You're welcome to mod mine....Yea, it's definitely not a stock 12z anymore. I'm running out of things to do to it.
It should, practically the only thing still stock on there is the cast iron. lolFeels like a completely different machine.
When I get it finished with the new controls on it you'll have to stop by when you're in the neighborhood and give it a test drive.You're welcome to mod mine....
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You know, I've been thinking along those lines. I've got so much blood (literally), sweat, and tears in this thing I'll probably have to just take it with me to AZ and finish the conversion. BUT....I'm not writing the control code! Did that on that old DARPA project and almost killed myself. I'm too old to tackle something like that again.Hmmm, I'm seeing servos and a computer in your future!![]()
Yea, and even that has been 'tuned up' a bit from stock. Oh, and Chris Bettis has a shop near him that will do a Blanchard grind on the table, claiming .0005 across 40", for not very much money. I may have to do that next year some time just to get all the nicks and stuff I've put in it over the last year.It should, practically the only thing still stock on there is the cast iron. lol
So what part of this prevents cnc use? Or is it cnc with their kit that wont work? Im curious.Paul contacted me yesterday and asked if I was using my 12z with the ball screw kit as a manual machine only, and don't intend to convert to CNC in the future. Apparently, the ball screw conversion has become popular with some of the manual machine crowd, and there are some modifications that they can do to the bearing blocks to make using hand wheels much more easy. Once the mods are done though, you can't go CNC. So they are going to go ahead and make the mods and get the stuff in the mail to me next week.
It would be cool to talk to some of the other 12z owners that have done this and other mods, but don't hang out here. Is there a forum somewhere else for CO owners? Yahoo maybe?
Don't worry your friends here on the forum will help you spend more money, power draw bar for example, power feed on Z, pallet changer oh its only just begun! Merry Christmas!Yea, it's definitely not a stock 12z anymore. I'm running out of things to do to it.
You can operate a power draw bar with a tiny pancake compressor from Home Depot, which is what I used during my compressor fiasco.I don't have a big enough air compressor for a power drawbar, but I've been talking to Paul about modifying a Mach-1 to work with the belt-drive system.
And a Merry Christmas to you as well.
Id imagine power and torque levels are similar. But all of the variations of table size and depth as well as lead screw diameter etc. I cant imagine they are all interchangeable. Without mild to moderate machining to adapt the variations. Not that I mind making parts but if im gonna buy something id rather it fit right if im gonna make something ill make all of it. Then again I may be totally wrong..The one from CO literally just bolted on. Are all the different make/models the same? I would think they all should be of a similar power/torque. Maybe some minor fitment issues between makes? I honestly don't know.
Yeah. And I still need a bigger lathe too. The dro, one shot oiler, and power feeds are the big ones though. I can work well with those. Not that I can't work without them but the time savings working with them is the huge. The 3hp and belt drive likely won't happen for a couple years no matter how much I want to copycat your mill.Hmmm... Power feed, DRO, 3 hp motor upgrade, belt drive, etc., etc. Going to be busy eh? (and broke...trust me I know the feeling)
Basically it took me just over a year to get everything I wanted done to this thing. Now I can concentrate on projects again. Like a new 2011 in .40 S&W, some new fixtures for the shop, and possibly a bolt action. Should be a good year.![]()
Yeah, forgot about the lathe.Yeah. And I still need a bigger lathe too. The dro, one shot oiler, and power feeds are the big ones though. I can work well with those. Not that I can't work without them but the time savings working with them is the huge. The 3hp and belt drive likely won't happen for a couple years no matter how much I want to copycat your mill.
I also need to look at buying a house next year something with a large garage of my own. Trying to tell my girlfriend we should just build a large metal building on some land then a kitchen and bathroom but I don't think she will go for that.
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Hmmmm, just like Dirk PittI'll take an old, non-descript airplane hanger with elevated living quarters right in middle surrounded by classy cars/airplanes/boats and a complete shop while you are handing out dream properties. Ideally close to good fishing if you can swing it.
Yup, all they way back from when I was 13. I don't actually remember him listing a shop in there too, but I figure that was just understood.Hmmmm, just like Dirk Pitt