New to me Fray 10R All Angle...

[benmychree]

The Bridgeport M head is not a very good choice for replacement of the Fray head, in my opinion, as it is quite limited in usefulness, not having low speeds (no back gear), as compared with the original, especially if the original is equipped, as is my example, with the 30 taper spindle; the 7 B&S spindle would be quite limiting.

 

[Scuffy]

Sorry to respond so late, gents! Work keeps me away from home for 2-3 days at a time and sometimes its hard to get the time, wifi, or determination to hop on the net at the hotel.

What spindle taper does yours have? The one that I use has a 30 NMTB taper, the parts one, I think had a #7 B&S. The drawbar is a Allen capscrew that is captive down below the spline shaft that the pulley rides on, it is tightened by a long shaft that has a hex milled on it, and a hex nut on top, it runs inside the spline shaft.

Mine takes the Ericson QC30 or NMTB-30 collet holder/adaptor for DA180 collets

And Buffalo21- your friends with the Bridgeport conversions.... are they just using the motor/pulley unit from the top of the Bridgeport heads transplanted onto the Fray mills top case plate or are they literally using the whole Bridgeport head- spindle and all in place of the Fray head? I'm not familiar enough with mills that utilize interchangeable or removable heads to know how they work. (My other mill is a K&T Model 2D Rotary Head Mill from 1945. So no similarities there!) What type of work is needed for the Bridgeport to Fray conversion? Just from the brief search I did on the interwebs I found a couple Bridgeport heads nearby. Would you be able to get any pictures of those mills you mentioned?

It'd be nice not to have to completely reinvent the wheel if I didn't have to...

 

[Choiliefan]

Tree made a head for adaptation to other machines.
With back gear and power downfeed.
Used Tree collets and that genius collet closer.

 

[Buffalo21]

The Bridgeport M head is not a very good choice for replacement of the Fray head, in my opinion, as it is quite limited in usefulness, not having low speeds (no back gear), as compared with the original, especially if the original is equipped, as is my example, with the 30 taper spindle; the 7 B&S spindle would be quite limiting.

I agree,

Sorry to respond so late, gents! Work keeps me away from home for 2-3 days at a time and sometimes its hard to get the time, wifi, or determination to hop on the net at the hotel.



Mine takes the Ericson QC30 or NMTB-30 collet holder/adaptor for DA180 collets

And Buffalo21- your friends with the Bridgeport conversions.... are they just using the motor/pulley unit from the top of the Bridgeport heads transplanted onto the Fray mills top case plate or are they literally using the whole Bridgeport head- spindle and all in place of the Fray head? I'm not familiar enough with mills that utilize interchangeable or removable heads to know how they work. (My other mill is a K&T Model 2D Rotary Head Mill from 1945. So no similarities there!) What type of work is needed for the Bridgeport to Fray conversion? Just from the brief search I did on the interwebs I found a couple Bridgeport heads nearby. Would you be able to get any pictures of those mills you mentioned?

It'd be nice not to have to completely reinvent the wheel if I didn't have to...

I believe at the time, it was a available kit. I personally would look else where, if you were looking at a belt drive J head or the variable speed J head, if might be a variable option, but an M-head is very limiting, they are either MT#2 or B&S #7, not current sizes used by tooling manufacturers. It’s still available but costly and very limiting, on end mill and other attachments, roughly 1/2”. Everyone of my friends with the Frays, are happy to have milling machines, but also wishing they had mills that were at a minimum of R8. Is there a Fray owner’s group?? If so, they might be a true source of viable information.

 

[benmychree]

The extra parts that I have are available if you decide to reconstruct yours.

 

[JBDraper]

that I purchased this past fall. Originally from the Ravenna Arsenal, here in Ohio, I picked it up from a guy local to the arsenal for $300. How many owners came between him and the base? Lord only knows. Looks pretty complete... but for one glaring thing. The motor and accompanying shroud and stepped pulleys are missing from my Fray 10R. In all of my casual searching of the interwebs I have not yet come across any direct replacements. I realize the shrouds are more cosmetic than anything and I can fab up something much simpler to accomplish the same thing. So looking at a worst case scenario- I'm not adverse to some creative time with my steel supply. But the pulleys.. what of the stepped pulleys? Does anyone here still own their Fray 10R and would you be able to tell me what diameters I should be looking for if I am going for a replacement? For the speed ranges would you recommend any changes?


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And secondly! I have read of a back gear assembly for this unit but I can't quite identify whether or not this has it. I am leaning towards a big whopping "NO".

Did you ever get the info you wanted? I just picked up a fray all angle #7 with all the pulleys intact. I could take measurements if you like with photos. I am in the middle of a complete disassembly to replace bearings and repair leadscrews and nuts.