Subject: ways to protect ways and screws from grit and swarf

From: [email-masked](Wm. Congreve (Sr.) )
Date: 27 Apr 1996 01:48:26 GMT

In the "horiz. mill as surface grinder" thread the suggestion came up
of using towelling to protect the machine.  I've always been scared of
cloth rags in the shop wherever they could get caught in a spinning
spindle or screw, and have used kitchen aluminum foil instead.  It
doesn't have the virtue of the stuff clinging to it, but on the other
hand no harm is done if it snags, and it is very easy to shape around
whatever you're trying to protect from grit and swarf.

                         --Alan Heldman

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From: PAUL <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 28 Apr 96 10:20:19 -0500

Commercial "Boot" and Cover kits are sold by A & A Manuf. Co.
Inc., 2300 So. Calhoun Road, New Berlin WI, 53151. Tel (414)
786-1500, Fax (414) 786-3280. They sell a variety of vulcanized
rubber and tubular guarding products.
Paul

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From: [email-masked] (Jonathan M. Elson)
Date: 29 Apr 1996 04:23:13 GMT

Wm. Congreve (Sr.) ([email-masked]) wrote:
: In the "horiz. mill as surface grinder" thread the suggestion came up
: of using towelling to protect the machine.  I've always been scared of
: cloth rags in the shop wherever they could get caught in a spinning
: spindle or screw, and have used kitchen aluminum foil instead.  It
: doesn't have the virtue of the stuff clinging to it, but on the other
: hand no harm is done if it snags, and it is very easy to shape around
: whatever you're trying to protect from grit and swarf.

I got the Enco 'Milling Machine Way Cover' and am very satisfied with it.
The X axis table feed is pretty well covered by the table, so there is
no need to worry about that.  The Y axis is exposed front and back, and
the vertical slide for the knee is exposed mostly above the knee.  They
provide a wide rubber belt that hangs from just below the turret, and
attaches to the back of the saddle.  There is an accordion-pleated piece
that goes on the front of the saddle, and attaches just above the Y axis
handle.  It really keeps the ways clean!  I got it to keep flood coolant
out of the machine, but it works fine for keeping grinding dust out of the
ways, too.  I have been sharpening end mills with a cup wheel in the mill
spindle.

					Jon

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From: Mike Rehmus <[email-masked]>
Date: 29 Apr 1996 16:43:32 GMT

If you want the aluminum foil to be 'sticky' to grit,
try spraying it with WD-40 or similar spray.  Probably
PAM from the kitchen would work too.

Best,

Mike Rehmus