Re: Harbor Freight Micro Mill 47158

I thought I post the specs I have so far for this machine and leave
other specs for CNC conversion open to be termined and added as it
becomes available. Feel free to add any information that you may
already have for this machine's conversion to CNC.

Per 47158 Assembly and Operating Insructions Booklet:

Electrical Req: 120V/60 Hz/1/5HP
Speed Range: Hih 100-2000 RPM Low 100-1000 RPM
Max Chuk Capacity: 25/64"Drill or End Mill/3/4" Face Mill
Maximun X Travel: 9"
Maximum Y Travel: 4"
Maximum Z Travel: 8-1/2"
X,Y,Z Graduations: .001"/line
Table Size: 9-3/8"x5-3/8"
Table Slot: 5/16"x5/8"
Throat Depth:5-1/2"
Swing Diameter: 11"
Base Size: 10-1/8"x9-3/8"
Spindle Stroke: 1-3/16"
Spindle Taper: MT2
Weight: 103 Lbs

Additional specs (*) to be double checked:
Chuck: MT2 (not sure if the chuck is removable from MT2 shank)
Drawbar Length: 7" (Measured from end to end)
Drawbar Threaded End: counted 18 TPI, could be M10x1.5 (*)
This spec is based on tool holders with same type drawbar threads
for this mill suggested from harbor Freight, as accessories.

X Lead screw: To Be Determined
Y Lead Screw: "
Z Lead Screw: "

X Nut: To be Determined
Y Nut: "
Z Nut: "

Conversion to CNC:

X Ball Screw Type and Size: To be Determined
Y Ball Screw Type and Size: "
Z Ball Screw Type and Size: "

Option A (Direct Drive)

X Coupler Adapter Dims: To be determined
Y Coupler Adpater Dims: "
Z Coupler Adapter Dims: "


Option B (Reduction 2:1 Belt Drive)

X Components: To be deternmined
y Components: "
Z Components: "

Motor Mounting Plates Dims (X,Y,Z): To be determined

Ball Screw Mounting Hardware Special Instructions: To be determined

CNC Steper/Servo Motor Options: To be determined

CNC Control Box: To be determined

CNC Software:To be determined

Misc:

Tooling Adaptability:

Available Accessories: To be Determined ( I have order some
accessories from Harbor Freight that are supposed to be for this
machine but until I get them not sure on its use and adaptability.

Sherline Tool Holder 3/4"-16TPI Internal (As indicated by other user)
3/4"-16TPI external thread to MT2 adapter (Desired):To be determined

Other Tool holders availble: MT2 to fit spindle but for 3/8"-16TPI
drawbar (Need to manufacture Drawbar for these tool holders) Original
Drawbar will not fit (Possible meteric threads need to double check)

If I miss something or others have other information that may be
relevant to a CNC conversion, please add on.

MISC: Vise options

This is all informal but trying to keep it all organized so others
can add and use this info with ease.



Mario



















--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "j.guenther"
<j.guenther@v...> wrote:

> Sherline tool holders are threaded 3/4-16 internal to fit the

Sherline

> spindles.
>
> John Guenther
> 'Ye Olde Pen Maker'
> Sterling, Virginia
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: miadsgns <MIADSGNS@a...> [mailto:MIADSGNS@a...]
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 15:22 PM
> > To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Harbor Freight Micro Mill 47158
> >
> >
> > Has anyone tried retrofitting this amchine to CNC. I am in

process

> > of upgrading it to ball screws for small repetitive CNC model

hobby

> > related tasks.
> >
> > I am trying to find the size of the lead screws the machine comes
> > with, if anyone knows this, I would also appreciate any

sugestions as

> > to motors and a good controller, I am thinking 160oz/in motors

will

> > be a good start, if anyone has already gone this route.

Eventually I

> > will do it if no ones has done it yet, but I am sure someone out
> > there has done this already. The machine has been on the market

for a

> > little while now, but I have not had luck finding any info on
> > retrofits for it so far, I just bought the machine and just

starting

> > looking.
> >
> > The 47158's base and colum are SOLID!
> >
> > Initially I was considering designing my own dedicated CNC micro
> > machine for another of my neverending micro manufacturing tasks,

or

> > retrofiting one of my Sherlines and machining a new xy table for

it

> > with enough heigh top allow the intallation of 1/2" of less
> > expensive 5/8" ball screws.
> >
> > A call to Sherline and a talk with Joe Martin convince me that it
> > would have been more trouble to do it with the Sherline, so this
> > steered me into looking for other cost effective alternatives. I
> > still think the Sherline has great potential to be retrofitted
> > inexpensively, as compared to some very expensive models out

there,

> > even with ball screws. Something I will eventually do when I have
> > some free time to rethink all the redesign through carefully. Just
> > for the joy of it.
> >
> > The price for the 47158 is perfect.Of course I am looking at how

this

> > applies to my needs and this may not necessarily apply to

everyone.

> > Some people may want to look into this machine if you do fun model
> > work, the price in my view is unbeatable and even if the machines
> > turns out to be a dud after use, I can still use it for simple
> > machining taks. The thing with me is that I always find a good use
> > for all types of machines. I rarely get rid of ones that fall

into my

> > posession.
> >
> > I almost bought a used DynaMyte 2400 on Ebay, so GLAD! I din't get
> > suckered into purchasing one of those, I was ready to pay $3000

but

> > figured I purchase a nice small solid base and column machine and
> > upgrade it the way I want to, to do exactly what I want it to do.
> >
> > Besides I already have a Bridport mill too bulky for most of the
> > stuff I do and even the DynaMyte weight was a concern. If I can

not

> > move it alone it becomes a mayor taks for me and something I try

to

> > avoid. The bridgeport is an exception it can not be moved once
> > located and I had planned for this when I got it.
> >
> > I understand that DynaMyte 2400 has similar quality lead screws to
> > the 47158, something I would have had to retrofit anyway on the
> > DynaMyte at a higer expense not counting the freight for shipping

the

> > DynaMyte to my place and the cost of a lift to move it around my
> > shop.
> >
> > I have several Sherlines and MaxNC converted to CNC that I use for
> > dedicated micro manufacturing tasks, and surprisingly these

machines

> > when set up correctly can do some amzing stuff, some people will
> > disagree with me, but perhaps they don't do the type of work I do.
> > These machines have good rigidity but the 47158 has more mass and

is

> > small enough (in the Sherline micro size range) with a larger

solid

> > steel table bed perfect for miniature model work.
> >
> > The 47158 xy table looks very easy to retrofit since there aren't
> > many set screw settings and adjustments as in the MINI Mills (next
> > size up) sold by the same company Harbor Freight or similar ones

like

> > the Micro Mark mini mill, Grizzly, etc, etc.
> >
> > The 47158 size is something I was lookign for but price for

similar

> > size CNC retrofitted micro milling machines was prohibitting. I

think

> > the 47158 has tremendous potential for CNC precision model work

at a

> > fraction of the cost of machines that run in the thousands $$$

range.

> > Concider we are not talking Hass or Fadal precision but a good

amount

> > to do model work, not NASA space shuttle parts. After all, some
> > higher priced micro machines are nothing more than similar

mechanical

> > machines manufactured in China that use very similar quality
> > components upgraded with better lead screws or balls screws and
> > retrofitted for CNC.
> >
> > The 47158 comes with steel backlash compensating split nuts which
> > appear to have good tension and antibacklash compensation, as is,

and

> > I think will work just fine if set up properly, but for precision
> > micro cnc work,I think ball screws is the way to go.
> >
> > I've figured by the time this machine is retrofitted to fit my
> > application, I will have spend a fraction of what I was willing to
> > spend on similar retrofitted machines. The only thing is my time

for

> > retrofitting the machine, but I really enjoy doing retrofits and
> > working qwith simple machines,so long it doesn't turn out to be a
> > major task like retrofitting a much arger and heavier machine.
> >
> > I disassembled most of the 47157 machine upon receipt, cleaned up

the

> > protective shipping grease that the machine comes coated with and

put

> > it back together using machine oil for lubrication. I love the

ease

> > which the lead screws are attached to the Z column and xy table.

Very

> > soimple. I have not removed the handwheels yet so I don't know

what

> > type of couplers I would need but it loos like they could be 1/4"
> > diameter very easy to couple to ball screws I think. The XY screws
> > look like they are 1/2" diameter 16TPI but I am not sure, if

someone

> > can double check this for me, I'd appreciate it.
> >
> > The XY screws appear to be metric not sure on the Z axis. I have
> > called the distributor and they can not tell me much beyond what

the

> > instruction booklet specs say, not much. This is the
> > only drawback, but I can live with that, since nowadays one can

get

> > almost any type of information through the internet and forum like
> > this one.
> >
> > The 47158 uses a drawbar which I think is also metric perhaps
> > M10x1.5? Harbor Freight sells some tool holders threaded to fit

this

> > size drawbar and Morse Taper #2 wich is what the 47158 spindle

calls

> > for, I saw similar ones from Enco but the they are MT2 with 3/8-

16TPI

> > trheaded tapped ends. The tool holders Harbor Freigth sells only

go

> > down to 3/16 tool shanks, I have to look closer at other tool
> > distributors like MacMaster Car, MSC, etc. to find suitable tool
> > holders and adapters if people don't beat me to this information.
> >
> > Worst case, I will need to make adapters or find an adapter to use
> > with the Sherline tool holder. I have a considerarble number of

tool

> > holders for the Sherline but not sure exactly what the threading

is

> > on them looks to be 1" diameter, an adapter to use these Sherline
> > Tool holders is something I am looking for also, this way I can

cross

> > use tool holders between the Sherline and the 47158. If anyone
> > knows of any retofits or adaprter with a MT2 for tool holders,

please

> > let me know ASAP.
> >
> > Overall I believe the 47158 has a solid base, it does have a drill
> > press lever, independent from the Z axix, but I have decided to

lock

> > the drill press lever in place, remove its handle and use it

stricly

> > as a CNC milling machine, the spindle is pretty solid, no sideplay
> > noticeable after applying considerable side forces by hand,

something

> > I found surprisingly interesting since most inepensive similar
> > machines that have drill press type spindles tend to have a bit of
> > side to side play.
> >
> > For the price I paid for this 47158, new close to $300, I knew I
> > would only use the base platform and retrofit it with balls

screws is

> > my ultimate goal.
> >
> > I am sure there will be pros and cons with the use of the

machine as

> > with all things, my goal is to tackle the cons and if more people
> > find this machine useful the better!.
> >
> > I get so upset when I see the rip off in some of these Ebay

autions

> > for machines that one could build/retrofit with minimal expense

and

> > a little elbow grease at a fraction of the cost. Some people may
> > disagree with me but I have seen enough to know that one need not

go

> > the expensive route if one looks carefully at the alternatives.
> >
> > I hope to get feedback and will post more as I (we) expand on this
> > topic.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Mario
> >
> >
> > Addresses:
> > FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> > FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
> > Post Messages: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> >
> > Subscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > Unsubscribe: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > List owner: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO-owner@yahoogroups.com,
> > wanliker@a..., timg@k...
> > Moderator: pentam@c... indigo_red@q... [Moderators]
> > URL to this group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO
> >
> > OFF Topic POSTS: General Machining
> > If you wish to post on unlimited OT subjects goto:
> > aol://5863:126/rec.crafts.metalworking or go thru Google.com to
> > reach it if you have trouble.
> > http://www.metalworking.com/news_servers.html
> >
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jobshophomeshop I consider this
> > to be a sister site to the CCED group, as many of the same
> > members are there, for OT subjects, that are not allowed on the

CCED list.

> >
> > NOTICE: ALL POSTINGS TO THIS GROUP BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN BY
> > POSTING THEM. DON'T POST IF YOU CAN NOT ACCEPT THIS.....NO
> > EXCEPTIONS........
> > bill
> > List Mom
> > List Owner
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

> >
> >
> >