I am still playing with the idea of cncing my 45. I'm torn, because I really like it the ways it is, and everything I know about machining is by feel and the gear selections on the head. On the other hand, I do get tired of cranking handles, especially the column. Obviously I am still undecided, however, I did decide to build a new stand for it.
Mine is so overkill it's silly. Everything is 3" x 1/4" wall square tubing. There is a 1/2" sheet on top. Every joint was plasma cut open so that the whole inside network can be filled with epoxy granite if I choose to do that. Here are a few pictures of it...
Here's a mock up before welding the top plate on. I don't recall who I stole the idea for putting a toolbox in the stand, but whoever it was; thanks! I got the rolling leveler idea from jid2
Here I went a little nuts and seam welded the plate on all the way around just because I could. It's just like me to spend almost 3K on a tig welding machine and then just use the stick weld function, but hey, 7018 is a hellava drug!
When I finished the main box, I had a whole 20' piece of tubing left. What to do? Make it the XXX stand!
In this picture, the stand is upside down, note the beams under the steel plate to support the mill. The mill bolts directly to the stand, the threads go through the steel plate and into the beams. I'm not sure if that is the right way to do things, but it seems to work.
I think I am going to add some bracing for the column as well. Then I'll have to decide if I'm going to fill the thing with EG or just go with what I have.
Chasing tenths is hard...