Cnc mill question

[Rick_B]

Hi All,

This is my first post here, but I have been a member for a while just reading and reading.

I am looking at may be getting a cnc machine for my work shop. What my question is, are the RF45 style mill with a cnc retro fit really any good for small production work or are they only good for hobby style work. I don’t want to offend anyone it’s just that I have seen some great conversion on this site and I’m just wondering if it would be the way to go.


Rick

[Rick_B]

Looks like I may have put this in the wrong spot???


Rick

[diyengineer]

You probably should define what your definition of small production is.

What do you plan on making, how many, tolerances, etc. Weekend production for one person might mean a few parts, where as, production for another might be close to 1,000 pieces all within .001" From what i have seen on the forum, depending on your skill level and how you equip the machine it can be one heck of a machine.

[Rick_B]

You probably should define what your definition of small production is.

What do you plan on making, how many, tolerances, etc. Weekend production for one person might mean a few parts, where as, production for another might be close to 1,000 pieces all within .001" From what i have seen on the forum, depending on your skill level and how you equip the machine it can be one heck of a machine.

Thanks for that input diyengineer, I didn't think I should have put down what type of things I need to do with it.

OK I do a lot of one off custom bits, like clutch and crank supports for Top fuel bikes, clutch supports for Junior Dragsters, steering boxes, brackets for mounting bottles and stuff in race cars as well as other parts along those lines. Currently I have a big knee mill, but some jobs can tire me up for a week or more doing it manually.So I was looking at being able to maybe do it a quicker way but I didn't want to retro fit my knee mill.

[diyengineer]

Thanks for that input diyengineer, I didn't think I should have put down what type of things I need to do with it.

OK I do a lot of one off custom bits, like clutch and crank supports for Top fuel bikes, clutch supports for Junior Dragsters, steering boxes, brackets for mounting bottles and stuff in race cars as well as other parts along those lines. Currently I have a big knee mill, but some jobs can tire me up for a week or more doing it manually.So I was looking at being able to maybe do it a quicker way but I didn't want to retro fit my knee mill.

Thats cool!
What kind of knee mill do you have? any pics? You should keep reading and convert it over to cnc! When it comes to mills the bigger and heavier the better generally. You would have a pretty sweet cnc machine when its all said and done. Of course it takes a bit of learning, and long nights endlessly reading on cnc zone but its fun!

[Rick_B]

I thought about retro fitting the knee mill, but I can be with out for that length of time that's why started looking around at something else.


This what I have now.

[diyengineer]

I thought about retro fitting the knee mill, but I can be with out for that length of time that's why started looking around at something else.


This what I have now.

Wow that is a really heavy duty machine. I would acquire everything you need first (or as much possible) then dive into it. This would minimize your time wasted. Also do your research on the forum. If you did convert the machine would you keep the stock leadscrew or convert to ballscrews? You could keep the stock lead screws and probably convert it in a weekend assuming you already have Everything and the electronics were already wired up. You would just need to Make custom motor mounts and attach the motors to the ends of where the hand wheels use to be using couplings. Atleast then you would have a fully functional machine. Later on down the road you could convert to ballscrews and mill all of your own custom parts if any are required.

[Rick_B]

Wow that is a really heavy duty machine. I would acquire everything you need first (or as much possible) then dive into it. This would minimize your time wasted. Also do your research on the forum. If you did convert the machine would you keep the stock leadscrew or convert to ballscrews? You could keep the stock lead screws and probably convert it in a weekend assuming you already have Everything and the electronics were already wired up. You would just need to Make custom motor mounts and attach the motors to the ends of where the hand wheels use to be using couplings. Atleast then you would have a fully functional machine. Later on down the road you could convert to ballscrews and mill all of your own custom parts if any are required.

I didn't really want to do it to that machine but I may do it. I was really looking at some thing that I could have totally separate, I even though of looking for a second hand machine but the cost of then here is just ridicules one machine I looked at last week was over 30years old and they still wanted over $20,000.00 for it.

[diyengineer]

You could make the motor mount plates quick disconnect. Make a motor plate holder next to each axis. You could go from cnc back to handwheels in under 5 minutes.

[Rick_B]

You could make the motor mount plates quick disconnect. Make a motor plate holder next to each axis. You could go from cnc back to handwheels in under 5 minutes.

It's a thought, but I would still like something separate

[diyengineer]

Buy one online? I'm sure shipping to Australia though is a lot of money!

[Rick_B]

Shipping is not a problem, I have a shipper I use in Carson CA. it's work out the power difference.