Re: RF-45 Mini Bed Mill

Penn Tool (1-800-526-4956) has the elusive Rong Fu RF-45 dovetail column
mill for $1995. I ordered one today.

I plan on making this thing into a mini vertical maching center for light
milling of brass, aluminum and engraving. Here are the plans so far:

1. Ballscrews on all axis' (column included) double nutted for preload.
2. Counter weight attached to chains running over sprockets balancing the
head.
3. Oil lines running everywhere to keep the thing from wearing out too
fast. I have a small oiler already.
4. Sheet metal enclosure around table to keep chips and coolant managed.
5. Installing a big (1 HP) Baldor PM DC motor to run the spindle, so that
I can control speed and orientation (for future tool changer) with the PC.
6. Servo motors and the Servo to Go card.
7. EMC- of course.
8. Quick change tooling- probably the Royal Products system.
9. PC with network running to my CAM computer (still running crappy old
Windows).
10. Stand made from thick walled 2" X 2" steel tubing - a little shorter
than the typical mill/drill stand.

I will need a lot of help on the servo installation. I need to buy amps,
motors, and a power supply. Jon, Matt, jump in here if you feel like it, I
need all the help I can get on this part.

This will cost some bucks, but it will pay for itself pretty quickly. I
already have a lot of the parts - DC motor, precision ground ballscrew for
Z-axis,etc...

I am writing this in response to the "Scratch Built Mill" thread. Call
this the Mini Bed Mill thread.

Thanks,
Dan Falck