I recently purchased a Bridgeport mill that was originally outfitted as a CNC by MillPWR. All of the CNC specific equipment, e.g. controls, servos, etc. were stripped from the machine, basically rendering it strictly manual. It does however have the original precision ground ballscrews for the X and Y axes. Although the screws have the advantage of minimal or no backlash the ends do not fit a normal handwheel setup without modification. It seems to me that I have 3 options;
1) Modifify the screws to accommodate handwheels. The Y axis screw would have to be cut down, a woodruff key added and the end threaded to accept the normal nut on the end of the handwheel. The X axis screw would have to be threaded on one end for the handwheel and possibly lengthened on the other with possibly an extension.
2) Purchase new precision ground ballscrews, optimistically without the nut to save cost. If that's not possible because of an incompatibility of existing nut to new screw, then purchase a new precision or rolled ballscrew retrofit kit.
3) Convert the screws to an ACME thread setup.
Any thoughts of suggestions?
1) Modifify the screws to accommodate handwheels. The Y axis screw would have to be cut down, a woodruff key added and the end threaded to accept the normal nut on the end of the handwheel. The X axis screw would have to be threaded on one end for the handwheel and possibly lengthened on the other with possibly an extension.
2) Purchase new precision ground ballscrews, optimistically without the nut to save cost. If that's not possible because of an incompatibility of existing nut to new screw, then purchase a new precision or rolled ballscrew retrofit kit.
3) Convert the screws to an ACME thread setup.
Any thoughts of suggestions?