[bonmotwang]

I am going to get the BF20L ordered and moved into my basement next week. Not sure about my schedule, busy as usual. So it is going to take long time for my every step. But I thought it will be useful and helpful to have a place to log the journey. CNCZONE of course is the best place.

I talked to Pat at Machine Tools Warehouse. BF20L Vario is in stock. I will order ER25 MT2 collet chuck set too.

Planning to take it a part first (not sure if it is a good idea for someone like me who has never touched a milling machine).
Model it in Solidworks.
Design the Motor mounts, and generate the ball screw drawings.
... ...

I will appreciate any suggestions from anybody during this adventure.

[LUCKY13]

Dont be afraid to take it apart, even if you make mistakes and go through some learning curves you will be better off for it in the end ( and believe me the end is what matters most).


There is a lot to getting a machine to run good and the little things will have more to do with it than not.


When you take it apart pay close attention to your gibs, if they are tapered, orintation and what not. They have to go back the exact way they came out( if they where installed right to begin with). And learning to ajust them right will have a lot to do with machine operation.



Jess

[Mad Welder]

........I talked to Pat at Machine Tools Warehouse. BF20L Vario is in stock. I will order ER25 MT2 collet chuck set too......

just a suggestion here, since you're at the buying stage ask Pat what his thoughts are on Automatic Tool Changing (ATC) with the MT2 taper Spindle and also if he can sell or reccomend another 'off the shelf' kit to allow your new MT2 BF20 purchase to be converted at a later date to ATC.....and as far as I know you may now have the option to purchase the R8 spindle type within the BF20 which from advice and reading other threads is that the R8 is the easier solution for ATC.....personally I can't advise you either way as I myself haven't started the ATC part of my build yet......

And I agree with Lucky13 I have lost count of the times I've taken my machine apart.....and the experience of a self build/conversion is unequalled

[bonmotwang]

Update: Picked up the BF20L today. Sitting in the garage now. Will ask a telehandler to help move it to the basement though the walkout door.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bonmotwang]

Took some pictures of the items I bought from MTW.
F150 to move to my garage.
Telehandler to move into my basement.

[bonmotwang]

There is enough room between 2 houses about 4 hourses from my house.
So it should work out well.

[hoss2006]

Holy cow! That will make short work of it.
Hoss

[bonmotwang]

Yes. after 11 minutes. The BF20L is in the basement!

[bonmotwang]

It sounds like everyone is saying :" take it apart!".
I really need some advice here: what
is my next step? Run and test out the machine? Break in?
What do I know :-D



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DRock]

If I were you I would disassemble it and clean it real good, then lube it back up and put it back together.

But I decided not to take it apart as I have never done so before and wanted to run it a bit as is. If you do decide to take it apart I would love to see some pictures!

Definitely break in the spindle though.

[bonmotwang]

Thanks DRock. I will definitely show you what is in the box ! :-D. I have seen it yet!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bonmotwang]

No matter what I have to open the boxes first :-D
Do I need to move the machine onto the stand then start break in?
Or I just leave it on the floor and run it?
I guess if I want to put the machine on the stand I need a hoist to do so?

[hoss2006]

On the floor is fine for the breakin.
I see your plan is to take it apart to model all the parts which is fine, you can make sure everything is cleaned up at the same time.
Before you do that you should check the tram. No need to worry about adjusting it right now
since your just gonna take it apart but you'll want to see how well it is right now out of the box just for reference.
If it's within a thou or two right now you'll know it should be just as good later when reassembled.
Even better after adjusting.
Check the spindle runout too and move all the axis stop to stop to see if you feel any kind of binding.
Hoss

[bonmotwang]

Thanks Hoss
I will run it on the floor then. So basically I will get the manual milling going first. Maybe test cut some blocks as you have said "for reference".
I will post pictures and result as the project goes. Let me know when it is time to take it apart :-)
There is a hoist for sale on Kijiji for $150 (2 Tons). Do you think I should get one?
Paul

[hoss2006]

If you plan to do a lot on your own a little hoist can save your back and be safer.
The mill could be picked up with a couple buddies help but you don't have to buy a hoist a beer.
I can manage the pieces separately on my own (column,head, table) but together they are just a little too much to bear.
A small 1 ton is plenty for the mill but you never know, you may want to pluck something much bigger later.
Yeah, run some scrap pieces too just to get a feel for what the mill can do and also to see
if any bad vibration shows up you may need to look at when taking it apart.
Hoss

[bonmotwang]

Yes, I am going to do a lot by myself and want to be safe. I will shop for a used hoist around 1 ton.
It is always to have buddies to help. "need your muscle" sometimes is only an excuse for getting together to have a cup of beer:-D


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mad Welder]

I can't really add anything more to what Hoss has said but I was very nervous to start ripping mine apart when I first bought it, the chap in the shop used one leg of the fork lift and a sling to slide it into the back of my car and of course I was soo happy to have bought it I forgot about the taking it out again part....and dam near pulled my arms clean out of my shoulders because I was too nervous as to take it apart (and also I hadn't a clue either) in the end I had to make a temporary lift kinda like a see saw with my eldest swinging on the end of a 10' length of 3" galvanised pipe and a sling and me trying to lift and drag...phewee nearly burst blood veins in my neck....but the moral of the story is and as Hoss said once taken apart you can easily lift 'seperatley' the Head, Column, Table & base....

[bonmotwang]

Thanks for your story. For the part you forgot, luckily I got a tele handler to help. I took apart things all the time. For "reference" purpose, and with almost 0 machining experience, I will run it as a whole piece for a while.
And I know you guys want all details :-D


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bonmotwang]

2 ton engine hoist on sale! $350 dropped to $200!
Will get one first thing in the morning!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hoss2006]

Can't beat that, good find, even cheaper than Harbor Freight.
Hoss