Member postings for T.B

The nut shown was done with an old ML7 and the centec that needed the nut !

If the screw cutting is daunting you can buy acme taps from the usual model engineering suppliers for not too much money , although square form maybe harder to find.

It wasn't even silver soldered , my old plumbers blow torch and solder , not text book i'm sure but it works just fine !

Hi

I don't know what facilities you have but if you have a lathe and a mill then its very viable to refurbish a worn Centec half nut.

I have done it a few times by plunging an endmill down the length of the threaded part of the nut taking off just enough material to remove the worn threads. i think i used a 20mm cutter.

Then turn and bore a bronze cylinder the same O/D as the end mill you used and screw cut the I/D to the same thread as your centec feedscrew, probably 10tpi acme or square form.

This cylinder can then be soldered into your old half nut and the top half machined off.

You can see the excess solder and seam between the old nut and new threads in these pics.

I just happen to have a bench top Excel die filer in bits awaiting some TLC

My bathroom scales say 53kg + 16kg for the motor.

You could try shop-apt.co.uk ,

I have bought ER collet chucks from them and they are good quality at reasonable prices

Thats great Geof , thank you !

Hi

I picked up one of these Excel die filers a little while ago that is missing the front bracket that the work table pivots on, this is the part with the needle indicator attatched to show the table angle.

While this is a relatively simple item to make , i would like it to resemble the original part as much as is possible and i can not find a good picture anywhere online that shows this part.

Is there any chance anyone could post or send me a photo of this part please ?

Remove the feedscrew , brackets and half nut and the table will slide off. From memory the saddle will not slide off the front of the knee as the feednut is in the way. If you wind the knee up all the way and then loosen the knee gib strip it will drop out and then the knee can be jiggled off the column dovetail. When you do this lock the saddle to the knee to stop the two parts sliding apart as you lift it off.

I can’t remember for sure but I think most of the fixings are BSF and BA.

With everything stripped off , the column is not overly heavy and in my experience can be carried by two able people without to much effort

Edited By T.B on 05/10/2017 19:29:45

Both pulleys are 1.125" bore

With fine feed vertical head my 2b is approx 67" high on its stand , but you will not get the head drawbar out without another 9 or 10" of headroom without swiveling the vertical head round.

I also concur with gary's dimensions and had to relocate my mill a few months ago, with a mate we carried the stand through a 29" door way on its side without to much problem and then with the head , knee and table removed lifted the column onto the stand by hand.

I would have to agree with Ega ,

I have both the Kit-Q-Cut and Glanze parting tools .The Glanze one is never used in preference over the other, although I think the inserts for the Kit-Q-Cut are very expensive in comparison , they do seem to last a long time.

I'm happy to be corrected, but from my experience i think you will find a 1/4HP motor significantly lacking in power on a Centec mill.

I'd look at this first as to be honest i think you will need another motor.

Congratulations on your purchase though , i have a Centec as well and think there great machines.

Hopefully a picture speaks a thousand words !

I've wound the collar down so its more visible

Between the bottom of the quill and your male taper (probably a JT6 ) there should be a knurled ring , it looks like its there from the photo 

If you unscrew this it will reveal a hole in the side you can put a pin spanner in.

Keep unscrewing and the chuck should hopefully pop off.

Edited By T.B on 31/10/2015 23:01:23

Edited By T.B on 31/10/2015 23:02:00

First post as i'm more of a lurker really !

But it looks like its from a Centec to me, to go with the Centec dividing head.

I'd happily give you the price of a few beers John and pay the postage, as i have one of the mills it was designed to be used on.

tris