Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: NEW conversion project....

"D.F.S." wrote:

> Here's a bit more info on the table.
>
> The hole goes thru the bottom of the table under the T's
>
> Ascii Example.... |T T T T|
> +=== ===+
> ^ Hole.
>
> The hole ends just inside the vertical steel for the "T" at
> the Front and back edges.
> It is just over 2 inches wide.

OK, it took me a while to figure out exactly how extensive the damage
was.
It is still not good, but not as bad as I first thought.

> The table is probably 300 Lbs, I about busted my ass getting it in
> the car.

Ahh, thanks for that data point. I've never had the table off my little
Bridgeport,
and have wondered how heavy it was. I have had it slid over far enough
to expose the yoke that holds the leadscrew nuts. Someday, I am going
to
have to scrape that table and other parts, and need to make something
to support it so I can get it completely off.

> My only real reason for fixing it would be to keep the crap from
> falling down inside the machine, as it has for years.

This is pretty important. I didn't have way covers on my machine for
quite
a while, and a LOT of swarf fell down into the knee. Not good for the
screws and nuts! I now have way covers, and stuff still gets down
there,
although a lot less. Since I now have ball screws, I have to be careful

about that stuff getting to the screws.

> I straightend the end of the leadscrew by hand to "Pretty Close"
> I need to chuck it up in a big lathe tonight and use a dial to finish
> the process down to a few thou.

I understand this is an extension that attaches to the end of the
leadscrews?
That is different from Bridgeport's design, where the screws run
straight
across, from handle to handle. One handle bracket has 2 bearings for
axial constraint, the other only has one free-floating bearing.

Jon