service info on myford VMC mill.
RRMBK | 24/08/2022 23:26:28 |
159 forum posts 18 photos | Hello all . Please can anyone provide the specification for the two belts used on a myford VMC mill from around 1980. Also can you tell me how to lubricate the quill bearings. I don't have a manual for the mill, and attempts to find one on the web have just led me down interminable rabbit holes ending in a request for payment. Many thanks. |
DC31k | 25/08/2022 07:00:58 |
1186 forum posts 11 photos | Posted by RRMBK on 24/08/2022 23:26:28:
I don't have a manual for the mill You do now: https://ostiatools.co.uk/machinery-manuals/ Part 25 A34. It is useful in this case to search for both 'vmc' and vm-c'. To you, they are the same; to the al gore rhythm, they are different. |
Russ B | 25/08/2022 07:47:41 |
635 forum posts 34 photos | Also, note the makers name on the front, it's not Myford. Here's a slightly less wonky version! https://www.dropbox.com/s/1xl3o958x2qupqo/_Kao%20Fong%206x24%20Manual%20KF-VM-C.pdf?dl=0 |
Tony Pratt 1 | 25/08/2022 08:27:01 |
2319 forum posts 13 photos | I have a Myford VME mill so slightly larger table and I can't see any way of lubricating the spindle bearings, I also replaced the overly stiff original belts with a linked type with great success. Tony |
RRMBK | 25/08/2022 08:56:13 |
159 forum posts 18 photos | Thank you very much for the quick responses. Greatly appreciated. The manual and exploded parts drawing is just what I needed. Bearings are clearly sealed units, so after 40 years probably best to replace ! and the belts are readily available locally. Once again many thanks.
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Russ B | 25/08/2022 11:49:35 |
635 forum posts 34 photos | I think I looked in to the spindle bearings many years ago - I seem to recall having no luck with the thrust ball bearing at the bottom - I began thinking about an upgrade to a taper roller on the nose but after removing the pulley and bearings, cleaning and adjusting it's all been solid and sound ever since. I'm sure a normal taper roller would suffice for a 10th of the cost (or less!) |
Russ B | 25/08/2022 12:05:53 |
635 forum posts 34 photos | This was I think.... a drop in replacement, do your own homework though!
Timken 19138X/19283
but still, a seal and carrier would be needed - no trouble for anyone on here I'm sure! I would just 3D print on, from design to part in just an hour or 2, and if it broke, I'd think about machining one... and then remember I can much more easily just press print and another will appear.....
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Nigel Graham 2 | 25/08/2022 12:15:26 |
3293 forum posts 112 photos | Thank you for raising this, RRMBK. I have the same machine, and it suffers from excessively stiff quill vertical travel and as well as that it's quite possible the bearings or at least their lubrication are a little old and worn out by now. It also has a problem that often makes inserting the R8 tooling difficult - it feels like a loose key or pin not reliably engaging the keyways. . Thank you DC31K and Russ - Have bookmarked these and down-loaded the Ostia manual. I think they are actually the same document. I don't think they differ from the information I have already but I will study them carefully to see if they give any more information... such as actually how to dismantle the thing to service it! I did at least find my existing manual useful for making a drawbar to replace the original lost in a house-move. While at it the sectional drawing showed how I could make it self-ejecting. |
Russ B | 25/08/2022 14:18:45 |
635 forum posts 34 photos | I should probably reword that, "upgrade" - the original separate roller and thrust bearings no doubt provide much better support for heavy side loads, but I expect the taper rollers by design to provide less radial play and therefore better support for smaller higher speed cutters - which I more up my street, hence, "upgrade" |
John Haine | 25/08/2022 14:22:42 |
5563 forum posts 322 photos | I have a VMB which has a similar belt arrangement except that the intermediate pulley, instead of floating, was fixed on a sliding plate that had to be loosened, adjusted, then tightened when you changed belt ratios on the front, a stupid design! When I upgraded to a 3ph motor + VFD I used the intermediate pulley on the motor as it had the same dimensions as the spindle pulley and eliminated the intermediate pulley stage. Haven't missed it! |
Russ B | 25/08/2022 14:42:56 |
635 forum posts 34 photos | If anyone is interested, not the best quality scan but some sales information. https://www.dropbox.com/s/4s35k4v8iho6lfl/Full%20page%20photo.pdf?dl=0 |
Bob Unitt 1 | 27/08/2022 16:16:38 |
![]() 323 forum posts 35 photos | Posted by John Haine on 25/08/2022 14:22:42:
I have a VMB which has a similar belt arrangement except that the intermediate pulley, instead of floating, was fixed on a sliding plate that had to be loosened, adjusted, then tightened when you changed belt ratios on the front, a stupid design! Curious - I have a VMB bought direct from Myford in 1998, and it has a floating intermediate pulley. |
Douglas Johnston | 27/08/2022 16:30:26 |
![]() 814 forum posts 36 photos | Posted by John Haine on 25/08/2022 14:22:42:
I have a VMB which has a similar belt arrangement except that the intermediate pulley, instead of floating, was fixed on a sliding plate that had to be loosened, adjusted, then tightened when you changed belt ratios on the front, a stupid design! When I upgraded to a 3ph motor + VFD I used the intermediate pulley on the motor as it had the same dimensions as the spindle pulley and eliminated the intermediate pulley stage. Haven't missed it! I have the poly-V pulley version of the VMB with variable speed invertor and it is almost impossible to get access to the bolts of the sliding plate to change the belt positions. As a result I never change the belt position and rely on the VFD for speed change. As you said it is a very poor design. Doug |
John Haine | 27/08/2022 16:35:28 |
5563 forum posts 322 photos | Posted by Bob Unitt 1 on 27/08/2022 16:16:38:
Posted by John Haine on 25/08/2022 14:22:42:
I have a VMB which has a similar belt arrangement except that the intermediate pulley, instead of floating, was fixed on a sliding plate that had to be loosened, adjusted, then tightened when you changed belt ratios on the front, a stupid design! Curious - I have a VMB bought direct from Myford in 1998, and it has a floating intermediate pulley. Bought mine in 2003 so they must have changed the design. |
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