MIni Machining Center does HARD TAPPING in steel part using new 4th axis

4th axis finally doing its job producing the steel parts it was designed to make. Hard tapping is last process in the video.

Light turning passes are due to limited X2 rigidity. A new table I am building should fix that.

Previously this part required these setups; 1) facing (collet and tool bit), 2) turning (collet and boring bar), 3) centerdrill (drill chuck and Center drill) 4) drill hole (drill chuck and drill bit), 5) tap hole (drill chuck loose or tapping head) 6) cut flats (indexer with collet and end mill.)

4th axis does it all with single setup and program in under 2-1/2 minutes.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• CNC
• mini mill
• machining center
• tapping
• hard tapping
• steel turning
• CNC conversion
• Mach3
• 4th axis
• CNCdrive
• threading
• machining
• X2
• X2 CNC.

[cheskrk]

Can you tell me how the max parameter of 4th asix are? Max torque of engine, max rpm speed ect. ?? thx

[Simpsons36]

@cheskr This is a very old video, please take a look at the newer videos also to see how the machine has grown and become a lot faster and more powerful. Current models are dynamically balanced for higher speed operation. Power and speed are dictated by the motor used. Three of these (that I know of) have 1HP motors, including my current prototype. With those motors, the maximums are:

Torque at the spindle 5,875 oz-in at max reduction. RPM at the spinle 4,500RPM with high speed motor pulley.

[TsmnnDvl5]

No lube when tapping? That's kinda hard on the taps isn't it? Just asking is all. :)

[Simpsons36]

@TsmnnDvl5 This material is 12L14. The lead content allows most operations without lube, including drilling. However, as you correctly pointed out, most tapping operations do need some lube, even with this slippery material. What you don't see in the video is that between parts, the tools get a blast of air and a squirt of cutting fluid.

[NavyGunner1980]

Man, that is just too cool!

I Have a small Sherline with a 4th Axis, I wonder how hard it would be to add those features to it?

How did you get the 4th Axis to act like a spindle?

[Simpsons36]

@NavyGunner1980 The 'secret' to having the 4th axis act like a spindle is to temporarily 'swap axis' between the 'A' axis and the mill spindle via a small circuit board. Unfortunately a typical 4th axis is worm gear driven and cannot achieve high enough speeds to do turning operations. My 4th axis are belt driven by servo motors and can achieve high speeds. A pneumatic spindle lock was added to later prototypes (and all production machiones) to provide extreme holding power.

[565Customz]

@Simpsons36 yeah i can run the machine..but adding the new wiring and board and making it work is a bit beyond me. lol. its not a brigeport, but same style machine with prototrak controls...not exactly cnc so i dont know how it would work with this....ill have to contact you and talk with you about it.

[Simpsons36]

@565Customz the machine shown in this video is an early prototype. See the response video for the latest version.

Standard duty is $695 without spindle lock. Pneumatic spindle lock/brake is additional $295. Super Suty version is $1,295 and includes dual reduction belts and spindle lock.

You should not have to replace your controls, just add an 'A' axis. I now have a hardware 'swapaxis' board that is transparent the controller and should work with any CNC.

[565Customz]

@Simpsons36 awesome...so how much is it gonna cost me to hook one of these guys up? i already have a 3 axis conversational mill...

i assuming i prolly need an entire new controller setup for all 4 axis?

[Simpsons36]

@565Customz

I later added a spindle lock to the 4th axis to prevent any movement during heavy machining. Watch the other videos. One of them demonstates the locks holding power by making flats on a steel part by shaving across the OD!