Elliott milling machine

[grim_d]

@Brad93

Not on this there's not, no clockspring, the only thing left in it now is the quill itself, I've even got the spindle out.

Must be a compression or extension spring.

It's actually a return Spring too, unlike a Bridgeport where it's actually a balance spring.

There's a circlip I think will reveal its mysteries bit I didn't have time tonight.

It's a couple of big compression springs.

I've got 3 stitches and a mild concussion to prove it.

 

[Milkybars]

Ouch

 

[grim_d]

Straight through my eyebrow.

Could have been worse, just another facial scar to add to the collection.

 

[Carl Wilson]

Glad you are ok, reminds us to be careful with stored energy, springs and the like.

 

[grim_d]

Glad you are ok, reminds us to be careful with stored energy, springs and the like.

Absolutely. It genuinely didn't appear that the screw that unleashed chaos would result in that, less than a quarter turn.

The massive circlip on the other side is what I presumed was holding it all together...and had no intention of removing!!

Sometimes it just goes wrong no matter how careful you are.

 

[Carl Wilson]

Yes it does.

 

[RichardM]

Could have been a lot worse, lottery ticket for tomorrow?

Maybe at 1/4 turn it had been backing off for a while.

 

[grim_d]

Got it all apart, you can see the springs (3 of) at the bottom and the item that catapulted into my eyebrow just above it.

From investigation I think I dismantled it in the wrong order, the spindle would normally hold everything into the quill. I'm pretty sure the chaos screw is actually for oiling the spindle bearings, it just happened to catch on everything...like a loaded gun.



So I moved onto thinking about how to mount it,my initial idea is to use the "backplate" for the Elliott vertical head and use a 1.5" spacer to retain original dimensions as well as giving plenty room for differing bolt patterns and retaining the ability to tilt the head.

Then there's the issue of drive, i could remove the overarm and use the rear of the horizontal spindle to drive a shaft in the back of the new head, the issue there is the whole thing would need to be able to tilt with the head, seems cumbersome and convoluted.

Other option would be to drive the head from its own motor mounted on the back of it, this isn't ideal because the table power feed it mechanical and powered by the mills motor in the column.

Third option would be to make an entire new mounting arrangement onto the column dovetails and drive the new head from a belt...this is the most work but probably the best option.

Thoughts?

 

[grim_d]

I've spent some more time thinking about this and I'm considering cutting a hole in the top of the mount for the original vertical head for a belt to pass through onto a pulley/shaft for the new head.

It pains me to modify original equipment but I think for the extra functionality id get it's worth the trade off.

I don't think it would weaken it a great deal and I could support it further in other ways.

Does this seem like a very terrible idea?

 

[mtt.tr]

Make a weldment?

 

[grim_d]

Make a weldment?

For what? Everything?

I'm keen to use the original mounting as it dramatically cuts down on cost and items requiring fabricated.

 

[mtt.tr]

For what? Everything?

I'm keen to use the original mounting as it dramatically cuts down on cost and items requiring fabricated.

Just the mount then go for a pulley on the appropriate taper

Id have the bulk laser cut sell your existing mount

 

[grim_d]

To be honest I'd like to avoid using steel wherever possible, I'm planning to make the spacer from cast iron if the cost isn't prohibitive.

 

[mtt.tr]

To be honest I'd like to avoid using steel wherever possible, I'm planning to make the spacer from cast iron if the cost isn't prohibitive.

What's the beef with steel, alot of newer machines are weldment. Well designed it has a place

 

[grim_d]

It is significantly less good at vibration damping than cast iron.

Machines made of steel tend to be filled with other vibration damping materials such as epoxy granite do they not?

 

[mtt.tr]

That they do, but they are also high speed spindles. This is not i can't see vibration damping would counter act wear that exists in an old mill

 

[grim_d]

That they do, but they are also high speed spindles. This is not i can't see vibration damping would counter act wear that exists in an old mill

I'm not ruling it out, just a preference based on logic. Machines are made of cast iron for good reason!

I know it looks bad cosmetically but there's very little wear on this machine, full travel in all axis with no tightening near the ends with gibs nipped up.

It's very stout for its size why is why I'm doing this conversion rather than keeping the Bridgeport.

The previous owner had a matching machine in horizontal guise that got used instead of the vertical.

 

[Andrew Booth]

Hello there guys just wondering if there's anybody out there who could help me out and email me a manual for the milling machine just bought these machines thanks

 

[fizzy]

Which Elliott is that? I have a Sturdimill but looks a bit different?
And what shaper is it?

 

[Brad93]

That looks like an alba/Elliot shaper.

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