A while back, I asked for forum guidance regarding a new mill....
http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=4312.0Well, It's
finally. "finished"!
Looking back..... It was a straightforward stripdown/ rebuild. Slightly more so, than any Chinese new machine.
New R8 spindle. Wonky locating peg. Pulled, re inserted, pressed back into place in me vice.......
The planned taper roller bearings are wider than the originals.
So, I turned the lower seat area as close as I sensibly could to the locating peg......
The machine arrived. Took off the head, stripped completely....
The spindle was oversize. The bearings would not have fitted without a
lot of brute force. So, I had to ease the diameters with fine emery, until there was only interference in the bearing seat area.
Made plastic plugs for the now unused holes......
Top bearing and polished spindle........
The pulleys lined up perfectly, thanks to the lower bearing seat.
Look! No gears! The pulley was a little loose, running slightly eccentric on the spindle.......
Two years on from my last Conquest, they're still using the quirky stickers.......
Head back on. Time to fit/ lube the X and Y slideways.
Hmmm...... The leadscrew's a little short.......
Quick phonecall to Chester. "Oh? Now
, that's a new one!"
Mk II screw arrived, next day.......
I
really, don't like the Z axis fine feed knob.......
Bored out an old Warco lathe handwheel, to match a small spigot on the knob......
A few spots of sleeve retainer......
Looks ok, I think. Works well too.......
Now, it's time to do all the little tweaks which improve the handling/ working/ adjustment etc.
Filed a drill point on all the gib screws. Straightened and polished the gibs. Swapped the silly handwheel locknuts for stiffnuts.
I
really dislike the wobbly handwheel handles..... So, I drill a piece of 10mm brass 8mm through. Then taper file the o/d to match the handle's taper bore.....
"Screw" it on. Part off.... Grease and assemble......
Last job was to fit the rubber bellows. Found they were both tight as a drumskin at full traverse.
Another phonecall produced a rear (largest) bellows, only. So, I fitted that one at the front.
The new rear one came from Arc Euro.
Job done, apart from final tramming.......
I'm a bit pleased with that......
David D
