Making my mill heavier

[Charlie Mike]

I have a RF31 mill. It's a round column. That column happens to be hollow. I was told by Reese Weiland that I could pour concrete to fill it. Maybe even throw a bunch of rebar in there too. Any suggestions?

 

[12345678910]

I don't see how that would help you .

 

[SteelSlaver]

Well, it would make it heavier and maybe make the column a little bit stiffer. On a small mill I think you get more play out of the spindle, column to head mount, table, etc etc. I have a round hollow column mill. I don't think I will fill it.

 

[Charlie Mike]

 

[12345678910]

Concrete may also seal moisture in and maybe it starts to rust from the inside out.

I'd just spend my time and efforts on using it, indicators, tooling plate, vise, clamps, cutters.

 

[synthesist]

I realize concrete is cheap.................. Sand is even cheaper. But if it were me I'd think about lead in some form, preferably shot. That way, at some point you can dump it out if you need to.

Just a thought.

12345678910 has a point about worrying about learning to use it well too.

Syn

 

[SChief454]

I am a woodturner and like many we have various ways that we add to the stabilization of our lathes. You can imagine a heavy out of round piece of walnut for example spinning from a headstock creating a great deal of vibration. Sand is one method. I have also seen guys jam a 4X4 between the ceiling rafter and the headstock then fix it to the rafter with bar stock to prevent it shifting. This might work for your mill also.

 

[12345678910]

I am a woodturner and like many we have various ways that we add to the stabilization of our lathes. You can imagine a heavy out of round piece of walnut for example spinning from a headstock creating a great deal of vibration. Sand is one method. I have also seen guys jam a 4X4 between the ceiling rafter and the headstock then fix it to the rafter with bar stock to prevent it shifting. This might work for your mill also.

I've seen people do that on wood lathes.

But on a mill, the cutting tool is almost always symmetrical and perfectly balanced.
Even a fly cutter is well balanced compared to the off centre loads you could mount on a lathe.

If I was going to do it, I'd get some clean lead scrap from the scrap yard and melt it in, but even at $ .60 per pound that's at least $ 70 on lead for a minimal gain.

I'd rather have a $20 dial indicator and see if it's setup straight, buy some t nuts and studs, make a tooling plate so you have something to clamp stuff too, a selection of collets or endmill holders
An angle plate and c clamps to drill straight.

The steel to make your own KMG clone or NWG

Stuff like that.


Matt

Get these videos and watch them 10x's each.

http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/4879489/AGI-Milling_Machine-Darrell_Holland-6DVD-ISO


http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/6070070/Bridgeport_Mill_-_PMS_-_3_DVD_Set_-KnifemakerC

 

[Don Hanson III]

Why?

Is it not doing what you need it to do?

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Even if it does nothing to improve the rigidity, adding mass will improve vibration damping. If you rap on that hollow cylinder while it is empty it will ring differently than if it were filled. It will cut different too. I don't know if it will be different enough to be worth the bother, but I'm pretty sure there would be at least a little less vibration in the cut, and therefore slightly better finish and tool life. The physics seems pretty straight forward to me. *shrug*

 

[butcher_block]

like nate i think i migt help but might not be worth the $ and time

so i say it cant hurt. by the thought maybe sand with oil in it woudl soak up vibrations best and not rust

i am tickeled that i found a used BP with a 32 inch table

 

[cbr900son]

I have the same mill and never had a problem. It is a decently heavy mill (750 lbs). Ive used cutturs, end mills, and all types of different attachments without problems. You should be fine as is. I did add a dro and power feed tho and it made it a whole new machine imo.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Very nice! I have a DRO arriving next week.

 

[butcher_block]

i think the reall keey is speed feed and cutter size
i did alot of work on my mini mill and now the new to me BP and if you push even the BP you can get hellesh chatter adn broken bits (i know since i have done that heavy hogging Ti)