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RF30 Basement Install

you could try @Tom O idea and loosen the leadscrew caps too see if that helps. There doesn’t seem to be much room for play in the bolts holding them on though. It would at least rule out the leadscrew binding
 
Johnwa said:
you could try @Tom O idea and loosen the leadscrew caps too see if that helps. There doesn’t seem to be much room for play in the bolts holding them on though. It would at least rule out the leadscrew binding
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I have essentialy done that a few times now. I only installed the cap screws finger tight each time I mounted the lead screw.
 
RobinHood said:
I’ve only watched a very experienced blacksmith stress relieving CI and that is the procedure he used. He had repaired a CI part (welded it), put it into his forge at low flame for about half an hour, took it out, covered it in a heavy blanket and walked away. The next day he completed the project with some grinding of the weld and repainting the part because all the paint had burned off.
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Was it glowing when he took it out of the forge?
 
RobinHood said:
No, not that I could tell.
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The Gibb is cooling down wrapped in fiberglass insulation and a towel as we speak. I'll give it another hour before checking it. I passed a plumbers torch over her for 15 minutes per side. It appeared to be almost a straw color but I don't know if that applies to CI.
 
Well... the gibb heat soak did tame the bow down a little. Didn't solve the problem however.
 
So let’s take it back to square one cause this is too weird.
1. When you took the shaft out did you take off both end caps and switched them reinstalling?
2. Pull the shaft and see if the gib fits But I belive this has been tried.
3 I looked back at the pictures of disassembly page 3 #43 and see some parts laid on the slide area has the meeting areas been stoned for nicks yet or is the gib the only thing been done.
 
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How are the threads in the nut and is the shaft straight? I was even thinking maybe try the gib locks it might help position it but that’s a wild thought.
In post #299 ( with the paint on the nut ) there are 2 spots that show on the ways above the nut and to the right or is that just the pic?
 
It turns out that the rubbing areas were rubbing on the out-of-place gibb on the dovetail.. I had assumed that the gibb seats on its bottom edge in the dovetail, as in every other mill I've seen. In this case the gibb sits properly when it is elevated around 20 thou from the bottom or dovetail - or about 1/2 the way up. Things then run properly.

@RobinHood noticed that the gibb had a lot of up/down play. I was expecting top seat it down. We then tried all the way up, but it only worked in the final position, in the middle.

It makes the install a little tricky!! :eek:
 
A big THANK YOU to @Dabbler and @RobinHood for take the time to come over today and solve this problem for me.

They spent over 2 1/2 hours cleaning, deburring, and lubricating all the saddle and table mating surfaces (and some other areas as well). Test fitting the Gibb revealed that it would roll away from the table dovetail if it was allowed to bottom out on the dovetail. The tendency to roll ceased when the Gibb was held off the bottom of the dovetail. They had found the sweet spot. Some paper strips were installed under the Gibb to hold it off the bottom of the saddle dove tail and voila the Gibb seated fully without binding the table. She runs real smooth and easy now.

Phew, I'm so glad that is solved now!!!! Was getting a little panicked.

Looks like I need to install some lubrication points on both the table and the saddle, but that can wait for now.

First order of business is to make some T-NUTs.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your help.

Craig
 
YYCHobbyMachinist said:
A big THANK YOU to @Dabbler and @RobinHood for take the time to come over today and solve this problem for me.

They spent over 2 1/2 hours cleaning, deburring, and lubricating all the saddle and table mating surfaces (and some other areas as well). Test fitting the Gibb revealed that it would roll away from the table dovetail if it was allowed to bottom out on the dovetail. The tendency to roll ceased when the Gibb was held off the bottom of the dovetail. They had found the sweet spot. Some paper strips were installed under the Gibb to hold it off the bottom of the saddle dove tail and voila the Gibb seated fully without binding the table. She runs real smooth and easy now.

Phew, I'm so glad that is solved now!!!! Was getting a little panicked.

Looks like I need to install some lubrication points on both the table and the saddle, but that can wait for now.

First order of business is to make some T-NUTs.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your help.

Craig
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Oh hurray!
I was genuinely concerned that something had gone seriously awry.
Welcome to the club! [emoji16]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Way to go guys. Always nice when there is a solution at the end of the journey. So would a more permanent fix be bonding shim stock along the bottom of the gib strip to ensure it sits the same way each time? Or is it more complicated than that and the strip requires a different amount of lift on one end vs the other?
 
PeterT said:
So would a more permanent fix be bonding shim stock along the bottom of the gib strip to ensure it sits the same way each time? Or is it more complicated than that and the strip requires a different amount of lift on one end vs the other?
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That would certainly work. I personally would just drill two small holes in the bottom, about 1.5” from each end, and locktite small brass feet into them. Then file as required to support the gib off the bottom of the flat section on the saddle.

It basically only needs the support during assembly/disassembly. Once in place, it is sandwiched by the dovetail in its proper position.

If one end droops (while assembling/disassembling), the table locks up solid - we believe that was the struggle Craig experienced.

interestingly, the Y-axis gib is resting properly on the flat bottom of the mill base... hence no problems assembling that part.
 
That was a long and what seemed like a painful road but good to see it end well.
Craig I think you owe the fine gentlemen some reward juice.;)
Out of curiosity - is there any way to tell if it's the gib or the dovetail that's goofed?
 
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