New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

Got a really good deal on this machine from work, we are getting a real VMC with a 4th axis. So I have been using this machine for small projects for a few years, and have just put up with its quirks. The wiring is a rats nest, and has caused issues. And it seems that after moving it, the X axis encoder port on the CPU board went bad. Waiting for centroid to open back up after the holidays so I can figure out how much this repair will cost, then send the board in.

Its a Rong Fu 45 Mill/drill.
3000 RPM spindle, can control the speed power percentage and change the gearing.
120 ipm feed rates, 140 ipm rapids
19.5" X travel
8.5" Y travel
Ajax CNC controls

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-M...o/IMG_2470.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9...o/IMG_2471.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...o/IMG_2473.jpg

Once I build a new electronics enclosure and redo the wiring it should be a solid little machine. Hoping to be making chips with it some time next month.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

I'm not jealous, nope, not one little bit.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

well i am!!!!;-)

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

Thanks,

I sent in the driver board last week, hoping to hear back from the company tomorrow on whats wrong with it. Will either have it repaired, or replaced with a newer board.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

Rong Foo! "thumbsup"

Looks like fun.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

Should be getting my board back Saturday. At first they could not find anything wrong with the board. Then they froze it, and finally the X axis acted up on them. That explains why it worked before moving it, then once in my garage it freaked out.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

Nice, what are chips ?

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

very nice my friend. Hope your 1:1 runner is doing ok. try not to test out your exo that much.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

awww man... the envy of all right now!

I used a mill on my 80% lower. It was a small manual mill, took forever.
Yours looks SWEET!

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

The shavings removed from the cutter, machinist term.

1:1 has been ignored... Hopefully I will get it back on the trail this summer.

I got the board back from repair Saturday, put everything back together only to find a wire broke off the 5v relay for the VFD. The guy who did the conversion used a PCB relay, rather then a panel mount relay. It was rather fragile, so I ordered the proper relay of amazon. Got the new relay today and hooked it up, everything works :mrgreen:

Well almost everything, I rewired the limit switches while waiting for the board to be repaired. And of course I mixed up the +/- switches on all 3 axis. So I need to print new wire labels and swap them around.

I need to get a heater installed in my garage yet, so its currently around 28°F in the garage. So I am slowly plucking away at this machine, now I need to design something simple for a test cut.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

If its mechanical switches does it really matter unless its an NC or NO situation. On my mini mill as a failsafe I have the switches wired in a NC operation so if a connection comes loose the machine will not home the axis.

All I can say is make sure you have a GOOD enclosure idea... or you will be dealing with metal and plastic pieces all over the garage and house! plastics are the worst since the chips are almost like "static cling" and it is SUPER annoying :twisted:

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

This machine has 6 limit switches, I had X+ and X- flipped around, along with Z+ and Z-. So when I sent the machine home, it triggered the Z- while going up :oops:

And well aware of the mess this machine makes, I've used it a few times over the years at work. When they first got this machine at work, it had guards around the sides. But for what we needed it for at the time, the guards were in the way.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

I hung a big plastic sheet so I wouldn't fling crap across the garage. There are only three hooks to hang it, so its not a pain to take down or put up. Saves me a ton of cleanup. "thumbsup"

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

OH i got it now! I feel like an idiot :lmao: well hope she works out good for you and it looks nice. I have the Little Machine Shop Hi Torque (lot nicer and a little bigger than an SX2) and it does a nice job of cutting stuff for me but a big mill is always a perk. "thumbsup"

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

I finally got some drill chucks for my mill, and machined some little brackets to fab up some bumpers.

Machined from cold rolled flat stock, pretty happy with the outside finish pass using a 1/4" 3 flute HSS endmill. The 1/8" keyway is a little rough, part of it was from the chamfer I cut in the through hole before milling the slot.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z...950242_HDR.jpg

Here is a dry mockup, the hole in the slot is for a spot weld.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a...717295_HDR.jpg

Chamfered the hole for the plug weld, and clamped the parts in place.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I...258647_HDR.jpg

And welded up

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r...015342_HDR.jpg

The next step will be to machine a welding jig, slot some center bars, and make a few minor changes to the clevis frame brackets.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

Very cool. Its refreshing to see machined steel parts on RCC.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

That is one sexy addition to the shop! For sure.

I want one real, real bad but just can't justify the cost. Good news is that i have a buddy with one... also have a buddy with a 3D machine. Endless possibilities.

Enjoy it.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

Just curious here...and since I don't know all that much worth saying regarding machining you'll have to take it easy on me...why couldn't you just buy the proper size of material and machine the entire thing from one piece? I'm just wondering why you did it in 3 pieces and then welded it together.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

Would require more fixture setups to machine all of the features, this was quick and simple.

Re: New toy for the shop, CNC Mill
 

Nice job"thumbsup" I haven't cut any steel yet on mine. 7075 is a joy though.

I think designing and building a good fixture is 2/3 or more of the battle in CNC. Almost every part needs one (or two or three) if you are leveraging the fact that the part is being made on a CNC.