Weiss VM32 CNC Conversion

[jcdammeyer]

Thanks Paul. I will have to as there's no way I can do it unless I break out the angle grinder!

Yeah you don't want me to try. I seem to keep mucking things up. Paul's turn...

 

[PaulL]

I seem to keep mucking things up.

That's why I still have the hand cranks.

 

[DavidR8]

More progress today. Basically have to disassemble the mill to install the ball screws.
First I made a drill guide to shift the mount holes in the casting.


That worked out well so I turned my attention to taking the head and the column off so I could install the Y and Z axis ball screws.
I don’t have pics of this as it was very difficult to do.
There’s a gas strut in the column which was a complete pain in the rear to remove because unlike gas struts on a trunk for example, the strut couldn’t be popped off the ball. So I had lean the column back so I could unscrew the lower ball about 1/16 of a turn at a time for the length of the 1” stud.

Once off I tried to slide the Y axis ball screw into place.
No dice as the base casting prevented the end from going all the way through the hole in the front of the base.
Break on the angle grinder and cut the opening an inch longer.
Dressed the new cut with a file and now the ball screw can slide into place.

With the ball screw in place I put on the mount which contains two bearings for the driven end of the ball screw.
Mount fits perfectly on the shaft but the hole in the front of the casting isn’t large enough for the ball screw to drop down enough for the mount to match my up with my newly drill holes in the casting.
Off to Home Depot to buy a 1.25” hole saw to enlarge the hole.

With the hole enlarged it was easy to put everything together.

 

[DavidR8]

And the column is back on. That was a thrash.

 

[DavidR8]

One thing I noticed when I dismantled the electrics on the mill. All of the contactors etc were name brand Siemens etc. Wasn't expecting that.

 

[Perry]

Have you thought about maybe adding a physical stop to the end of your Y Ball screw?

Drill and tap the end of the ball screw. Add a thick rubber washer.

 

[Perry]

On the Seig X3 mill it is possible to drive the table past the limits if you do not have limit switches or if a switch was to fail. Not sure if this would be an issue on your mill.

 

[DavidR8]

That's a good idea. Not sure if the ball nut coming off the end of the screw is a concern as the casting is about 3/8" from the end of the screw. I think the table will run into the column before it reaches the end of the screw.

 

[trials20]

Due to the high speed movements in the future, take your pick.

 

[DavidR8]

View attachment 54938
Due to the high speed movements in the future, take your pick.

Oh I actually have a central oil pump that came with the kit I bought.
Curious though what's the advantage of one of these units over something like this?

https://a.co/d/drhslAR

 

[trials20]

Center one is a standard manual oiler probable like the one you have.
The two electrics (120 volt) can be set up on a timer though your controller, for time or distance traveled, power on, etc.

 

[DavidR8]

Miracles do happen.
The servo motor I bought to replace the DC mill motor has the same bolt pattern as the DC motor.
I’m actually shocked.