Slide mechanism

we retrofitted 5 Bridgeport vertical mills with pendant programmed CNC. They utilized a typical glass scale and reader. Thees things were absolutely great. I hope to employ same in shop myself......that is if I can remember who made the blasted things.

Anyway, they are out there, are not to expensive and very reliable. I will tax my memory and see what I can muster.....lets see, 1988.....hmmm, IRS forms, ....no.....marriage license......hey my car keys are on the bureau ...

I'll have to get back with you on that one.

So I don't know if I am on mark for exactly what you need or not.

I just Googled "retrofit CNC". Wow. It seems that there are literally hundreds of options out there. Have I been out that long? Guess so.

Anyway, to your question. If I am understanding you, one of these should work-

1 - Use of a glass scale and reader (durable to coolants and oils. susceptible to impact) with a DRO (digital read out)would allow for a relatively inexpensive manual positioning system.

2 - A servo can semi-automate.

3 - A single axis retro fit unit should be fully programmable and repeatable in a loop cycle at a greater cost. Can be operated off a DOS based op sys on up to modern OS

There are many variations of size, repeatability(precision), accuracy etc.

happy hunting,

cr3

Nope - this is for a slide to self register with repeatability:

Slide - left to right - X Axis

Fixed slide front to back - Y Axis

The X will be on one assembly and will slide into the Y assembly with repeatable registration.

Look at it as a tool changer - the tool mount can be removed to change out tools and then the mount will be slid back into the accuator assembly "Y" assembly to engage into material to be removed.

Sorry about the confusion - What I'm looking for, ideally, is a machined surface to surface to repeat position.

I will probably utilize a 'knee mill' way profile but was looking for an alternate configuration from all the great minds out there.

The knee mill style will require a bit more machining and hardware than I have room for but I can make it work. I was hoping for something simpler that would still retain a .005" overall tolerance.

by knee mill I guess you mean a vertical mill.

so what I am seeing in my mind is the tool holder similar to what is on a compound slide of a lathe.

How close am I now?

Yeah but no - don't have that kind of room.

This needs to be very low profile - I don't have what I need to show you at the moment.

I will try a sketch later - kinda busy at work.

They want me to kick it out, like, right now!

And they say engineering is a rewarding career field...

Ok great.

So notice tht the slide is kicked at an angle on top. Just the top portion. The one shown is bulky for rigidity. It could be modified. But rather, if only 3-6" travel is needed a smaller one is available that could be further modified if needed. They get right tiny in fact.

What you are looking for in this photo is a compound slide or something similar. There are drawings and specs readily available on the web. Google images has a few under 'lathe compound slide' or 'lathe hobby kit' or 'small metal lathe'

Are you familiar with conventional metal lathes?

good luck.

Do not know about the forces in play here or the loads on the slide you are trying to utilise but we manufacture x-y stages for laboratory work with hardness testers and microscopy and that sort of thing. We have very low profile stages in the 3 to 4 inch movement you talked about ( some only 1 inch thick) but it all depends on your environment. Our stages repeat at 0.2 micron if you want them to. Way more accurate than you told us you wanted but hey, it does not have to be capable of that if you do not want it to.

Visit www.prior.com for more details. We also have offices in the states, just make sure you mention where you got the info from.

Regards,

Case491

Stage assembly team UK

Now THAT"S what I'm talking about - Thanks case!

I will review info and see what I may be able to apply.

And when I buy, I will tell them of the referral.

And Thanx to CR3 as well!!

Well why didn't ya' just say so?

glad to help. see ya' around.

cr3

Very glad to have been of help, let us know how you get on. If you can imagine our product doing what you want it to, I guarantee you we can make it happen. All our design, manufacture and assembly is right here at our head office in Cambridgshire UK.

Thanks to cr3 as well.

Kind regards,

Kees Bijker

I was gonna offer to whittle him one out of balsa, but you guys probably have a better product.

cr3

Hey - I need accuracy a little better than balsa, come on...