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original huge pics replaced with smaller ones :-)
After somewhat of a delayed delivery - I am happy to report our new turnkey mill is making chips. Well... not anything serious yet, just a piece of scrap aluminum plate I wrote a small program to make a few light test cuts. Tommy still owes me a few small items he's shipping but at this point it all looks pretty good.
I added the shower curtain for chip containment - fairly easy to do since I also ordered the optional pan. You'll also notice I had to notch the pan to make room for the Y-servo because they didn't allow for the offset when drilling the holes in pan. In the end I prefer it like this because I'm standing closer to the work without having to lean so far over the pan edge:
plus some surplus 2x3 tubing for my customized computer mounting arm:
The curtain keeps the control box outside the work area - and you'll notice I built a small platform on the corner of the pan to support the control box:
another angle:
I added swivel casters to the IH supplied stand so I can move it around as needed. I may get under there and add leveling screws in order to jack it up off the wheels to keep it locked in position more securely - although it doesn't seem move around too much like it is:
Last edited by jerry426; 05-07-2010 at 12:14 AM.
I'm glad to again see someone with a new machine and a smile. I am getting quite tired of the cry baby's that can't wait without making so much misery for all.
Hope you like the machine and get to make lots of chips. Keep us informed of your progress, but leave the huge pics at home ! makes it very difficult.
Don
IH v-3 early model owner
WTF? - ( Why the Five ) Gecko s Why 5 Gecko's ?
Are you really going to run 5 axis?
At the very least I am going to do some 3-D contour milling and use a 4th axis for positioning to do top and bottom and sides of the part. If that works out well enough, I would possibly then use the second rotary to run 2 parts in the cycle (which could end up being quite a time consuming cycle). Or maybe have both rotary units mounted and set up with different work-holding fixtures for 2 separate types of jobs we'll be doing.
There's also the possibility that I'd construct some sort of trunion using both rotary tables, however, that will depend on the success of a number of things I'm not yet certain of.
I'm also going to fabricate an aluminum plate to clamp around the quill to hold a high-speed electric router off to the side of the head which will be used for some engraving. There is even the possibility that I'd use this router for high speed contour milling if it holds tolerances and proves to be durable enough.
And in case anyone is wondering - I removed the photos of the control unit interior after another user let me know Tommy asked that such photos not be posted.
Originally Posted by skullworks
So how long did it take to get your machine? I'm looking at getting this one but I don't think I want to wait six months.
We waited right around 10 weeks for it.
Don,
Not to derail the post of the new machine, but he got it in 10 weeks, others less There are a few of us waiting well over 6 months for less parts (kits). That makes us cry babies, wanting the products we paid for in the time frame we were given (8 weeks)? I'm quite insulted by that. What do you do when the company won't even answer the phone for crying out loud. This is their sponsored forum, so why not ask those question here.
And I've always enjoyed your posts, guess theres a first time for everything.
By the way, I'm also glad to see someone getting something from IH. Looks good!
Bob
Jerry,
How has the mill been running? I'm still waiting on mine, but I'm hopeful it will be done next week. Any trouble with the spindle. I ordered the NT30 and I'm hoping it allows me to sidestep some of the problems others have been having since they install them in the US.
In any case, if things are running well it would be a great encouragement to those of use still waiting...
Ken
Ken, sorry for the late reply... been busy!
For the most part the mill is running very well. There have been a number of minor glitches with the electronics which I have been able to fix myself (electronics background) along with good support from Tommy (i.e. he has sent me whatever I asked for in working through the issues). I have pretty much rewired most of it to my liking, and I believe Tommy is incorporating some of the same changes to the new ones.
My upper spindle bearing failed due to lack of grease and Tommy was very quick to send everything needed to fix it. At the same time I found out the bearings are readily available locally and now have spares too. Since the bearing repair and careful preload adjustment I run it at max speed (around 4000 rpm) all the time cutting aluminum, brass, or plastic and have had no further problems.
I do plan on the taking the gearbox apart soon just to clean out any casting sand that may be in there (after reading about several others having a problem) and to inspect the gearbox bearings. Note that I've had no problem with the gearbox, no funny noises (it's actually fairly quiet in my opinion) - this will be purely for my own piece of mind.
In other news, I fabricated a mount for a small variable speed Bosch router and am using it for engraving with very good success. Here's a video of it in action: [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTI5n7DiM2o"]YouTube- Engraving with our CNC milling machine[/nomedia]
This little router even does a great job with up to a 0.25 inch end mill in aluminum - at least until the spindle bearing in it dies from the abuse :-)
For everyone still waiting to get their mill, I'd tell you to stick it out if at all possible - the machine is worth it in my opinion.
Jerry
Well, you have some of "my" parts on your machine, so that's a bit easier for you to say than for me. :-(
Jerry,
Looks great! I thought about a Proxxon tool, but I imagine a full size (or trim) router would handle the side loads better. I've had my own little adventures in the initial weeks. I've been traveling alot so I've probably spent 4 hours on it in three weeks... So far so good. As you experienced, Tommy has been great about dealing with any problems and quick to answer questions as they arise. He insisted I call him with any questions up till 3am on Saturday and Sunday while we worked through some issues.
Ken.
two questions...
1) how much force does it take to move the mill on those casters? I'd considered making some sort of mobile base for mine but figured it would be difficult to move around on anything other than a level surface.
2) Um, why would he ask that? I received my power supply awhile back and there doesn't seem to be anything sketchy about it, at least that I can physically see?
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