Re: Busy Bee retrofit ?

Peter, you can get Bridgeport Series 1 BOSS machines from the late
seventies and early eighties for as little as $800. I have seen them
go for this on eBay with dead/stripped controllers. You wouldn't want
the controller anyhow, it's horrible. The ways are usually pretty
good and the motors can be re-used in a retrofit. The machines were
fitted with an automatic oiler and the spindle would not run if the
lube was low.

I got a Series 1 BOSS 6 ridgid ram with Kwik Switch spindle, tool
holders, and kurt vise for $1800. The machine was almost in working
order when I received it. It needed a few bearings, pulley spindle
hub, new bushings in the variable speed pulley, and some minor
electrical work. If I would have known this at the time of purchase,
I'm sure I could have gotten it for even less. I'm still running the
original controller although I really want to retrofit it when I can
find the time.

~petev

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "peterboutakis" <peter@b...>
wrote:

> I've got the space for a large machine, but getting a larger

machine

> means more money, and at that point it may be wiser to bite the
> bullet and get a good used VMC on eBay? I've seen late 80's

fadal's

> go for $9k (double my budget).
>
> I don't know, I am going to do some more research. Has anyone here
> built a machine from the ground up?
>
> Peter
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Peter Renolds

<prenolds@s...>

> wrote:
> > Hi Guys,
> >
> > I just hate to take the wind out of your sails but I have one of
> those
> > units from Busy Bee. They are also well know in the US as the

Rong

> Fu
> > RF-30 and as far as I know, they all come from the same place in
> China.
> > Anyway, about 4 years ago, I did convert one with 530 oz-in
> steppers
> > and found that at least with mine, I had to loosen the gibs to
> allow the
> > stepper to be able to move the table in X & Y without stalling.

I

> never
> > did get to fitting ballscrews as I decided to upgrade to a
> bridgeport
> > clone knee mill. When you get to machining with the Busy Bee (or
> Rong
> > Fu) unit, you'll likely find the slop in the ways to be

excessive.

> It
> > will be hard to maintain tolerance - in my opinion. To give you

an

> > example of what I mean, wind the table all the way to one end of
> its
> > travel in X - the long axis. Pull on the extended end of the

table

> in
> > the +/- Y direction and watch how much slop you see in the Y
> saddle.
> > Try the same thing on a BP type knee mill and I doubt you'll see
> any
> > movement. I seem to recall Jon Elson recently measured the

column

> flex
> > while cutting and it was a lot more than one would ever expect or
> want
> > in a precision machine. You also only get about 6" of Z travel

and

> that
> > poses real problems when you get to do tool changes under CNC
> control.
> > You need 4.5" to get an R-8 tool out of the spindle. That's why

I

> cnc'd
> > the knee on my machine.
> >
> > This machine was my first conversion and I learned a LOT but I

got

> > frustrated when I tried to make any precision parts or smooth
> finishes.
> > Once again, I didn't fit ballscrews with double nuts to eliminate
> > (virtually) backlash and I'm sure this would have made a big
> > difference. I still use mine for odd jobs where I have another
> setup on
> > the big one that I can't remove - but I don't ever expect to get
> good
> > cuts.
> >
> > I know they are on sale at a great price - but know what you are
> getting
> > - before you buy. That's why so many people recommend tracking
> down a
> > good used bridgeport - there is no comparison in the quality of
> work you
> > will produce - but I know not eveyone has space for a 2200 lb

hobby

> item...
> >
> > Cheers, Peter
> >
> >
> >
> > peterboutakis wrote:
> >
> > >Awesome! I'm going to go out and buy that mill, and get this
> thing
> > >off the ground. I'm will go the same route as you, and use the
> > >acme's for now, and then upgrade to ballscrews later. I will

keep

> > >everyone posted here about my progress and probably set up a

site

> > >with lots of pics.
> > >
> > >Great advice, thanks alot for your help!
> > >
> > >Peter
> > >
> > >PS, I used to be a mac guy, back as far as the Mac Plus, I still
> own
> > >a Mac Portable (gasp!). Those were the good 'ol days, when

there

> > >were no viruses, and photoshop came on floppies!
> > >
> > >
> > >--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, shyningnight@y... wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>Hi!
> > >>I'm a "newbie" at this too.. just designing my own retrofit for

a

> > >>
> > >>
> > >very simillar sized machine.
> > >
> > >
> > >>I can let you know a few things I've found out...(and if anyone
> > >>
> > >>
> > >with more experience
> > >
> > >
> > >>contraedicts me, believe them.. like I said.. I'm new...).
> > >>
> > >>The NEMA refers to the frame size of the motor, and determines
> the
> > >>
> > >>
> > >dimensions of the
> > >
> > >
> > >>mounting holes.
> > >>As for motor power in Oz-In; I'm a little confused about that
> > >>
> > >>
> > >myself... But I've gathered
> > >
> > >
> > >>that you CAN use as little as a 400 Oz-In motors for XY, but
> more
> > >>
> > >>
> > >is better.
> > >
> > >
> > >>I just bought three 680 Oz-In Stepper motors from Dan Mauch at
> > >>
> > >>
> > >Camtronics (http://
> > >
> > >
> > >>www.seanet.com/~dmauch/). He currently has a GREAT deal on a
> load
> > >>
> > >>
> > >of motors he
> > >
> > >
> > >>picked up from a distributor. I haven't been "stepper shopping"
> > >>
> > >>
> > >very long, but his prices
> > >
> > >
> > >>seemed REALLY REALLY good for the sizes he has.
> > >>
> > >>As for controllers;
> > >>A LOT of posts here and on other boards recommend the Gecko
> drives
> > >>
> > >>
> > >(http://
> > >
> > >
> > >>www.geckodrive.com/). Camtronics also sells them.
> > >>I've had my eye on a cheaper setup from Stepperworld.com, but I
> > >>
> > >>
> > >think I'm going to
> > >
> > >
> > >>chicken out and probably go with the Gecko's since they seem to
> be
> > >>
> > >>
> > >thought pretty highly
> > >
> > >
> > >>of. I KNOW there are other drivers too...
> > >>
> > >>If you want a "bolt on" retrofit "kit"...
> > >>MicroKinetics advertises one, driver, motors, mounting

hardware,

> > >>
> > >>
> > >ball screws.. the whole
> > >
> > >
> > >>deal. But it ain't no how cheap!!! I'm gonna stick to some

make

> it
> > >>
> > >>
> > >myself components.
> > >
> > >
> > >>In the SHORT term, I'm going to use the Acme lead screws in my
> > >>
> > >>
> > >mill, get it up and
> > >
> > >
> > >>running, and turn out a few projects to 1) learn and 2) make
> > >>
> > >>
> > >enough "hobby money" for
> > >
> > >
> > >>the ball screws later.
> > >>
> > >>As for software, I've heard good things about Mach2 , but also
> > >>
> > >>
> > >about TurboCNC.
> > >
> > >
> > >>I'm kinda in the dark about that though... I'm a die-hard Mac
> user
> > >>
> > >>
> > >(run a network of 150 of
> > >
> > >
> > >>them), and learned how to write G-code all by myself way back
> > >>
> > >>
> > >when...
> > >
> > >
> > >>So I'm going to be starting pretty much from scratch with a
> PeeCee
> > >>
> > >>
> > >and CAM software...
> > >
> > >
> > >>Yes, all this stuff is possible. When I read about it all 10
> years
> > >>
> > >>
> > >ago, it was possible if you
> > >
> > >
> > >>had a lot more money, and more electronic knowledge. NOW it's a
> lot
> > >>
> > >>
> > >cheaper, and
> > >
> > >
> > >>enough of the fine folks around forums like this have done it
> that
> > >>
> > >>
> > >they can offer advice to
> > >
> > >
> > >>us "dummies"...
> > >>
> > >>Hope this helps!
> > >>Paul F.
> > >>
> > >>--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "peterboutakis"
> > >>
> > >>
> > ><peter@b...> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>>Hi, I am looking to retrofit a busy-bee milling machine:
> > >>>http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture?
> > >>>&NETID=0345350502040532429&NTITEM=B1976
> > >>>
> > >>>First off, would you guys recommend this machine to be a good
> > >>>candidate for retrofit?
> > >>>
> > >>>If so, I was wondering where I could obtain parts for a

quality

> > >>>retrofit? I am assuming I would need quite powerful motors, a
> > >>>capable controller, and some ballscrews etc.
> > >>>
> > >>>What size motors? I have been reading about oz/in and NEMA.

It

> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >is
> > >
> > >
> > >>>all quite confusing, but I am under the impression that with

the

> > >>>right hardware this can all be accomplished.
> > >>>
> > >>>Is there a controller that is everyones favourite? A company
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >that
> > >
> > >
> > >>>has knowledgable staff?
> > >>>
> > >>>I am assuming that the software to use is called Mach2 by
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >artofcnc.ca
> > >
> > >
> > >>>is that correct?
> > >>>
> > >>>Thanks alot,
> > >>>From Peter
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Addresses:
> > >FAQ: http://www.ktmarketing.com/faq.html
> > >FILES: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO/files/
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reach

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