Cast Iron Grade 500-14

[T.BParticipant @t-b-2]

[T.BParticipant @t-b-2]

Hi all

I have finally decided to make a rising block for the head of my Centec 2B mill

and have been getting quotes for a suitable piece of cast iron to use.

I have found one supplier who is offering cast iron grade 500-14

at approximately half the price of everything else i have been quoted for ( most other quotes where for grade 250 or 350)

I am finding it hard to find any information on 500-14 though and do not want to buy this, still at quite considerable outlay and then find out it is not suitable.

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of 500-14 grade cast iron , i guess my main concern is will it be ok to machine on a relatively small mill and achieve a respectable surface finish while also being relatively hard wearing.

Any info would be much appreciated

Thanks

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

I'm not familiar with that grade of cast iron but I entered " cast iron grade 500-14" into Google and it came up with dozens of reports.

Paul.

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

500 grade is spheroidal graphite (SG), iron according to Wiki. It's more ductile and tougher than grey iron Probably not quite so easy to machine but still fairly good AFAIK. Others might be more familiar with that.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Most have been made from aluminium. I like my long one as it can be used as the beam for horizontal milling without disturbing the vertical head.

I suggest you check out previous threads for pics.

I dunno the difference in cost, but certainly worth considering future use of the machine, if there is sufficient space…

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Have you considered –

The the risk of hard spots, a big 25mm dovetail cutter in carbide won't be cheap.

The weight, I've seen short ones in steel but all the long have been alloy.

[T.BParticipant @t-b-2]

Posted by Paul Lousick on 31/07/2020 14:24:18:

I'm not familiar with that grade of cast iron but I entered " cast iron grade 500-14" into Google and it came up with dozens of reports.

Paul.

Hi

Yes you are correct . My apologies i should not have said "any information"

More that everything was in depth chemical analysis and papers directed more at industry.

Apart from going mostly over my head , it bears little relation to a man in his shed ! At least to me anyway.

 

 

Not done it yet :

Yes it will be a long version as i want to avoid having to remove the vertical head for horizontal milling, as much if not more than i need the extra daylight in vertical mode.

I can't give you a good reason why i want to use cast iron as opposed to aluminium , it just feels right to me i guess !

Edited By T.B on 31/07/2020 21:09:10

[T.BParticipant @t-b-2]

Posted by Dave Halford on 31/07/2020 20:53:50:

Have you considered –

The the risk of hard spots, a big 25mm dovetail cutter in carbide won't be cheap.

The weight, I've seen short ones in steel but all the long have been alloy.

Hi

both good points , i can't order anything now until next week so i'll mull it over for a few days.

thank you for your input.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I can't give you a good reason why i want to use cast iron as opposed to aluminium , it just feels right to me i guess !

I can think of a good reason for Aluminium – cast iron would be 2 1/2 – 3 times as heavy as Aluminium! But I suppose you could machine away a few kilos of surplus metal, or settle for a thinner riser.

Gary made a very good job with the ally ones.

[T.BParticipant @t-b-2]

I can think of a good reason for Aluminium – cast iron would be 2 1/2 – 3 times as heavy as Aluminium! But I suppose you could machine away a few kilos of surplus metal, or settle for a thinner riser.

Gary made a very good job with the ally ones.

Does that matter though once its in position ?

Part of the point of this for me is not needing to remove and replace it on a regular basis.

Is it not more mass the better on a relatively small mill like the Centec 2B ?

[John MCParticipant @johnmc39344]

I don't like the idea of using aluminium for a rising block, insufficiently rigid. I think cast iron to be the best choice regarding this essential property in a machine tool structure. Steel would come a close second.

John

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

500 grade SG iron shouldn't be a problem to machine. This is 600 grade and it came out beautifully.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Cast iron dampens vibration better than steel and way better than ally. It is also more rigid than ally and while not more rigid than steel on paper (Youngs modulus etc) its lesser compressibility makes it a favourite for machine tools.

[Author]

Posts