Re: [GrizHFMinimill] Re: Beginner questions



what fasteners are you referring as "cheese" fasteners.  I am new to the mini mill forum and am very interested in any information available I have a Harbor Freight mini mill that has the tilting column.
 
Robert Rieckenberg



On Monday, November 16, 2015 5:37 AM, "gerry waclawiak gerrywac@hotmail.co.uk [GrizHFMinimill]" <GrizHFMinimill@yahoogroups.com> wrote:


 
Agreed Charlie.

When I bought my mini-mill15 or so years ago the tilt hollow column was the only show in town.

A plus point of this was the gas spring and longer rack (now a much sought mod that was once standard) the downside the lack of rigidity.

Early users spotted and reseach this fairly early on and identified the causes quite quickly. What surprised many people was that the hollow column itself is surprisingly rigid and efforts to stiffen the column itself including filling with resin or concrete grout yielded relatively small improvements.

Most effective measure without making substantial modifications were in priority

Separate the column, angle/pivot and base castings and debur and clean them (and remove paint blobs!) . flat and lap the mating surfaces and reassemble

Replace the thin Belville washer with a thick rectangular steel spreader plate

Replace the Chinese "Cheese" fasteners with good quality high tensile ones

I carried out these mods fairly early after purchase and achieved nearly 80% reduction in flex

I never did bother with exploring the colmun rigidity as it was good enough for me and I valued the gas spring head set-up too much.

Gerry W
Leeds UK


From: GrizHFMinimill@yahoogroups.com <GrizHFMinimill@yahoogroups.com> on behalf of clevinski@comcast.net [GrizHFMinimill] <GrizHFMinimill@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: 16 November 2015 12:35
To: GrizHFMinimill@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [GrizHFMinimill] Re: Beginner questions
 
 
Markkimball2000 wrote: "Replacing the stock washer with a big steel plate also is a relatively minor thing to do."

I second this, and would strongly recommend it.  I used to have to retram my mill every few weeks.  Then I replaced the stock washer with a 1/2 inch thick steel plate that extends all the way to the edges of the column.  This one change alone made a HUGE difference.  Now I check the tram every few months, but end up retramming maybe once or twice a year.  And the entire system seems significantly more rigid...

Just my two cents worth...

Charlie
New Jersey, USA




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Posted by: Robert Rieckenberg <robertr9619@sbcglobal.net>



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