Hi everybody,
Bought a new Shopmaster 2000 in 1999 and playing with it since.
Since I do not have the quadralift and 5 th column support and would like more rigidity in milling I was thinking of making my own 5 th column support.
Looking in the threads I find different approaches. Can someone with experience on doing this point me in the right directions please.
Pics are a big help.
Thanks and hope that this is not taboo....
My opinion is to mount the fifth column to the lathe bed and not the table. Mounting to the table is not as strong because the metal flexes and allows movement.
Thanks this answers one of the many design questions.Originally Posted by digitalmdj
Now how about the right way to mount to the mill head?
How strong of a tubing Plate ect ?
What exactly do you want to do to your machine. I am changing my machine using a piece of 6061 t6 aluminum. The original steel piece wasn't even straight. It looked like the used a scrap piece of mild steel and hammered it straight. The aluminum is more rigid and much lighter. The less weight on the mill and lathe casting the better. It will be much easier the raise and lower the head this way.
Since I have a shopmaster 2000 I do not have a quadralift so height adjustment for now does not exist. So I dont even Know how your plate looks like and where does it attach. The arm is fairly easy to understand.
What I would like at the end is to have a quadralift with a 5 th column support but I am not sure I can build all that.I would need a lot of help.
To start if it is not too complicated is to get the 5 th column support an try this to see how much sturdier the machine is . From there maybe gain confidence to build a quadralift. Am I dreaming or not.I know that some of you been thought exactly what I am dreaming of. So since I need a lot of help any comment would be helpful.
Since you don't have the quadralift, any up and down motion is not a worry. All you need is a support to resist any flex in the head horizontally and vertically. You could use almost any type of material here- flat bar, angle iron, channel iron etc. I would use a piece of heavy angle bolted to the Z axis plate that is used for the CNC motors. That plate is 1/2" thick and bolted to the head with 4 bolts and located with taper pins. It will be the best place to attach the support bar. Then run your support bar along the back of the head with a vertical support at the tailstock end. This can be attached to the main base casting or your bench. On the other end, you could probably have a vertical support attached to the gearbox cover plate. On the Shoptask delphi users group, there are a number of guys who have built their own quadra lifts- this would be the best way to go, as it really improves the milling function of these machines.
. This can be attached to the main base casting or your bench. On the other end, you could probably have a vertical support attached to the gearbox cover plate. On the Shoptask delphi users group, there are a number of guys who have built their own quadra lifts- this would be the best way to go, as it really improves the milling function of these machines.[/QUOTE]
Thanks a lot of good info specialy the delphi forum.
Thanks again
Hers's a link on the Delphi forum where a guy has plans he will send out for free
http://forums.delphiforums.com/Shopt...ges?msg=1566.2
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