Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Modifying an X-Y table

On Sat, 30 Aug 2003, Chuck Knight wrote:

> While I was there, I found a fun little toy. Its castings are a bit
> rough, but it's a cross-slide drill press vise, essentially a 4x6 inch
> X-Y table with a vise on top. Needless to say, my mind immediately
> turned to its possibilities as a low cost CNC platform. And, for
> $19.99, I couldn't turn it down! It should make a good complement to my
> much larger (but potentially less accurate) wood router. Large wooden
> parts, small but accurate metal parts? I could make almost anything! ;-)

We have the exact same items here in shops. They come in 3 sizes 4-5-6 in.
all with the vise on top, adjustable dovetail ways and shabby screw with
lots of play (think inexpensive bench vise screw for a quality reference).

After talking about exactly what you have in mind with a friend who is
more into modifications and machining, I dropped the idea. The work
required to refit the cast nuts and especially the end bearings is enough
to mandate buying a better quality item of the same kind for ~$100-150
(X,Y + vise on top, but detachable - sits in T ways).

Additionally the ones I saw require a lot of force to drive the screws
(tight fit). The only plus is, they're not aluminium. So they are sturdy.

Peter