Bridgeport EDM x,y table

[Phil R]

Hello all,
Seeing all the nice machines that have been built/converted here has been making me ambitious to get started on making my own.
Down at work they were getting stuff loaded to go to the scrap yard. I noticed a wire edm x,y table was sitting there near all the scrap. I asked my boss if it was going too. he said "yeah, do you want it?''. I said sure.

It has THK linear ways (about 1"wide) and ballscrews(.790 dia) 0.150"per revolution. I'm pretty sure the ballscrews are ground. approx 9"x13" travel. The unit weighs atleast 250#, thats not including the base that the x axis will need to be mounted to.

Would it work well for a cnc mill?
A Y axis would need to be made up along with the head and spindle.
Any thoughts, opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Phil

[MrRage]

Very nice, thats worth a few $$ right there =)

[musicmkr]

That sounds like an excellent starting point.

From the components you describe it sounds as if this EDM was designed to hold a few hundred pounds on the table. You probably won't need that capability in a mini mill but it'll be plenty rigid enough!

[Phil R]

Thanks.

I'll see what I can find at the scrap yard for the z axis. Maybe there will be a square column mill sitting there, or a big angle plate I can mount rails to. It's unbelievable the things people throw out.

[Mcgyver]

ahh the scrap yard. I haven't been in 20 years, shame on me. There used to be the inland iron and metal one north of Toronto where you could walk around and find all kinds of treasures. Do the yards generally let you do that still or is that gone the way of the dodo becuase of liability issues? I notice you are from Ontario - where are the good ones that let you poke around - maybe close Toronto where the biggest industrial base is would be the best pickins??

that edm table sounds like a beaut - I'd make an edm out of it

[Phil R]

The only scrap yard I go to and been to is located in Cambridge. Not sure how good it is compared to others. I don't think they mind you poking around as long as you're not in their way or putting yourself in danger. I've managed to get alot of aluminum bar stock from there.
I think there is another good scrounging place on hwy 6 near Hamilton.

Turn it back into a wire??? I like to be able to see the workpiece move when something is happening.