Thread: Show us your mill

Franklin,

Have a look at the small Dixi jig borers on the Practical Machinist website

DIXI Slide show - Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web '

Might give you some ideas.

Regards Bob.

Frankin,

Maybe not at worthwhile suggestion. I just had a look at the images of the BCA and Sigma borers on Tony Griffiths' website and they look nothing like the Dixi setup.

Regards Bob.

Dixi is interesting though, moving the head instead of the table.

Hi Dave
Here's a few pics as requested. Its in a very confined spot at this point in its travels, so photography is a bit tricky... apologies for that.
If you feel the need for more pics, I will be moving it at the weekend!

Anyway its an Adcock & Shipley 'Lester', near as dammit to the only slightly better known 2VSB, as far as I can tell.

Its been outside (under a tarpaulin) since February, while the powers that be, at the local tech made up their minds whether to let me have it... or not. Then, out of the blue, I got a call... its yours, if you move it by Friday!

If anyone has a manual or any other info for that matter, I would be very grateful.

Regards, Chas

looks nice Chas...
did you actually have to pay for it or did you get it for zilch?.....certainly looks the goods and no doubt it will be....
but, it would look better in my shed than yours

Hi Eskimo,

Total cost, including tax, was 0 of your Australian dollars,which at current exchange rates works out at... let me see... 0 English pounds too!

A mate of mine teaches there, he can't bear to see things scrapped, so he lets me know and I start pestering, (he pesters too), even then it took six months....

Seems like they've got more resources than they know what to do with, its madness!

Cheers, Chas

Originally Posted by ChasWolf

Hi Eskimo,

Total cost, including tax, was 0 of your Australian dollars,which at current exchange rates works out at... let me see... 0 English pounds too!

A mate of mine teaches there, he can't bear to see things scrapped, so he lets me know and I start pestering, (he pesters too), even then it took six months....

Seems like they've got more resources than they know what to do with, its madness!

Cheers, Chas

well you certainly got that at a good price...you pirate, robber, thief, ...do you live in sherwood forest..lol

Hi ChasWolf,
It sure looks heavy. If its anything like the mills at the techs I know it would have done about a weeks work a year if that. Does it look taller in the pictures than it is or is that the stupidest place ever for a stop button? They should have a little ladder up the side to get to the draw bar. As for the price!!!!!!!!!! I can only wish. Great score.
Stuart

Hi Both

As regards the stop button, Mel Gibson or Ronnie Corbett would be totally stuffed! I can just about get the drawbar out with a bit of juggling.

To be fair, the head is wound up to max height, but it could get very, very messy if you had to lower the head every time you wanted to stop the machine!

Shiver me timbers, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Avast behind! me, a pirate?

Thanks for posting the pictures.
A power draw bar project will fix the height problems of doing it up, if you find it a hassle reaching.
Being so rigid, that machine will be able remove a lot of metal real quick.

Dave

Well, it was all going so well. until I removed the A&S inspection plate on the front of the head. There it was, about a cupful of oil/water emulsion with smatterings of rust in the bottom of the ‘outer’ head. No doubt gathered during its six month outdoor spell under a tarpaulin! The water seems to have run down from the top of the spindle, slightly corroding the top bearing on its way.
So, as a first step I decided to remove the spindle. After some difficulty I undid the rusted top nut. After a few fairly firm taps with a hammer on a hardwood block protecting the spindle, it began to move downwards, but having moved about 1/8”, all travel ceased.
The pictures show that the bottom bearing housing moved, but it looks like the tapered rollers at the top have been driven down into the bearing outer ring, begging the conclusion that the bearing inner ring is rusted onto the spindle.
I would have thought that there should have been a preload, (obviously until the nut was undone) and there would not have been enough clearance - or even wear! to allow such a large drop.
I still haven’t got a manual, and not being sure of the exact internal layout, I could apply more force, but am reluctant to do so until I have had a bit of a think… and the question I want to ask is… What have I missed?
I realise new bearings will be the order of the day, no bad thing really, but I reckon I’d better strip down the whole head assembly to check for damage.

Cheers, Chas

Hi ChasWolf
Being as I don't have a clue how the drive is transferred to the spindle I'd go pretty easy. I cant explain the inner bearing moving down so far either. Why not try taking the four bolts out of the top outer bearing block, putting four bolts in the threaded holes and see if you can pull the top up? Would but nice to use brass bolts or a brass slug at the bottom of the hole to be sure you don't mar the surface. Are there four threaded holes in the bottom plate?
It's strange that the bottom outer bearing is moving down, if its just a tapered roller, why wouldn't just the spindle move? Then its been years since I was inside a mill and nothing like this one even then. Good luck
Stuart (not much help but interested to see what's inside)

Hi Stuart

Thanks for your help! I will try jacking up the top bearing housing tomorrow, and yes the bottom set-up has the threaded holes too, pretty much the same layout as the top. as far as I can see (until proven otherwise)

I have included another pic which may help. It shows what might be called an 'inner head' through which the splined spindle can move up & down. I imagine its a floating or semi-floating arrangement whereby the 'outer head' swivels, taking the 'inner head' with it.

I suppose a manual would just make it all too easy!

Cheers, Chas

Not sure if this will help you.
Start from reply 112
The Sajo mill is here

Dave