Marc, I have spent the last couple of days searching the net and my text books for the procedure for milling a pocket when a DRO is not available. I can see how I can locate the origial reference point via an edge finder. I can see how to move to any the edges that are furthest from the reference edges. How do you move back towards the edges closest to the reference serfaces? The best I can see is to move "forward" so that the backlash is gone, lock the table in one axis and then plung and move in only one axis along the edge.
Hi Ctjctj2, there are two simple ways and a few more complex. So here are the two simple ones. First way: Many machines have a adjustable table stop for the x axis and some have one on the Y axis. If you have them, use them. If you don't, you can use two dial indicators in the following way. Find your edges, set your collars to zero, go to your first corner and reset your collars to zero and install a dial indicator on the far (back) side of the table and set it to zero (I have a video on edge finding ua-cam.com/video/potUx4AdxzQ/v-deo.html) (I have a video on milling without a readout ua-cam.com/video/hx7shEX0aFo/v-deo.html) . Move your table (towards you) to your second corner in the Y axis (you can use your collar since it was set to zero). When you wish to return to your original Y position, just return to your zero on the dial that you installed. Do the same for the X axis. Second way: If you have no table stops and only one dial indicator, find your edges, set your collars to zero, go to your first corner and reset your collars to zero and install a dial indicator on the far (back) side of the table and set it to zero. Move your table (towards you) to your second corner in the Y axis (you can use your collar since it was set to zero). Up until now it is the same as the first method. Now you will return to your first corner, counting the number of turns and noting the collars position when your indicator says that you are back to zero. You now know the coordinates of the two Y positions and can return to them at will. Do the same for your X axis and you are good to start cutting. I would like to do a little quickie on the subject, it is not necessary but I like to use the first name and the general area that they are from at the start of the video. if you are ok with that, could you send me the info, if not it's ok I will use Ctjctj2. I hope this answer helps, and thanks for watching, Marc L'Ecuyer THATLAZYMACHINIST.COM
THATLAZYMACHINIST Marc, thank you for the explination. I get it. I was almost there but missed. This last weekend I was showing my wife how DRO's, dials and indicators work (The machine I have came with a DRO but only one axis is working). I was able to use the dial indicator to show how when we moved in one direction the dial and the indicator gave the same results. (I understand that the slight angle means that over larger distances the dial and indicator will be wrong) When she moved the dials in the other direction suddenly the results were different. She then understood backlash. With the information given I now feel confident that I can do this operation. As for the LQ, please please please. I sometimes feel like everybody but me has (functiona) DRO's. Chris Johnson, NH, US
Marc, Do you lock the axis that you are not using on the final pass, or do you just leave it un locked? In other words while traversing down the x axis side on the finished pass do you lock the y axis? Thanks for sharing your time and tallent. Chuck.
Hi Chuck! Great question! It's something I should have mentioned! When I am taking heavy cuts on a vertical mill (since they generally don't have a backlash arrestor) , I always lock the axis that I am not using and use a conventional milling direction of cut. However on my finishing cuts I like to climb mill since this direction of cut gives a better surface finish, requires less feed and suffers less tool deflexion (so it is more accurate). The major problem with climb milling is that the tool wants to grab the part. To control the problem on a vertical mill (since many horizontal mills have backlash arrestors) I "snug" the locks on both the X and the Y axis. Snug means tight enough to alleviate the grabbing problem but not so tight that I can't move the axis. This technique is however harder on the machine so it should be used sparingly and only on well lubricated machines. I hope this helps and thanks for watching! Marc L'Ecuyer THATLAZYMACHINIST.COM
THATLAZYMACHINIST Very nice addendum to a very well done video. I got a lot out of this one, too. Gold mine (with gold) of information. I don't know if you get Animal Planet's "Ice Cold Gold" series on television, but if you do our son has done work for them for two seasons now. If nothing else it gives one a view of the rugged and beautiful natural in which we are so fortunate to live. I'm happy; machining safely. Thanks! jim
Marc when you said you would have 4 a holes i was in mid gulp and spit all over my computer. Great video thanks
Great segment Marc, You are an outstanding instructor! Thank you so much for your efforts. Fred
Thats one application where the metric system makes it sound so much simpler. :-)
Nice demo Marc
Colin
A-holes. That was funny.
Good instructional video on the process to get the coordinates.
Hey Marc,
Loved the video. Very informative. Four "A" holes? I love it! Thanks again.
Regards,
Dave
I appreciate you so much
Marc, I have spent the last couple of days searching the net and my text books for the procedure for milling a pocket when a DRO is not available. I can see how I can locate the origial reference point via an edge finder. I can see how to move to any the edges that are furthest from the reference edges.
How do you move back towards the edges closest to the reference serfaces? The best I can see is to move "forward" so that the backlash is gone, lock the table in one axis and then plung and move in only one axis along the edge.
Hi Ctjctj2, there are two simple ways and a few more complex. So here are the two simple ones.
First way: Many machines have a adjustable table stop for the x axis and some have one on the Y axis. If you have them, use them. If you don't, you can use two dial indicators in the following way. Find your edges, set your collars to zero, go to your first corner and reset your collars to zero and install a dial indicator on the far (back) side of the table and set it to zero (I have a video on edge finding ua-cam.com/video/potUx4AdxzQ/v-deo.html) (I have a video on milling without a readout ua-cam.com/video/hx7shEX0aFo/v-deo.html) . Move your table (towards you) to your second corner in the Y axis (you can use your collar since it was set to zero). When you wish to return to your original Y position, just return to your zero on the dial that you installed. Do the same for the X axis.
Second way: If you have no table stops and only one dial indicator, find your edges, set your collars to zero, go to your first corner and reset your collars to zero and install a dial indicator on the far (back) side of the table and set it to zero. Move your table (towards you) to your second corner in the Y axis (you can use your collar since it was set to zero). Up until now it is the same as the first method. Now you will return to your first corner, counting the number of turns and noting the collars position when your indicator says that you are back to zero. You now know the coordinates of the two Y positions and can return to them at will. Do the same for your X axis and you are good to start cutting. I would like to do a little quickie on the subject, it is not necessary but I like to use the first name and the general area that they are from at the start of the video. if you are ok with that, could you send me the info, if not it's ok I will use Ctjctj2. I hope this answer helps, and thanks for watching, Marc L'Ecuyer THATLAZYMACHINIST.COM
THATLAZYMACHINIST Marc, thank you for the explination. I get it. I was almost there but missed. This last weekend I was showing my wife how DRO's, dials and indicators work (The machine I have came with a DRO but only one axis is working).
I was able to use the dial indicator to show how when we moved in one direction the dial and the indicator gave the same results. (I understand that the slight angle means that over larger distances the dial and indicator will be wrong) When she moved the dials in the other direction suddenly the results were different. She then understood backlash.
With the information given I now feel confident that I can do this operation.
As for the LQ, please please please. I sometimes feel like everybody but me has (functiona) DRO's.
Chris Johnson, NH, US
Marc,
Do you lock the axis that you are not using on the final pass, or do you just leave it un locked? In other words while traversing down the x axis side on the finished pass do you lock the y axis?
Thanks for sharing your time and tallent.
Chuck.
Hi Chuck! Great question! It's something I should have mentioned! When I am taking heavy cuts on a vertical mill (since they generally don't have a backlash arrestor) , I always lock the axis that I am not using and use a conventional milling direction of cut. However on my finishing cuts I like to climb mill since this direction of cut gives a better surface finish, requires less feed and suffers less tool deflexion (so it is more accurate). The major problem with climb milling is that the tool wants to grab the part. To control the problem on a vertical mill (since many horizontal mills have backlash arrestors) I "snug" the locks on both the X and the Y axis. Snug means tight enough to alleviate the grabbing problem but not so tight that I can't move the axis. This technique is however harder on the machine so it should be used sparingly and only on well lubricated machines. I hope this helps and thanks for watching! Marc L'Ecuyer THATLAZYMACHINIST.COM
THATLAZYMACHINIST
Very nice addendum to a very well done video. I got a lot out of this one, too. Gold mine (with gold) of information. I don't know if you get Animal Planet's "Ice Cold Gold" series on television, but if you do our son has done work for them for two seasons now. If nothing else it gives one a view of the rugged and beautiful natural in which we are so fortunate to live. I'm happy; machining safely. Thanks! jim
Lol'd at 7:40
Major Roughing, takes no shit from Private Corner!