My Bridgeport Series 1 CNC Conversion Using Centroid Acorn

[Reedfirst]

Now on the the Z axis...

I was planning on making my own Z axis drive based on designs and plans that I had found on the net and cnczone. I had actually started putting together a material list and while searching I stumbled across a Brand New Sealed in the box Elrod Machine/Bridgeport 3rd axis quill option with the smart z scale option for a great price!

After taking into consideration my time, cost of materials including the ballscrew and misc hardware, it was a no brainer to splurge for the Elrod Quill drive. http://elrodmachine.com/

The quality of the Elrod quill drive is TOP NOTCH! The castings are fantastic, and the hardware is very high quality. Furthermore, Dwayne at Elrod was more than patient and helpful with my annoying questions even though I didn't get it directly from him.


I had to make a adapter plate to fit the DMM nema 34 servo motor to the Elrod Nema 42 mount and machine a new pulley to fit the 14mm shaft on the DMM motor. Other than that it was a pretty straight forward installation.

Here is the kit on the machine.

[martyscncgarage]

It's looking nice. Yeah, you were probably time and money ahead with the Z axis drive.
Didn't talk him out of one of his spindle encoders didja?
Your Y axis cover looks good too. Nice work.
You're inching closer....

Marty

[Reedfirst]

I don't know why the pictures come out rotated 90 degrees.... But if you click on them they load in the proper orientation.

Anyway, I went ahead and installed the z axis scale. I am hoping I can hook it up to the acorn so I can use it for z axis feedback when I put the machine in 2 axis mode.

I am thinking that if in the future if would like to set up the acorn for rigid tapping I could just get a dro display for the z axis to free up the encoder input for the spindle.


Here are a couple pics of tramming the z axis scale parallel with the ball screw.

Next I have to figure out if it's possible to have the Z axis automatically position itself at the bottom of its travel so I can disconnect and re-connect it while switching from 3 axis to 2 axis mode.

[Reedfirst]

It's looking nice. Yeah, you were probably time and money ahead with the Z axis drive.
Didn't talk him out of one of his spindle encoders didja?
Your Y axis cover looks good too. Nice work.
You're inching closer....

Marty

Thank you Marty!

Yeah, there is no way I could have made it as nice and as well thought out and engineered for the same cost.

You know, I actually just stumbled across a picture of his spindle encoder. I previously had no idea he had that option. It appears to work along with a power drawbaw with possibly a belt and pulley attached to an encoder inside of an aluminum housing. Two options I'd love to have!

I'll see if I can find that picture again.

[martyscncgarage]

Easier way to get rigid tapping. I'm curious to know what he wants for them....

[Reedfirst]

I got pretty busy with work so I haven't had as much time to work on my conversion but I did manage to get a couple of things done.

I used to constantly stand around with a vacuum hose in one hand trying to vacuum up chips and apply cutting fluid at the same time while running the machine. I got really tired of fumbling around with cans of wd-40, oil cans, acid brushes, spray bottles, and making a mess everywhere..... I was also getting real tired of vacuuming up chips all over the garage and the machine.

A few years back I came across some 1/2 polycarbonate sheet that was being scrapped because it had some scratches and decided to make a chip shield for my bridgeport with it. I made it fit the entire work envelope of the machine. There is an aluminum channel I welded up that the front panel slides in and out of. There is a permanent piece on the front bottom that the vise socket fits through. I plan on drilling more holes in the front bottom piece as I move the vise around the table.

I Made the back out of 1/4" flexible expanded pvc as it is possible to crash this piece if the Y axis is jogged too far forward with the knee cranked up high. This position would be very rare on my machine but the possibility exists and I want to be safe. I also welded up an aluminum channel so I can fit a different height piece in case the knee has to be cranked up really high to give some clearance and have some chip shielding.

I also decided to make my own fog-less coolant sprayer. They are real simple to build. There are plans floating around the net to build these.

Automation Direct has a nice 24vdc 3port 2 way air solenoid that works very well with the acorn for automatic mist cooling. No more fumbling around with spray cans and acid brushes. What's really nice is the mister uses so little fluid that the chips are almost dry and are easy to clean up out of the chip shield. I need to install a check valve inline the coolant hose because if I don't use it for a couple of days, gravity drains the coolant back into the canister. Not a big issue as all I have to do is open the needle valve and purge the line. I'm figuring a check valve will fix this small issue.

Please mind the messy wiring....

[martyscncgarage]

Nice, my mentor and local metalworking club member Brian Lamb designed a similar coolant system. I've yet to built it but have the parts.
I have two UNIST MQL units that work pretty well.

RIGHT ON! on the chip containment issue with knee mills. Heck I wold have probably made the front and sides taller! But I bet it catches a fair bit of chips....
Marty

[Reedfirst]

Thanks Marty,

The dimensions I came up with for the chip shield are a direct result of how much of that 1/2 polycarbonate sheet I had on hand.

It is just shy of 12 inches tall and I would say catch almost almost 98% of the chips. There are always a couple that manage to jump the ship looking for an escape. But it makes a huge difference.

As for the mister. I see most people use two regulators on theirs. I added a third regulator that regulates the "system" pressure from my shop air supply. It's merely for safety reasons and the fact that the solenoid is only rated to 115psi ( I think). I have it reducing the air supply to 40psi.

[DICKEYBIRD]

Ooooh, nice! It's even got an Acorn controlled hot water heater to brew a cup'pa joe every so many cycle starts!

Seriously though, that's a very nice machine you have!

[Reedfirst]

Ooooh, nice! It's even got an Acorn controlled hot water heater to brew a cup'pa joe every so many cycle starts!

Seriously though, that's a very nice machine you have!

Come on by! I'll pour you a cup!