Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Moog makes it home

Moog never gave me a warm spot in my heart, I've fought to many battles
with them, and Moog Hydraulics were even worse IMHO.
Bill Higdon
Keith Rumley wrote:

>>My plan at this point is to remove the NC controls and hydraulic
>>actuators, buy ballscrews, mount them for the axis controls, and for
>>now put hand cranks on them. Then I can make whatever parts I need
>
>
> The trick with this is that the Moog hasn't any mounts for screws at
> all, making it necessary to use another mill for that. In which case, you'd
> be better off making the servo mounts, parts, etc. from the get-go on
> another machine, for reasons below.
> I did what you're describing to my 'Moog'. As a manual with generic
> Bridgeport retrofit screws, the X-axis crank moves in opposite directions to
> a standard Bridgeport. This has disconcerting results if forgotten at
> critical points. (This is because the nut moves with the table, not the
> screw, as in a Bridgeport)
> Also, there isn't a manual table clamp, and the table will shift when
> you let go of the handle. (Both with ACME and ballscrews) The clamp is under
> the cover on the back edge of the table. It's a hydraulic clamp that clamps
> to the long spring steel strip attached to the table.
> I don't recall if the Moog head has a way to manually move up and down.
> I believe it doesn't. This would be a real killer when trying to drill, etc.
> I replaced the Moog head and ram with a 'T' ram, 8" extension, and
> Bridgeport Series 1 head. I also replaced the knee screw w/ a ballscrew, and
> drive it via belt through an opening cut in the side of the knee. It
> definitely requires a hefty counterbalance method when done this way.
> That said, the Moog gives very flat cuts, as the table never leaves the
> saddle more than 8" or so. I get 35" of X travel, 11" of Y, 10" in Z from
> mine CNC'd. There'd be 37.5" in X if I took off the DRO, but I like to check
> the CNC positioning. The DRO isn't OEM, btw.
> Free is the right price, but I would not recommend anyone buy one to
> retrofit. Not a friend, anyway. :)
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> - Keith Rumley