3 in 1 machine - urgent TLC needed

[Ian Henderson]

A number of us inspected the 3 in 1 machine last night with the assistance of Russ

It is urgently in need of some TLC...

Dean and I will work on a programme over the next few weeks to clean the machine, replace the gearbox oil, source any missing parts and generally bring it back to fully working specification (hopefully)

In the meantime, if you are an authorised user and have a copy of the all important key, please use the machine with great care and in particular ensure that all the moving parts are properly tightened and secured. It's really only safe to use for lightweight machining of aluminium and soft metals at the moment. If you try and work on anything more substantial there is a risk that you will either damage the machine or yourself...

I'll post updates as the work progresses

Ian Henderson (Thumper)

[Adrian Godwin]

Could you summarise the problems please ?

-adrian

[Ian Henderson]

Non-comprehensive, preliminary list - lathe only

1. Tailstock loose, missing some parts
2. All sliders dirty and stiff
3. End stop missing
   
4. Tool post not locking properly

I don't think there's any thing too drastic needed, but it urgently need bringing back into specification

Ian Henderson (Thumper)

[Ian Henderson]

Just a quick update

Dean and I spent a few hours on this today.

The machine has been cleaned externally and repairs made to the mill turret, the tailstock and the power cables

The cross slide is still out of adjustment and any use at this stage may result in further damage to the machine

A number of parts are missing and we have not tackled any of the internals yet

We have also covered the machine with a dust cloth

The machine has been used without being cleaned which dramatically reduces the life of the machine. The area around the motor was full of metal swarf which could have caused the motor to burn out. Keeping the machine clean is vital if accurate machining is to be done. Moving parts - including the slides, also need to be kept lubricated with light machine oil.

I'll post a further update in a few days, but in the meantime please don't use the machine unless absolutely essential.

Many thanks

Ian Henderson (Thumper)

[Simon Howes]

What pieces are missing?

[Ian Henderson]

Not sure at the moment as we need to do a 100% match against the parts list

Tail stock locking lever is missing and the internal parts in the cross slide don't match the parts diagram which may explain why it's not adjusting properly

Ian

[Dean Forbes]

The state of the machine whilst it could run was appalling and potentially dangerous 

The supply contractor is in the gearbox enclosure and is behind a cover but not safely secured and if the machine is used could result in electrical shock 

The play on the cross slide could result in further damage to the machine or person using it if used. 

The belt chamber was full of swarf and debris not good at all for the belts

It is on the low side on gearbox oil and I would not trust the oil on site as it appears it may have moisture in it  Ian and will arrange a fresh change of the correct oil

There was steel plastic and some unidentifiable shaving on the machine 

There was waste and clean steel wool tucked in various places on the machine - which is a big no no

I don't think that there is anything major wrong the machines just needs some TLC which Ian and are providing, it would be great to include any one with the appropriate machining skills and caring nature,(any volunteers) should they want to donate time to getting her back on the road 

Dean 

On Wednesday, 12 September 2012 09:32:12 UTC+1, Ian Henderson wrote:

[Dean Forbes]

The state of the machine whilst it could run was appalling and potentially dangerous 

The supply contractor is in the gearbox enclosure and is behind a cover but not safely secured and if the machine is used could result in electrical shock 

The play on the cross slide could result in further damage to the machine or person using it if used. 

The belt chamber was full of swarf and debris not good at all for the belts

It is on the low side on gearbox oil and I would not trust the oil on site as it appears it may have moisture in it  Ian and will arrange a fresh change of the correct oil

There was steel plastic and some unidentifiable shaving on the machine 

There was waste and clean steel wool tucked in various places on the machine - which is a big no no

I don't think that there is anything major wrong the machines just needs some TLC which Ian and are providing, it would be great to include any one with the appropriate machining skills and caring nature,(any volunteers) should they want to donate time to getting her back on the road 

Dean 

On Wednesday, 12 September 2012 09:32:12 UTC+1, Ian Henderson wrote:

[Jakob]

Good initiative guys!

I dismounted and remounted the main X/Y table some weeks back after that the side tensioning metal bar had moved out of positions and caused the x/Y table to JAM, I wrote some notes here on the group after this trying to nail down the cause of this problem. But it is related to the m8 tightening screws on the side of X/Y table that should not be tightened to much since the tightening bar is much shorter than the actual potential reach of the table. If tightened to much they might move in behind the bar and move the bar out of position. 

Will be happy to talk, learn more and help out to keep machine in prime condition!

Jakob

On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 9:32:12 AM UTC+1, Ian Henderson wrote:

[Ian Henderson]

Thanks Jakob

We'll keep posting updates here

Ian

[Ian Henderson]

Steve

Thanks for the offer

I'll send you an email

Ian

On Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:17:56 UTC+1, Steve Kelly wrote:

More than happy to help out, given George osborne's insistance that I have more free time on my hands.

I should introduce myself, Steve kelly , joined the hackspace in April but have not been able to get in to visit as yet.

I spent 10 years as a workshop technician in schools and part of my job was the maintenance of and training on various lathes metal wood, milling machines etc. I was sent on various training courses myself to become a competent operator of said machines and have a certificate or two somewhere. I haven't touched one though for 15 years so may be a bit rusty.

With this type of machinery you cannot underestimate health and safety it really is the priority.The machine should always be in as pristine a condition as possible before a job is started otherwise the safe operation of the machine is immediately compromised.The greatest respect to the greatest danger. To this end I suggest a written H&S policy for the operation and use of the machine which I will also be happy to do.

Let me know when you guys will be in the space and we can meet up.

Cheers

Steve

[Adrian Godwin]

On Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 2:28 PM, Jakob <jakob...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I dismounted and remounted the main X/Y table some weeks back after that the
> side tensioning metal bar had moved out of positions and caused the x/Y
> table to JAM, I wrote some notes here on the group after this trying to nail

It's called a 'gib strip'. You'll find plenty of helpful articles on
the correct adjustment if you look under that name. If it had moved
out of position it was either way too loose, or the table had been
moved too far on the slides such that less than two of the adjustment
screws were in the engaged portion.

It's not necessarily easy to adjust correctly - too loose and the
slide wobbles, too tight and it sticks. Uneven tightness is either due
to wear or poorly machined surfaces (it takes years of wear, pretty
unlikely on this machine). There may also be clamping screws that can
further reduce wobble, but if they're left clamped and someone tries
to move the slides without checking them, damage may occur.

-adrian

[Ian Henderson]

Thanks Adrian

That's exactly the problem we found with the tail stock and is part of the problem with the cross slide

Thanks for the input

--Ian