RE: RF-45 Mini Bed Mill

Dan-

That sounds like a nice setup. Now that people are locating good deals on
the RF-45, it sounds like it would make the best base for an affordable
"benchtop" CNC conversion. When I first started planning mine out, the
lowest price I could find on the RF-45 was $3300, which was too much when
added to the cost of the conversion. Any idea what the final cost-of-goods
would be for your planned machine, if it were to be commercialized (using
non-surplus components)? I'm going to go ahead complete my ground-up mill;
maybe we could compare notes and results when we're done. It seems that
many list members' needs and interests in small CNC's lie somewhere between
your efforts and mine.

Carlos

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Falck [mailto:dfalck@...]
> Sent: Monday, August 30, 1999 11:26 PM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO]RF-45 Mini Bed Mill
>
>
> From: Dan Falck <dfalck@...>
>
> 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
>
>
>
> --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
> ONElist members: don't miss out on the latest news at ONElist
> Join our community member news update at
> <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/newsletter5 ">Click Here</a>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Welcome to CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@...,an unmoderated list for
> the discussion of shop built systems in the above catagories.
> To Unsubscribe, read archives, change to or from digest.
> Go to: http://www.onelist.com/isregistered.cgi
> Log on, and you will go to Member Center, and you can make changes there.
> For the FAQ, go to http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> bill,
> List Manager
>