09-22-2015, 03:18 PM
Had some down time last 2 weeks with the motor on the new mill.. That problem is now fixed and i am up and running .Not much time to work in the garage this week had some family issues to care for. Well i did make some grounds over weekend as i checked the tram on the mill . I decided to try my brand new used indicator that i acquired from e bay . (Couldn't pass it up). Its a vintage indicator made in England . called Yup " Spot on" And to my surprise the table to mill column is under .0005 . Best i can check with this instrument .
Ohh! did fig a way to adjust quill down feed accurately altho its still not calibrated correctly .. thought i was going to need to make modify something with a quill stop... for use of gauge blocks like a BP mill. The PM 932 PDF does not have an accurate quill Z stop Bc it has the power feed option . You can adjust the down feed release clutch . But need to do so by dial which is not calibrated .
OK on to my first project what better place to start but for the mill . The PM 932 PDF does not have a knee . The column moves up and down with a Z axis motor (in rapid) but also has a hand crank with no way of incrementing measurement without a Z axis DRO. Maybe the future ill add one but for now this idea will do. Besides I always preferred a dial gauge over a DRO.
For heavy cuts and accurate milling operations I prefer to have the quill locked in the upper most position . Yet still be able to feed down Z in thousands increments with use the column crank.
Here is the stupid simple idea Ive come up with . It uses a magnetic indicator base to the Z column with adjustable height. The mount for the clamp block bolts on to the tapered limit switch stop, clearing both top side and lower Z limit switches. . The 2nd clamp block has a rod that slides along the Z axis. Which adjusts for total machine Z height .
Once the column/ tooling is set up in lowest z position . This rod will be locked into place to zero indicator. Than you can use the manual crank to thousandths of an inch. The idea works great it can remain fixed as it clears everything on the column. Pics assembled coming . Btw I will prob finish up with a fine adjustment knob with a dimple to contact point of the indicator . Maybe if im fancy I may add a few details to the clamp blocks be done with and on to next project.
Ohh! did fig a way to adjust quill down feed accurately altho its still not calibrated correctly .. thought i was going to need to make modify something with a quill stop... for use of gauge blocks like a BP mill. The PM 932 PDF does not have an accurate quill Z stop Bc it has the power feed option . You can adjust the down feed release clutch . But need to do so by dial which is not calibrated .
OK on to my first project what better place to start but for the mill . The PM 932 PDF does not have a knee . The column moves up and down with a Z axis motor (in rapid) but also has a hand crank with no way of incrementing measurement without a Z axis DRO. Maybe the future ill add one but for now this idea will do. Besides I always preferred a dial gauge over a DRO.
For heavy cuts and accurate milling operations I prefer to have the quill locked in the upper most position . Yet still be able to feed down Z in thousands increments with use the column crank.
Here is the stupid simple idea Ive come up with . It uses a magnetic indicator base to the Z column with adjustable height. The mount for the clamp block bolts on to the tapered limit switch stop, clearing both top side and lower Z limit switches. . The 2nd clamp block has a rod that slides along the Z axis. Which adjusts for total machine Z height .
Once the column/ tooling is set up in lowest z position . This rod will be locked into place to zero indicator. Than you can use the manual crank to thousandths of an inch. The idea works great it can remain fixed as it clears everything on the column. Pics assembled coming . Btw I will prob finish up with a fine adjustment knob with a dimple to contact point of the indicator . Maybe if im fancy I may add a few details to the clamp blocks be done with and on to next project.