Build Thread - Chevalier 2040 CNC Bed Mill

[suntravel]

Cool mill and an interesting build thread.

Uwe

[Coolidge62]

Muzzer I looked up the Shizuoka that thing is a like the king of knee mills. I found one of your posts on another forum describing it.

Yes 1996 is forever ago in CAD/CAM CNC evolution. It will be interesting to see what it can do equipped with modern servos and controls. One thing is for sure, it's stout at 6,600 lbs.

Clearly chip guards need improvement. I see in the original paperwork they optioned this mill with the full chip guard set. Chip pan in the bottom, rear vertical chip guards and a full chip enclosure that bolts onto the table with sliding Lexan doors. Yet I still found chips in crazy places. Like 7 feet up on top of the column down inside socket head cap screws. I see in later model years they did change some things so I'll be doing some design work in this area.

[Coolidge62]

After what 2 months today I'm re-assembling Z. Time to get the engine hoists and rigging out to heave this cast iron tank back onto the column.

[cncsnw]

I still found chips in crazy places. Like 7 feet up on top of the column down inside socket head cap screws.

That is typical, and mostly due to ham-handed operators "cleaning" the chips off with an air gun.

[Coolidge62]

I have been bluing up a storm lately parts coming out of the Evaporust tank. Did these large gib screws last night.

[Coolidge62]

Getting ready to re-install the Z saddle today. The head tilt gear greased, bolts re-blued.

[Coolidge62]

Look what just showed up on my porch, Centroid gear! Centroid shipping smoked the competition. I'm still waiting on the VFD and servos I ordered the same day.

[Muzzer]

Muzzer I looked up the Shizuoka that thing is a like the king of knee mills. I found one of your posts on another forum describing it.

Yes 1996 is forever ago in CAD/CAM CNC evolution. It will be interesting to see what it can do equipped with modern servos and controls. One thing is for sure, it's stout at 6,600 lbs.

I acquired that machine just after we'd laid the pad for the new workshop, before the building itself was started, so the workshop was actually built around the machine. I'm "fairly confident" that I will be able to get it out through the roller door when we move home next time once the motor and drawbar have been removed but it weighs something like 7000lb, so it will be an adventure whatever happens.

[Coolidge62]

it weighs something like 7000lb

Good lord it's going to form a black hole accretion disk.

[Coolidge62]

Z counterweight sprockets and cast iron mounts are ready to be installed. I wanted these ready for battle before hoisting the Z saddle back onto the column. New servos arrive in T minus 48 hours.