First packages of my Centec haul arrived today

[Rannsachair]

Big thanks again to @Richiew for collecting and parcelling up the parts.

Been going through the parts and am delighted:

3" Riser block

A new table still with protective grease on it. I cannot imagine there are any others out there.

A handy set of x and y screws and nuts

A horizontal arbour with spacers

I think this is a vertical stop

Not sure what this is

More parts to come....

 

[Seadog]

A homemade arbour for a shell mill?

 

[Richiew]

Glad it all got there OK. I had visions of parts exiting through the side of the boxes. Were the boxes in a decent state when they arrived?

 

[Rannsachair]

Glad it all got there OK. I had visions of parts exiting through the side of the boxes. Were the boxes in a decent state when they arrived?

They were perfect thanks.

 

[Richiew]

Lovely.

 

[Barking Mat]

That's a thingy ma jig.

No idea.

 

[Rannsachair]

Home made alloy adapter to fit a Tom Senior S type head to a Centec (made from scrap)!

I actually have that head on my Tom Senior

 

[Rannsachair]

I should have recognised the z axis stop

 

[fizzy]

Such a gorgeous little mill. They really are!

 

[Rannsachair]

Out with the old table:

And in with the New old stock after cleaning the grease off it:

Fair lifts a 70 year old mill.

 

[Rannsachair]

Its a fun job fitting the head back on with the riser block, some gritted teeth aligning the dovetail and pushing it home:

Just need to figure out the replacement belt size now.

 

[Barking Mat]

Bit of a bloody tidy organised workshop.

Fair play.

 

[fizzy]

Bit of a bloody tidy organised workshop.

Fair play.

Just like mine

 

[Agroshield]

Just need to figure out the replacement belt size now.

An extra six inches would be a good initial guess - 3" extra going up and 3" extra coming back down.

 

[Rannsachair]

An extra six inches would be a good initial guess - 3" extra going up and 3" extra coming back down.

That's what I did, belt ordered.

 

[RichardM]

Put a rear stop on the Y axis, when you bring the table up with the riser block on it you can hit the horizontal drive nose.


and a dome nut on the leadscrew end would complete the job.

 

[James1979]

Its a fun job fitting the head back on with the riser block, some gritted teeth aligning the dovetail and pushing it home:
View attachment 403932
View attachment 403933
Just need to figure out the replacement belt size now.

Do you have enough on the quill / knee to still use the extra 3”?

I suppose what I mean is can that riser block live on there and you aren’t restricting yourself to parts 3” taller than before?

 

[Rrobson]

I suppose what I mean is can that riser block live on there and you aren’t restricting yourself to parts 3” taller than before?

I found on mine, once you’ve got a reasonable sized vice, along with a cutter of some description in there your lucky if there’s ANY clearance between the top of the vice and the bottom of the cutter. I had a 4” riser block on mine which I manufactured myself from a lump of cast iron and it lived on there permanently (unless I used the horizontal attachment) so yes, there should be plenty of knee left after a 3” block, and could go more if needed.

I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying your little centec, I never liked mine as I’m too used to plowing huge cuts off with large industrial machines. It was never rigid or accurate enough for me but did some decent work in the time I owned it. I recently upgraded to a much larger machine which should better suit my needs.

 

[Rannsachair]

I found on mine, once you’ve got a reasonable sized vice, along with a cutter of some description in there your lucky if there’s ANY clearance between the top of the vice and the bottom of the cutter. I had a 4” riser block on mine which I manufactured myself from a lump of cast iron and it lived on there permanently (unless I used the horizontal attachment) so yes, there should be plenty of knee left after a 3” block, and could go more if needed.

I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying your little centec, I never liked mine as I’m too used to plowing huge cuts off with large industrial machines. It was never rigid or accurate enough for me but did some decent work in the time I owned it. I recently upgraded to a much larger machine which should better suit my needs.

Thanks for answering @James1979 question. I like the Centec for small parts. Though I use my Tom Senior for larger parts and cuts.

I had really only used a Bridgeport prior to the Centec, for hobby use it's a nice machine to use.

 

[Rannsachair]

Another package arrived today, thanks again for the wonderful packaging @Richiew

Appears to be an unused knee and cross slide, going by the protective grease.

I imagine hens teeth are more common.