Taig questions and solutions?

[impact]

I occasionaly my x and y axis tend to bind up and lose steps and my work ect... I am running flood coolant specificaly that cheapo kool mist stuff. Is this coolant not providing enough lubricity for my ways? I do notice they start binding after periods of long work... (4-5 hours)

I am pretty certain all my gibs are adjusted just right, but Ive got a couple questions.

When adjusting my y I will undo the clamps on the bottom of the box, I find if I do not do this they will not move. The tightest I can get my Y axis without binding still allows a tiny amount of play I can only see it by small drops of coolant changing shape between the gibs and ways, is this normal?

Adjusting my x axis I cannot really tighten down the bolts too much or it causes the gib to bind up even in quite a loose position, is their anyways to remedy this so I can get them tighter and have less of a chace of them moving about?

Thanks for any help in advance.

Ill throw in a picture.

[warpedmephisto]

After about 4-5 hours of machining with flood coolant you should definitely lube your gibs and ways. I run flood coolant on my Taig as well and after a healthy night of machining I will clean off the ways and lube them up again. I've only experienced one binding situation which was remedied by lubing the ways.

As far as adjusting the ways, I usually do the Y saddle first with the X/table removed. Make the gib pretty loose and then tighten down the plate with 3 bolts in it. Then using small adjustments, tighten down the 2 screws that adjust the gib all the while feeling how tight it is (remove the Y stepper and slide the saddle by hand). Once you get no slop or tilt left and right and it feels smooth yet secure tighten down the lock nuts on the 2 adjusting screws. Remember to lube it up nice before this.

Next I adjust the X by removing the stepper and sliding it back and forth by hand like the Y saddle. Adjust the tapered gib with tiny adjustments on the 2 adjusting screws. Make sure there is no wiggle in it, and it slides back and forth smoothly yet securely. Also be liberal when applying the lube to the ways. The Z is adjusted in the same manner as the X.

[cartertool]

I take your post to mean you haven't lubed the ways at all?
Lube the ways with ATF/light oil/way oil, and with flood I'd probably lube them everytime you run the machine (or after cleanup)

Also what feed rates are you using?

[jkeyser14]

That's defintiley a problem, you're using a stand alone coolant. Kool mist is not meant to be an oil or lube of any kind.

If you are going to running flood coolant and don't want to have to constantly oil, you'll need to pick up a water soluable oil, IE the $50 per gallon stuff that you see at MSC or Enco. This stuff lubes and cools, and protects the machine from rust (when mixed properly).

[impact]

Ok couple things I have discovered about adjusting the gibs ect...

The three screws on the box on the Y axis gib can adjust the shape and contact of the gib and can make it run much smoother and tighter. The y gib will not back out unless you use some force on the box. My X axis was never able to adjust correctly some burs were left on the nut keeping the flange from moving when the screw was backed out. Little cleanup and its running good now. However the lack of proper adjustment (it was running tight just with some problems..) has caused the development of some rough spots in my travel. I am going in the right direction with assuming I should re-lap it?

[cartertool]

I would inspect it for burrs etc, but unless you have a clear plan and some good measuring tools just lapping it won't always help...

Better to adjust it a bit loose, and spread the wear around when running projects to equalize it (if that's what you are talking about, localized wear)

[impact]

Check out the wear on my ways... Notice especially the black striations on the right side... This can't be normal?

[mxpro32]

Is that a plexi shield around your spindle? Is that to keep coolant out of your spindle? If so, how well does it work?

[cartertool]

Originally Posted by impact Check out the wear on my ways... Notice especially the black striations on the right side... This can't be normal?

Doesn't look normal - seems like maybe chips got caught in between the slide and made some grooves...Still, not a huge problem as long as whatever made the grooves is gone now. Since you have it off, check and see if there are any burrs above the slide surface and gently scrape/file them off. Clean thoroughly.

[warpedmephisto]

I actually ran into this problem today. Enough swarf made its way between the table and the slides that it siezed up the table (and caused me to loose steps in the program I was running, didn't damage the part though, was just roughing). Now I'm working on some sort of full table length cover to keep the swarf from even getting near the ways/slides. I'll post pics when I'm done.

[impact]

I just rebuilt my mill entirely the other day after some more work and its running better than ever.

The shield around my spindle is actually to keep cooltant from spraying over the top of my enclosure but It does keep the coolant away from the bearings pretty well.

Have you built those way protectors yet? I would love to see them.

[warpedmephisto]

Yep, made them the same day I believe. Here's the link: Way covers for Taig

I think my next step is going to be to build covers for the Y-axis as it gets a lot of coolant run off onto it, and seems to wash away a lot of the way lube. Not to mention its also exposed to chips which is never fun. The front (motor) side of the ways won't be a problem to cover but I'm still trying to figure how to cover the rear portion, because of the column... wait a sec, just thought of something. To the shop!