RF 30/31 Milling machine rebuild

Nice job, Scott!

Did you happen to also change the drive sleeve bearings?

Emco still had new spindles a few years back. The RF-30/31 should have the same one. Cost was $135.00 when I bought mine and I wish I had ordered two and kept one as a back up. In any case, MSC might have one if you need one someday.

I also wanted to suggest you run your mill at about 1500-1800 rpm for about a half hour and check to be sure the bearing temps remain below 100 degrees F. If it goes higher then adjust preload.
 
Nice Job...really like that bench. Is it all metal ?
 
Nice job, Scott!

Did you happen to also change the drive sleeve bearings?

Emco still had new spindles a few years back. The RF-30/31 should have the same one. Cost was $135.00 when I bought mine and I wish I had ordered two and kept one as a back up. In any case, MSC might have one if you need one someday.

I also wanted to suggest you run your mill at about 1500-1800 rpm for about a half hour and check to be sure the bearing temps remain below 100 degrees F. If it goes higher then adjust preload.


Yes, I forgot to mention that. I did replace the drive sleeve bearings, they were easy and I found them easily on line. I think they were fairly inexpensive too.

This project has been done for a couple months, just now getting around to writing it up. I ran the mill on the lowest speed for 10-15 minutes watching temps at top and bottom of quill. Then I ran it around 2000rpm (not sure of exact speed) for about 15 minutes just to make sure while I checked temps. It was all good.
 
Nice Job...really like that bench. Is it all metal ?

The bench that the mill is on? or the one in the background?

I assume you mean the one the mill is on. Actually it is all wood. heavy built with a 2x4 framework and supports for the top, plywood 'outer skin' as it were. I painted it with hammered finish paint to give it a metal look. I actually chose the bench color before I painted the mill, so I added a matching stripe to make it look like a pair.

My dad and brother kind of laughed at the color. My thought was most everything I have in the shop is kind of drab in color, grey lathe, white walls, grey floors, off white base cabinets on bench.

[insert Bob Ross voice/
I just wanted some happy little colors in the shop\]
bob-ross-promojpg[1].jpg
 
Thanks for the additional inforation. when I pick mine up this weekend and start looking into it I will be checking these things out.
 
Thank you for this writeup. I just brought home what I think is an RF-30 (no name plate, top cover is gone). It needs a going through, so your pics and instructions will be very helpful.
 
Forgot to say....

Before tear down, the table was stiff and hard to move. That was part of the reason I decided to rebuild. When I got in the thrust bearings were stiff and gummed up with lots of dried grease/oil . View attachment 248952

I just used some acetone and a rag to clean them and it came right off. I reused the originals and the table moves smooth now.

I also have a set of IGaging EZ-View DROs I plan to add in the near future. After using the machine a few time I can tell I will really like DROs
Hi Investigator, I am REALLY late to this party and have a question on the effect of stiffening the base of your mill. I have an older Tiawanese model mill and surface finishes leave a bit to be desired with the vibration. Using about 5 lb. of pressure on the head with by finger I get 3 or 4 thou. of head "nod". Do you see any appreciable difference in the mill with surface finish? Did you also stiffen the column of the mill or was it not needed?
 
Hi Investigator, I am REALLY late to this party and have a question on the effect of stiffening the base of your mill. I have an older Tiawanese model mill and surface finishes leave a bit to be desired with the vibration. Using about 5 lb. of pressure on the head with by finger I get 3 or 4 thou. of head "nod". Do you see any appreciable difference in the mill with surface finish? Did you also stiffen the column of the mill or was it not needed?

Well, I'm not sure how to answer your question. This is the first milling machine of any type I have ever owned or used. I did not use it before the rebuild and putting the epoxy granite in the base, so I have no frame of reference for what it 'used to do'. I also did not put any in the column.

Having said that, I will say that I have used a large (6") fly cutter on steel and get a very nice finish. When I was contemplating doing this I read all I could find on the web about epoxy granite, especially about using it to stiffen these bench type mills. I do remember reading that someone did a test and found much more improvement from filling the base and leaving the column alone than they did from filling the column.

In my case, I already had it torn down and it really didn't take much extra time to fill the base. Also I reasoned that there was almost a 100% chance that it wouldn't make it any worse, and I had read that it would make it better so.........

Not sure if that answers your question or not. I will say finally that I'm glad I did it.

Scott
 
Well, I'm not sure how to answer your question. This is the first milling machine of any type I have ever owned or used. I did not use it before the rebuild and putting the epoxy granite in the base, so I have no frame of reference for what it 'used to do'. I also did not put any in the column.

Having said that, I will say that I have used a large (6") fly cutter on steel and get a very nice finish. When I was contemplating doing this I read all I could find on the web about epoxy granite, especially about using it to stiffen these bench type mills. I do remember reading that someone did a test and found much more improvement from filling the base and leaving the column alone than they did from filling the column.

In my case, I already had it torn down and it really didn't take much extra time to fill the base. Also I reasoned that there was almost a 100% chance that it wouldn't make it any worse, and I had read that it would make it better so.........

Not sure if that answers your question or not. I will say finally that I'm glad I did it.

Scott
Sorry about pulling up an old thread. Have you put an indicator on the column yet? If it’s like mine, the column probably isn’t the problem, so skipping the epoxy fill in that area might not matter. It’s the base flexing at or near the 4 column bolts. Like many others, my column easily deflects .005” when pushing up on the head, and another .005” when pushing down. I keep hearing the .010” doesn’t matter, it still will get the job done for a hobbyist. I’m not buying it. Lol.
 
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