Today I acquired...........

roblane65 · Jul 20, 2023

angellonewolf said:
those type components look more fixable

I've a good friend who's a tronics whizz he'll just get the whole control box and we'll go from there . May well just be something silly and happy days , think I need a tool post ( if thats correct ) and some sharp stuff

northwest · Jul 20, 2023

Well, I accidentally acquired a new Mill (don't ask) Just finished a seven hour marathon and it is finally in the Office. Absolutely no idea what I am going to do with it, apart from clean it!

Took all the carp off it and in the bin, much better:

Now, I have the "control Box" but I know it is useless without the computer and I am thinking it is just going to be much easier to start again, I have the big bits now all I need are the Sparkly bits:

Seems a shame to bin it but it really is old hat and of no use without the original computer. Not even sure what I am going to use it for but one thing, it is compact and very rigid.

m_c · Jul 20, 2023

northwest said:
Well, I accidentally acquired a new Mill (don't ask) Just finished a seven hour marathon and it is finally in the Office. Absolutely no idea what I am going to do with it, apart from clean it!

View attachment 408912

Took all the carp off it and in the bin, much better:

View attachment 408913

Now, I have the "control Box" but I know it is useless without the computer and I am thinking it is just going to be much easier to start again, I have the big bits now all I need are the Sparkly bits:

View attachment 408914 View attachment 408915

Seems a shame to bin it but it really is old hat and of no use without the original computer. Not even sure what I am going to use it for but one thing, it is compact and very rigid.

Control box wise, it wouldn't actually take that much to upgrade the electronics to newer stuff.
To replace the original control board, you'd need-
Bridge rectifier and big capacitor to give you your main stepper power supply (I want to say Denford typically used a 24VAC transformer, but you'd have to double check).
3 stepper drivers (unless you're really wanting to push performance, some generic digital drives will be fine)
CNC controller of your choice
Probably some interfacing for the CNC controller, as nearly everything in that box will be designed around 24VDC.
24VDC power supply
Probably a 5VDC supply for the controller

The biggest pain is possibly the home sensors, as Denford typically used low voltage/high impedance inductive sensors. I can't remember the standard's name, but they're a 2 wire design for chemical/explosive area use, and suitable interfaces are far more expensive than just replacing them with standard 3-wire inductive sensors. However replacing the sensors generally involves quite a bit of dismantling, and you need to add an extra wire to power them.

You might also need to allow for a new spindle drive, but they're not that expensive (Sprint DC drive's aren't that expensive, just make sure you get an isolated input one to save on speed control headaches!)

Then once you've done all that and actually start to use it, you'll realise it really needs a column riser block to actually get some usable spindle clearance, as the QC system robs valuable height.
Oh, and the QC toolholders sure get expensive!

My first working CNC mill was a Novamill, which IIRC was essentially the same main column, but with a bit bigger table and travel.
However mine had had the later USB control board upgrade, and came with a software license, so I left it all original.

Blue Chips · Jul 20, 2023

I ordered this ALC spot blaster from Zoro the day before yesterday, and it arrived today. I used to have a spot blaster which, IIRC, was called a 'Vacula' or something like that. Unfortunately, I lent Vacula to someone several years ago and never got it back. :mad:

I saw some spot blasters for less spendola that were similar looking to the one I got today, but the ones I saw had steel nozzles, whereas this model has a ceramic nozzle, which should last longer.

Different shapes of rubber nose pieces (adapters) can be ordered, and nozzle/air jet replacements are available. I might order a few different rubber adapters. Here it is after its first use:

I put the blaster to use this afternoon on my Ford tractor hood. Here's one of the embossed Ford logos before blasting. As you can see, it has several very thick layers of paint on it.

The blaster's rubber nose is soft enough that by pressing it firmly against the embossed logo, not very much media escaped. In any case, I always wear the appropriate personal protective gear when blasting.

Because there were so many layers of thick paint, it took maybe 15 minutes of blasting to clean the logo, but it did an excellent job. Note that the scratches in the bare metal are from some previous owner's attempt at body work. I'll sand those out after priming. I used the sample media that came with the kit, but I have some other types of blasting media on hand that I'll experiment with.

This is after some feathering and the first coat of primer. I'll apply at least two additional coats of primer so that, as mentioned, I can sand out the scratches from a previous owner's work.

This tool should prove very handy for lots of little jobs.

droopsnoot · Jul 21, 2023

^ Looks more useful that my Aldi one, though to be fair the biggest trouble with that one is that the nozzle is made of hard plastic, so it never seals to anything. Once you add a piece of closed-cell foam with a hole in the centre, it works a lot better.

bricol · Jul 21, 2023

A new MOT on my 91 Lancia

Other half sent me a message wishing me luck . . . Luck!!??!! Something would have to have gone wrong on the way there for it to have failed!

slim_boy_fat · Jul 21, 2023

Blue Chips said:
This tool should prove very handy for lots of little jobs.

I've got something similar (but probably a cheapie) languishing in the cave, not used for years (sound familiar? :ashamed:

) because my compressor doesn't have enough puff to run it.

Good job there.

Blue Chips · Jul 21, 2023

slim_boy_fat said:
I've got something similar (but probably a cheapie) languishing in the cave, not used for years (sound familiar? ) because my compressor doesn't have enough puff to run it.
Good job there.

Thanks.

I don't know your blaster's minimum CFM requirement, but you might be able to switch to a smaller-diameter air jet/nozzle combination to reduce its appetite for air. That's what I did in my bench-top blasting cabinet, which really made a difference.

droopsnoot · Jul 21, 2023

MattF said:
Lidl again. A simple convenience item. Respective drill bits & first taps.

View attachment 408865 View attachment 408866

I've just been and got a pack of those. I can't remember the last time I needed any, but the taps are probably better quality than my others.

Blobber · Jul 21, 2023

Got a little roofing job on the go, do you think I could find my bi-hex driver bit :dontknow:

Bought 2, 1 to use and 1 to loose :thumbup:

RichardM · Jul 21, 2023

Yesterdays' car boot haul - apart from a bag of tomatoes for wifey!

Eclipse 3/4" parting blade - need to reduce to 17mm.
Sandvik Comomant TPU222 inserts - need to make a tool holder.

zzr1200 · Jul 21, 2023

Today I come home to a new welding helmet.....even better it didn't cost me a penny.... :thumbup:

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Lorch Show at Rotherham, it appears that visitors were entered into a prize draw... :dontknow:

Matt contacted me last week and it appears I won a new Lorch APR 900 Helmet.

One very very happy bunny here, mainly because a while ago my Optrel helmet bit the dust with a cracked lens unit, so I was in the market for a new mask.....

.

It appears stronger and better built than the Optrel, and the head band is definitely another level above the Optrel offering.

The view through the lens to the garden/field is on a slightly overcast day, plus I like the way the front lens sits away from the flat surface and doesn't roll around...

I'll try it out this weekend and see how it performs...