Tree tracer mill

[choppersprocket]

I'm getting a Tree tracer mill soon from a buddy of mine. I've used the machine as manual and was very impressed with how tight and smooth everything was (first time Tree user).
I'll try to get pics posted in a few days.

It looks like a 2UV type head, but the ram doesn't pivot, it slides side to side on ways. Kinda nice when machining long cylinder heads and don't want to change angles on the head.

Anyway, no particular question as of yet, just looking for any insight or advice concerning this machine and it's capabilities.
I don't plan on using the tracer function for a while, but I know I'll be wanting to duplicate something just because i can, so any info on tracer unit would be good too.
I'll get pics as well as exact model number in a few days when I go to my friends shop again.

Dan

[choppersprocket]

I just want to say thanks for all the info....NOT!

I was directed to this site as the premier place to learn about Tree milling machines, and after a month of posting and 98 views.... ZERO

I'm picking up the mill this sat.

I guess I'll figure it out myself.

Won't be wasting valuable forum space anymore.

[Adobe Machine]

Sorry you feel that way..In fact I did some research and tried to find any material I could about Tree actually manufacturing a Tracer Mill, with no results.What I did find out was the Gorten Machinery did in fact build some of their tracer mills with Tree heads, and even some with Bridgeport heads..

There are a couple of real knowledgeable people on this forum who not only have Tree Mills , but worked for them prior to closure, and they knew nothing about the Tracer program. Not that it did not exist, just that the program may have been a combined effort with Gorten Machinery. Gorten pioneered the hydraulic tracer in the USA.

Call 3 S at 414-570-9530 ( they bought the Tree inventory after they closed, and all of them worked for Tree..so these guys know their stuff.).I think Zorians Dad ( or Dan's Dad) also worked for Tree back in the 60's and 70's and may have knowledge of their tracer program.

If that does not work, then Google " Gorten Machine " , their sons have a web site that recounts Gorten's history, and maybe they have some knowledge of your system.

I had a dual head Gorten Tracer Machine in the seventies, it was a fine,heavy and accurate piece of machine, but took a lot of maintenance and time to trouble shoot and repair. I would think that if my education did not include lots of Hydraulics, the machine would have been put up for auction after the 1st week..I can say all of the Tracers of that period used the same principals of operation, and if you could get a Gorten Tracer Manual, you could fix/trouble shoot the "Tree" tracer, as I serously doubt that any Tree manuals exist with the hydraulic circuts.Its that or hire a hydraulic tech to help you ( the circuts are really basic..the stylus circut was borrowed from some of Sikorsky 'copter cyclic control circuts ).

Wish could help more, yes you have a very good mill, just not much info on a "Tracer"

Adobe (old as dirt)

[choppersprocket]

thanx adobe, didn't mean to sound like a brat, but nothing after a month didn't make me feel like this was where I should be. Even just "I don't know" would have given a sense of welcome.
And it's the only place I know to find Tree info.
BTW, I'm a reference freak, so questions will never stop...LOL

I DO appreciate the info that you have posted, especialy with the Gorton info, (I recently found an old Gorton Tracemaster for $500 that I was thinking about if the tree deal fell through) don't think the gorton has the tracer table though, but I wasn't really looking for more than a good manual knee mill.

Until I used my friends' and found this site, I was just looking for whatever bridgeport i could afford, so the info on other brands really has helped.

We're moving a bridgeport and the tree on sat, I'll get pics and model numbers when it get's here, my friend knows nothing about e-mail and digital photography so he never got them to me...LOL

Now to finish garage wiring and finish phase converter and we're off and running.
The RPC at this point is no more than a 7.5 motor and a rope to pull start it. NEED caps, it's a bear to pull fast enough...LOL
BUT IT WORKS!!! and it's already powering my LeBlonde lathe (2.5/5 hp)
And as always.... NEED MORE SPACE!!!!

Dan

[choppersprocket]

well, I got the mill, and it's no wonder nobody knew of a tree tracer, the base isn't a tree.
It's a GOLK with a tree head and beam.
The machine was half buried when I used it last and couldn't see the markings at that point.
We still need to move the hydraulics and tracer table, as well as the Powermatic variable speed drillpress. It was a LONG day of screwed up trailer rental (trailer got stolen from the lot and they didn't have another) and my buddy has his Bridgeport and I got my tree. 2 machines, 2 guys, ALL DAY!!!
He may also have an OD grinder available soon too, I'll get pics when he gets them.
Anybody heard of GOLK?
I'll do some searching for that too!
I posted pics of the mill and my LeBlonde lathe in members gallery, haven't figured out posting in message here yet.

Dan

Danny

PS: pics won't post, they are at my yahoo profile, just click on my photos, should be open.

[Adobe Machine]

Chopper: I feel your screwed up trailer rental/ long day/ and was the weather nice ?..

The tree head is an earlier model than the 2UVR, I had a manual Tree with that same head, just a foggy mind as to model.I bought it in the late '60s, was most likley about 10-12 years old then, used it thru the 90's, never had a problem..But you need to identify the exact model and get a parts / lube manual prior to start up,. The worst thing you could do is miss a hidden lube point after storage, then hear the hated screech..

GOLK machinery no longer exists, I suspect in looking at the mill itself, there possibly was a relation to Beaver Mills..possibly some of our English gentleman could look and tell, as the Beaver was made in Schiefield England ?

Looks like you have a good winter project ahead of you, good iron (including the lathe) to start with.. Keep warm and have fun !

Adobe (old as dirt )

[choppersprocket]

I'll definitely be looking for the correct manuals and such.
The mill wasn't in storage, I used it a few weeks ago, it runs smooth, very little backlash, feels more precise in small movements than the last Bridgeport I used. My friend just wanted to upgrade to a bridgeport, he's also working a deal on a CNC center so it helped him set that in motion too.

The lathe HAS been in storage for a short while, but I've used it as well.
All lube points get attended and I think they will serve me well for what I need.

I also have a Miller 320AB tig welder, so most motorsports fabrications will be covered, from chassis work to engine machining.

Once I have more work coming in, I'll spend some time getting the hydraulics working, but this should suit my needs for a while.

Dan

PS: the weather was awesome, 30s-40s and sunny, up from 19 the day before!

[Adobe Machine]

Chopper sprocket

Just wondered if you found any info on th GOLK base, and how are things progressing on using the mill ?

Adobe (old as dirt )

[choppersprocket]

No luck in the golk search and I haven't even wired it into the RPC yet...lol... holidays have made me lazy!

Will keep ya posted when I start throwing chips. The lathe has been run for a few small jobs, but nothing special or extensive.

[Dyad1]

Hi Guys,
Just a bit of trivia. Yes Tree did build a tracer, in fact several models. The first I saw was in 1962 or 63. It was a 2UVR or 2UVRC , can't remember which.
X axis had a cylinder mounted just in front of the table ,fastended to the saddle
and a bracket that replaced end plate at one end of the table attached to the cylinder rod. The lead screw had a set of half-nuts (like a lathe threading lead screw) that disengaged to use the hydraulics. The Y axis was the ram fitted with a gib and a center push cylinder (we could actually increase the stroke by
say starting with the saddle back and then moving to the front and going on- cylinder stroke plus saddle stroke) to run larger parts,
The Z was a cylinder under the knee (still had the screw also for moving the knee. True-Trace B360 control (3D manual pencil type valve). Later we had the first 2VGC tracer built. This had a side push cylinder for Y (off to one side of the ram) this did not work well at all - too much fish-tail in the ram. Jim Tree came out to the coast to see what went wrong and then took the ram and turret back to Racine to change it to center push. This meant the cylinder had to stick out the back of the ram but it did work well. Also manual 3D. Later we had two 2VGC machines with Man-U-Trace valves (Auto seeking like a Hydra-Tel) also worked as a manual 3D machine. You could get these machines with the valve on the right or the left. Tree also built these tracers with a Gettys control. The Gettys was electric instead of hydraulic. I don't know much about these machines as we never had one. These were all true Tree built machines. We still have one of the 2VGC machines minus the hydraulics as it is worth much more as a standard machine than as a tracer, CNC made them obsolete . Actually we swapped the 2VGC ram and turret with a 2UVRC so we have a full 2VGC and a 2UVRC with no power feeds. I guess I have run on long enough so I'll say so long for now. Thanks for reading this,
Gary

[choppersprocket]

Well, I know it's been a long time since posting, been busy with work and haven't had time to hang out online much.
Mill is wired up and works well. Still a bit tooling challenged right now, but I'm looking for collets and tool holders to expand capability (only have a few collets and a 5/8" shank holder) need a drill chuck and an adjustable boring head to set me in the right direction.
Shop is coming around, still clearing more workspace and work is slowly coming in.
Drag race jobs are growing, one of my customers got on "PINKS All Out" last week, we got DQed for going too fast, but better to lose for going too fast that getting outright BEAT!!! LMAO!!!
Look for an orange '72 Chevelle in the "defend your spot" round....
It's my first signage, decal in the back window should show up well in the starting line shots (I hope...lol)

Gary, thanks for the trivia, I love learning about how our industry and it's machinery has evolved, kindof a history buff on that stuff, much appreciated!

Dan
Sprocketwerx Motorsports

[pato1]

wow-that definitely was quite some history lessons and great knowledge from those posts-thanks from pat out here as well!-pat