Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] CNC screw machine mod

bfp wrote:

>
> I was daydreaming of something like this for a cam-swiss screw machine
> use a constant rise cam keyed to a timing belt pully ,mount them on
> a needle bearing on the original cam shaft and belt drive the cam with a
> stepper motor for a "universal electronic cam"
> programing it could get tricky though (5 X axes)

Well, I hadn't thought about taking a cam machine and modifying
it for CNC. Cam machines cost a lot more than hand screw
machines due to all the mechanicals. The hand screw machines are
bare, no cams, no nothing besides feed fingers, cross slide and
turret. No saddle. All movements are done by hand levers. The
cross slide is used for holding full length form tools and/or a
back side cut off tool. Everything else is done with turret
tooling on the turret which is 6 or 8 positions.

To me this is a perfect platform to start with to put on your own
ideas about how to control the movements. It is true that one
might want to go back to cams for the movement, but it might be
possible to have ball screws too. I haven't seen one of these in
years, so I have no idea how to begin at this point. I do know
that when one comes up for sale, it is usually for scrap. I once
got a W & S #3 turret lathe plus 35 or so collets for $300.
Can't see a B & S hand screw machine going for much more in
price, but about the same weight.

JerryK