Adding a Dedicated Drill Station to my Machine

[cmacclel]

Well I forked out the $180 for a Aloris Drill chuck holder but was never comfortable with the load that I though it would put on the tool post. If it moved I would have to re-setup my 18 tools. So I came up with a solution.

The Mock up

Center Drilling

.500 Reamer

Finished

 

[65535]

I'm guessing that with the cross slide on the bed that the tail stock didn't reach far enough to drill proper holes? I mean that is what the tail stock is for, dedicated drilling. Right?

 

[cmacclel]

I'm guessing that with the cross slide on the bed that the tail stock didn't reach far enough to drill proper holes? I mean that is what the tail stock is for, dedicated drilling. Right?

That tailstock has 6" of reach and has no problem reaching the chuck. The whole purpose of the dedicated drill station mounted to the cross slide was to use the CNC for peck drilling instead of manually using the tailstock.

Mac

 

[cmacclel]

I'm guessing that with the cross slide on the bed that the tail stock didn't reach far enough to drill proper holes? I mean that is what the tail stock is for, dedicated drilling. Right?

That tailstock has 6" of reach and has no problem reaching the chuck. The whole purpose of the dedicated drill station mounted to the cross slide was to use the CNC for peck drilling instead if manually using the tailstock.

This is peck drilling

http://www.vimeo.com/4172912

The whole issue I had was my machine puts out 1300lbs of pressure with the z-axis so when a bit got dull or I was drilling hard material the chances of the tool post moving where increased. I wanted to be able to drill independant of the tool post.


Mac

 

[StrikerDown]

That is awesome Chris.:twothumbs Did you mill it on the RF31?

What is the final surface treatment? Looks like glass bead?

 

[cmacclel]

That is awesome Chris.:twothumbs Did you mill it on the RF31?

What is the final surface treatment? Looks like glass bead?

Thanks Yes all milling was done on the RF-31 and yes the final finish is Glass beaded. I may paint it but that still up in the air.

Mac

 

[wquiles]

That tailstock has 6" of reach and has no problem reaching the chuck. The whole purpose of the dedicated drill station mounted to the cross slide was to use the CNC for peck drilling instead if manually using the tailstock.

This is peck drilling

http://www.vimeo.com/4172912

The whole issue I had was my machine puts out 1300lbs of pressure with the z-axis so when a bit got dull or I was drilling hard material the chances of the tool post moving where increased. I wanted to be able to drill independant of the tool post.


Mac

That looks totally awesome - good job Chris

Will

 

[Anglepoise]

Not quite sure of the use for such a device, but hell ....that looks very nice and beautifully made. Hope you have brass slugs under the set screws<g>

 

[cmacclel]

Not quite sure of the use for such a device, but hell ....that looks very nice and beautifully made. Hope you have brass slugs under the set screws<g>

Brass Slugs???

Not sure of the use?? I thought that was explained above

That looks totally awesome - good job Chris

Will

Thanks Will

Mac

 

[precisionworks]

Nice job ... if you do any contract parts runs, you may want to look at the low temp black oxide system from Birchwood Casey:

http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/trutemp/index.html

The process forms a black magnetite finish of .000020" thickness that satisfies all applicable Mil Specs (if a customer requires that, and some ISO9001 shops do). $588 and you're in business:

http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/news/4437.html

 

[SafetyBob]

Mac, that is a much nicer job at the whole thing than the much smaller version that a neighbor and I made for his (don't laugh) UniMat3.

Any special kind of steel you used for that part?

Bob E.

 

[cmacclel]

Mac, that is a much nicer job at the whole thing than the much smaller version that a neighbor and I made for his (don't laugh) UniMat3.

Any special kind of steel you used for that part?

Bob E.

I was made from 6061-T6 1.5" Plate.

Mac

 

[gadget_lover]

That's a nice piece of work. I thought it was a commercial product.


Daniel

 

[65535]

Now that makes sense. Although I would be very nervous personally about hitting a wrong z axis and breaking drill bits and gouging parts, but it definitely solves the issue of accurate depth drilling and quick peck drilling.

 

[Mirage_Man]

Looks fantastic Mac. What a great idea .

 

[cmacclel]

Looks fantastic Mac. What a great idea .

Brian was the one that suggested I build something like this......but we already knew that from his comment right

Mac