Myford VMB mill, head lift.

[lctikka61Participant @lctikka61]

New member from Australia.

Myford VMB mill or clone.

The head lift is very slow via the fine feed handle, has anyone fitted crank handle to the top of the lift feed screw to speed up head movement.  Would this be feasible or mechanically possible, with the fine turn mechanism engaged.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

You’d have to modify the feed to disengage the worm. It is a pain, at one stage I tried fitting a motor drive particularly for boring.  A crank handle at the top would also interfere with removing the belt cover to change speed.

One mod I have made is to fit a 3 phase motor, using what was the intermediate pulley on the motor and eliminating the 2 stage drive. Uses a link belt. Speed changing is so much easier!

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

https://altrish.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Fitting-XYZ-motor-feeds-to-Myford-VMB-v4.pdf

I still have PCBs.

Alan

[lctikka61Participant @lctikka61]

Update

I have answered my question.

By turning the lift lead screw, the head moves easy & the fine feed handle turns freely with no sign of binding.

The fine feed is 10:1, turning direct on the feed screw raises the 5mm (pitch) per turn.

Now to devise a connection adaptor at the screw top, turning by hand is ideal.

[Alan Wood 4]

On Alan Wood 4 Said:

https://altrish.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Fitting-XYZ-motor-feeds-to-Myford-VMB-v4.pdf

I still have PCBs.

Alan

A very useful write-up Alan .. . thanks

Whilst I have no immediate need for such a system, I have grabbed a copy for my education.

MichaelG.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>It looks to me that it would be hard to reach the handwheel when it’s at the top of its range? Also on mine it seems very hard to back drive the worm.</p>

[WaggonermanParticipant @waggonerman]

I just use an old Battery Drill with a Socket Adapter to 1/4” Hex, engage with the Elevating Handwheel Spindle Nuts.

Dead easy, really fast repositioning moves with fine feed by hand to the desired height.

waggonerman.

[lctikka61Participant @lctikka61]

The aim is to have rapid head movement and reduce the number of loaded cycles, wear & tear on the fine feed mechanism.

A step will enable me to reach the new lift handle once the head is high.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Was this successful please?

[lctikka61Participant @lctikka61]

I’m about to make a clamp on handle, so TBA.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Ok, thanks, interested in how you do that and the results.

[lctikka61Participant @lctikka61]

The rapid movement handle on the head screw is made & functional.  Can just feel the fine feed worm engage the screw through the new handle.  The pin type grub screw was positioned through the thread into the shaft 3mm, 8mm from the screw top, cut with a 6mm slot mill.  Total travel is now 55 turns versus 550.  Can give details if wanted or PM.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Thanks for the photo. Could you clarify – “…the shaft 3mm, 8mm from the screw top, cut with a 6mm slot mill…” please? Did you remove the screw to mill or otherwise how did you guide the cutter?  Was the screw hardened?

 

[lctikka61Participant @lctikka61]

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See the drawing, grub screw holes were cut on the machine, the screw in not hard.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Thanks Lawrie, all clear now.  Using the threaded hole in the top of the screw to clamp the collar on so the grub screw hole can guide the cutter – neat.

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

..as ‘further clarifications’ go, that’s a very neat reply.. 👍

[lctikka61Participant @lctikka61]

Pics do tell a 1000 words.

One word missing on the drawing title is “RAPID” Lift.

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