Way covers for Taig

[warpedmephisto]

As seen in another thread another user was having the same problem I was - the table binding and the motors stalling from swarf getting caught between the slides and ways. Luckily the X axis stepper lost steps in a non-critical part of the program where it was just roughing, so I didn't damage the part.

After a quick trip to my local high school (where I'm good friends with the shop instructor) I cut out and bent 2 simple galvanized sheet metal pieces to attach to my table. Got back home and drilled and tapped five 10-32 holes in the sides of the table and attached the bent sheet metal pieces. Now no more dirty ways! A cheap, simple solution that will keep my mill running nice and happy!

[Burn]

I think I'm gonna have to do something similar; How far out does the plate extend? I'll do them out of rubber probably. Good idea!

[warpedmephisto]

The plate is 2" x 18.5" with it bent a half inch in at a 45 degree (or what I eyeballed on a manual brake). It really does an excellent job at keeping all the swarf out of where it doesn't need to be. Although the coolant does get to it on the ends of the table. I may have to make something to prevent it from washing away so much of the way oil. Not only does it make me wipe down and relube my ways too often, it makes a nice scum on the top of my coolant.

[Renegade_43]

Here's a picture of the acrylic covers i made for my taig. No chips or coolant ever gets on the ways. After cutting a part the chips are simply hosed off with coolant and filtered out. It makes cleaning the mill after a job much more enjoyable. Who wants to be wiping swarf and oil off the travels?

[impact]

Did you do anything to that post in front of the ways? What is its purpose? Is It possible to remove it?

[warpedmephisto]

I removed mine so I could fit the sheet metal plates on. I believe it is a post for a limit switch for the X axis. Its just held in (mostly by interferance fit) and a 10-32 cap screw.

My next set of covers for the Y axis will be quite similar to Renegade's but probably made out of sheet metal or something much less "trick" than plexiglas. I also need to make some dedicated motor covers instead of using upsidedown Ziploc disposible containers held in place by a rubber band. :P Not fancy at all, but cheap, quick and does its job just fine.