Author Topic: 626 mill power feed install  (Read 9203 times)

Offline John Rudd

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626 mill power feed install
« on: October 27, 2016, 07:52:23 AM »
So I splashed out and got a powerfeed for my new mill....its an Align unit, as sold by Chester.
Came to install it, instructions are useless, the bracket supplied doesnt fit....I've been on to Chester, still waiting for them to return my call.....

Any 626 mill owners out there who have one of these fitted? Any tips appreciated...
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Offline Fergus OMore

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2016, 09:11:28 AM »
Hi John
I have a Warco mill drill fitted with an Align so cannot really give a fitting instruction except to mention that there is an Align Power Table Feed Operation Manual and noted AL/CE-500D which might help( a bit?)

I think that I could scan it if useful
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since my comments, a copy is downloadable from Align- 13 pages

cheers

Norman

Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2016, 09:52:34 AM »
Norman,
Thanks for the offer....
I watched the video on mounting but it was for a different machine....

I've since discovered that the brass bevel gear doesnt fit the shaft....

Chester have told me its a one size fits all, but there's some metsl mangling required to get it to fit....
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Offline platypus20

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2016, 10:50:21 AM »
I bought a power feed for my mill, from the mill manufacturer, the salesman said it was a direct bolt on, of course it didn't fit, I called the salesman, his quote was classic, " you own machine tools, make it fit", he then hung up.
jack

Offline kayzed1

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2016, 07:53:07 PM »
If my internet stops on i will look at mine in the morning and put a ruler over said bush..
Lyn.

Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2016, 03:39:09 AM »
Lyn,
I'd really appreciate any help you can offer on fitting this......

How is your actual power feed attached to the table?
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Offline kayzed1

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2016, 06:44:37 AM »
Hi John,  on my 626 the feed body is held on with four m6 cap screws into the table end block, the shaft on this side ( right ) is 120mm long. The shaft on the left is 65mm long so it looks as if the factory fit has a different lead screw. The drive end is held on with a castle nut and the drive is via the long key for the handle and drive collar. If my internet gets fixed today i will try and do a pic or three but at the moment i an running at 30kb so less than the old dial up speed...BT is not the same since i retired :doh: been on and off for weeks and still not fixed.
So, different end block on the right side of the table and longer lead screw...
Lyn.

Offline kayzed1

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2016, 07:05:01 AM »
sent you a message John.
Lyn.

Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2016, 08:34:03 AM »
Lyn,
Thanks for the update.....
No message...

My Align unit appears to fit on the rhs. The leadscrew doesnt appear to be long enough..

I'm guessing the poerfeed unit is bolted to the table end bracket that has the bearing in it?

The left end of the leadscrew has a castellated nut and locking tab washer....

Still confused and bemused!

I'm leaning towards making a new leadscrew that is long enough and of the right diameters....

Whatever you can help with much appreciated... :beer:
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Offline Fergus OMore

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2016, 08:57:57 AM »
John

I'm writing about MY mill but the unit fits on the  LEFT and engages the

spacer( which engages the left long axis wheel )

The two odd screws- clamp the unit on to the swarf/ashtray/thingy. Crude way but it works.

My problem is the plastic cover for the gear wheel

Lets us know if this helps

N


NB Note my change- having been in the shed

Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2016, 09:20:15 AM »
Norm,
Not sure what mill you have or the powerfeed.....but thanks for your input....

Most of the mills I've seen pictures of have the pf on the right.....unless of course the picture is mirrored... :Doh:


I would much prefer it to be on the left, as I'm left handed and gotten used to using the pf that I had on my Chester Eagle30 which was much easier to fit....but the Align unit is for right hand fitting....grrrrr
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Offline Fergus OMore

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2016, 10:08:27 AM »
I've got a duff finger- trying to start my petrol leaf sucker!

So first question is
1. Are the diameters of the unit  and long feed screw the same?
 with the
2. Again does the Align and the mill have the same dog driver?

If you are 'Cuddy handed' you operate the Align with the left hand

I PM'd you if phoning  will help

Norm

Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2016, 10:20:28 AM »
Sorry fir the lat reply, been out with the granbairns.....

The align unit uses a bevel bear bearing on tge leadscrew, driving it via keyway....
So one I have the power unit mounted, the bevel gear needs boring to fit the shaft diameter, the  the keyway needa enlarging.....

This int no 5 min bolt on job....I'm goung to have to think about what is needed to make it all work.....
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Offline appletree

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #13 on: October 29, 2016, 12:57:52 PM »
A few pictures would help us help you, I think you probably have the dangly down unit whereas I have the horizontal type fitted to a Chester Lux mill
regards Phil

Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #14 on: October 30, 2016, 12:50:21 PM »
Some photos.....
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Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #15 on: October 30, 2016, 12:51:57 PM »
Here's one of the shaft.....
And the bevel gear with the dial....
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Offline BaronJ

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #16 on: October 30, 2016, 01:02:58 PM »
Hi Guys,

I believe that my mill is the same as Johns.  I decided to build my own using a car wiper motor and a tumbler gear to provide left & right traverse, also giving me the ability to disconnect the drive completely for hand traverse.  I use a variable voltage DC supply that I can vary from effectively zero to about 24 volts at 2 amps.

 
Best Regards:
                     Baron

Offline John Stevenson

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #17 on: October 30, 2016, 01:54:44 PM »
Very nice but he doesn't want to fit a wiper motor, he's already bought the align unit.
John they normally come with the generic 8 ? page handbook which is really next to useless unless you have a Bridgeport which they were made for.

Just had a look and found the manual and downloaded it here.

http://www.stevenson-engineers.co.uk/files/ALign%20Power%20Feed%20Instruction%20Manual.pdf

Can't see these things fitted on the left because the controls will be at the back ? Not sure if they can reverse ?

On the few i have fitted to other machines i have stubbed the leadscrew and mimicked the imperial sizes of a Bridgeport which is what the Align expects.

TBH I don't like these units. Under-powered, the plastic gear in the bottom is a hand grenade waiting to go off, in fact they often fit a spare inside the bottom cover, just check ?
But main reason is as you switch from right to left or just engage feed it moves the pot as it shares the same shaft and the friction seal isn't good enough.

[EDIT]  pretty sure I have some spare Align castings for the RH side of Bridgies that never got used on other machines.
If you want one to carve up then shout up.
John Stevenson

Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #18 on: October 30, 2016, 02:22:15 PM »
John,
Thanks for your kind offer for your and advice...

The biggest issue I have now is recutting the keyway in the bevel gear.....
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Offline John Stevenson

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #19 on: October 30, 2016, 02:58:25 PM »
John,
Just stripped a new spare unit out to see if they will reverse but no the drive for the vertical bevel is offset.

If you get stuck I can open your gear out to 16mm with a reamer and pop a new keyway in.
John Stevenson

Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #20 on: October 30, 2016, 03:22:27 PM »
John,
Thanks for checking the handing issue, I'll stick with it as is..

Greatly appreciated..I'll bear your offer in mind...for reaming/broaching. :thumbup:
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Offline appletree

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #21 on: October 30, 2016, 03:50:22 PM »
Presupposing your mill and drive unit came from the same supplier, can you twist their arm for a spare gear to machine, then if it goes wrongly is not lost? You should not have to do any fitting/machining but that looks like the required solutioion. Not so bad when you are trying to cobble something up but disappointing when you have paid the going rate and debt with the specialists.
Good Luck Phil

Offline Fergus OMore

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #22 on: October 30, 2016, 03:54:43 PM »
Mine is a Align AL/CE-500D and is horizontal for the Warco mill/drill.

So whatever John has, bears little or no connection with mine.

I wonder if my version would have been better  :scratch:

I'm enjoying mine anyway

Good wishes for yours

Norman




Offline John Rudd

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #23 on: October 30, 2016, 04:07:15 PM »
Phil,
Quite rightly so....
I've spent over £1600 for rhe mill and bought the powerfeed from the same supplier, in total nearly £2k....only to be told that the Align units are a generic unit and may need 'mods' to fit.
I am a bit disappointed...

Norman,
I already had the version you speak of....believe me if there was a way it would fit, I would have gone that route instead of enduring the grief so far...
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Offline John Stevenson

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Re: 626 mill power feed install
« Reply #24 on: October 30, 2016, 04:11:11 PM »
They are Generic in that they were made to fit the Bridgeport and Bridgeport clones which far outnumber any other machines in that class.

Many have fitted them to other machines but they are not bolt on, work is required.
John Stevenson