you man, I feel your pain

My name is Ken Shea, and I am addicted to CNC