Messages

481

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 15, 2012, 06:15:13 AM »

You've had the considerable advantage of actually being able to work on yours....  Except for about 30 minutes to install the flow control valves and make that video, I've been too busy with "real" work to touch mine in weeks.  Hopefully later this week I'll be abve to get back on it.  I think I can finish it off in about a week, once I have the time.

Most of us are in that boat, I suspect. I did schedule time for the project, so I could work on it *almost* full time for a few weeks, but I did not get it done completely due to pesky interruptions like food and sleep. Now I will be off line for two months with the next scheduled project, so that levels the playing field and makes for a fair contest, methinks.

As for the prize . .  I like Cave Creek Chili Beer . . . .  Just sayin'     

482

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 14, 2012, 08:06:45 AM »

Here is another interesting design. 
http://www.edingcnc.com/index.php?pagina=detail_galerij&galerijid=46

THX! Every example has some interesting feature.

Good: moves with the head (apparently), tapers of stored tools are completely covered and protected, the arm extending out and retracting is just totally 
Not-So-Good:   Slow, only a few tools, tools hang over the table.

483

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 14, 2012, 07:58:56 AM »

Ray,

You better get a move on, buddy. You have been at this ATC project waaay longer than me so it will be    if I beat you to the punch.

I wrapped up some incidental loose end stuff; intelock pin and solenoid for the drawbar actuator, beefed up the interlock lever on the pod, etc, got the shafts made for the swing arm and the carousel, and ordered the steel to make the mounting brackets for everything . . . . . before putting the whole shebang on a shelf.

You're getting a 60 day window now to keep that tortoise moving while the hare is off on a rabbit trail doing other stuff. After that, I figure about a week and I'll be changing tools.

Contest rules: everything does not have to be powder coated or otherwise 'spiffy',  but the automatic tool change has to be . . well . .  automatic,  and under its own power. No manual operation and no  . .  uh . .  temporary actuators . . . 

However, other  . .  'favored contestants' will be allowed to demonstrate the completed ATC on a totally non functional mock up of the milling machine head . . .  because there is no actual mill yet . .  and because he is making the rules. 

Contest winner is responsible for any and all federal, state and local taxes on prizes, which may include a case of the contestant's favorite beer  . .  and bragging rights.

Tick, tick, tick . . . . 

484

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 12, 2012, 06:56:50 PM »

Ray, you mentioned having a pin and rod arrangement for align the tools and the spindle, IIRC. Is that on the to-do list or am I just not seeing it?

Nice job overall. Where did you get that swing arm actuator . . . 

485

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 10, 2012, 10:06:48 AM »

HIYA Steve have you seen this model tool changer ?

Two things are really impressive. 1) the  . . .  CLAW <dun duuuhn!> actually rotates 180 degrees during the arm sweep. and 2) the invisible tooling.

486

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 09, 2012, 10:36:57 PM »

What is breakfast and what did Fred do this time?  I'm just utterly befuddled about all this.  Only thing I'm sure of is those are some fine looking pieces Clint Eastwood made for you Steve! 

Well, you have to ask yourself this question; 'Do I feel lucky' . . . .  well do ya . . .  FRED?

487

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 09, 2012, 10:34:40 PM »

The satin clear coat is from Eastwood and it is called Satin Diamond Clear For Bare Metal . . . or something like that.   Sticks to bare aluminum . . tough  . .  handles heat very well . . .  amazing stuff.

Even polished aluminum?

Yes, but polish has wax or silicon in it, so you need to make sure the surface is super clean. Ditzler 'wax and grease remover' is my favorite, but Dupont 'PrepSol' is also good. You need to follow the directions to a 'T' with these products or you will just be moving the contamination around and not removing it.

Any paint that sticks to aluminum or is described as 'self-etching' (aluminum primers) have acid in them. This is respirator ONLY stuff. Don't even think about breathing even a small amount of it. If you can smell it, you are breathing it.

Nice work, Steve-
Dave

THX.

488

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 09, 2012, 01:57:46 PM »

I was inferring the skill level not a specific prop:) You guys need to get out and see a movie now and again!

OK, I suppose you have suffered long enough. The aluminum  . . . . CLAW <dun duuuuhn!> has been sand blasted with fine sand at about 80lbs. Being puuuurdy is a side effect. The porpoise is to deburr the complex shape without making a career out of it. Damn thing had 60 ways go get me.

Having said that, since it was puuuurdy, may as well keep it that way. The satin clear coat is from Eastwood and it is called Satin Diamond Clear For Bare Metal . . . or something like that.   Sticks to bare aluminum . . tough  . .  handles heat very well . . .  amazing stuff.

489

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 09, 2012, 11:40:58 AM »

WTF is he anyway?
Hood

Not what, WHO.   I had to google him. It is the Iron Man character. I was looking for the connection when my wife said that a claw was a prominent prop in the movie. I don't remember that, but then I don't remember what I had of breakfast . . .  or if I even had breakfast. Know what I mean Fred?

490

General Mach Discussion / Re: BT30 spindle from scratch - with power drawbar and ATC of course

« on: October 09, 2012, 07:42:50 AM »

Are you really Tony Stark?

Yes

.