Re: Moog Hydrapoint

Keith,

Thanks for the great info! Sounds like you really had fun with it.

Since I already own a Sherline mill and a Mill-Drill (RF-30), I can
make most of the parts I need - just takes time. This mill is gonna
be a hobby project that I'll take my time and do what I want, when I
want - less stressful that way.

Did you buy the screws direct from Rockford or did you have to go
through a distributor? (I've never bought any of their stuff, so I
don't know how they react to individuals).

Thanks

Gary

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Keith Rumley" <DSCadCam@y...> wrote:
> Gary,
>
> My EMC machine is a former Moog. Maybe I should say it started
out as a
> Moog. I'd most definitely go with an old NC machine w/ mechanical
drive if I
> were to do things over again. No need to fabricate & align ballnut
mounts,
> ball-screw mounts, etc.
> I'm not using the Moog head, left it for a T-ram and B-port
Series 1
> head. Ditched the hydraulics and replaced them with ballscrews.
Quite a
> trick to attach and align the ballnut mounts. But, I have 35.5" X
travel,
> and it's all flat.
>
> >Do you know if the standard bridgeport-type retrofit ballscrews
will fit
> >this machine or do I need to make it special? Any other
> >ballscrew-retrofit-related caveats I should be careful of with the
Moog?
>
> The Z-Axis is standard, nothing else. However, the saddle has
nice
> square ends, as does the y-axis. (I pulled the hydraulic mount
extension.)
> You'll need to fabricate individual ballnut & ballscrew mounts for
X and Y.
> I flipped two Series 1 X-axis screw mounts upside down and
mounted them
> to the saddle for the X; and used a Series 1 screw mount w/ a
custom plate
> for the Y. The servos tuck nicely under the saddle & knee.
> I bought precision rolled ballscrews/nuts from Rockford, w/ custom
X & Z
> lengths, preloaded Z-axis ballnut, for under $1000.
> Since the servo motors I'm using are sufficiently strong
(90in/lb), I
> run the Z axis throught the right hand side of the knee, direct 1:1
belt
> drive to the top of the Z-axis ballscrew. I hacked up the X-axis
hydraulic
> cylinder to make an air assist for the Z, mounted to the side of
the knee.
> Similar to a B-port II, the Z-axis needs to be locked when the
power is off.
>
> In favor of the Z being on the knee - the quill is free to
manually
> tap/drill, make quick adjustments, pull out of the way to test a
program,
> and break things because you've forgotten to change the Z height on
the
> control, too.
>
> The Moog makes a nice accurate, flat machine when finished, but
in my
> opinion was a real pain on the way there.
>
> If you don't have access to another mill & a hoist (for
modifying and
> moving about the saddle and table) you may want to find something
else to
> start with.
>
> Regards,
>
> Keith Rumley