Bellows versus shutter

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello all,

My milling machine is an Optimum BF20 Vario and its vertical guides are originally protected by a bellows.
After some years time, the oil separated parts of the protection which were bonded and now the protection is unusable and the oil prevents re- bonding.

So, I ordered the distributor of Optimum in Portugal but as a new bellows takes a long time to come, I decided to look for an temporary alternative.
And I came to the following temporary solution:
1 – Purchased a shutter from Chinese origin for 4.00 Euros which is described as being made of bamboo ( see **LINK**).
2 – Using scissors I cut out a portion covering the area of ​​the column from the milling head on its highest point to the lowest point (see **LINK**).
3 – Redid the knots of the cotton line connecting each element of bamboo to the next (see **LINK** ).
4 – Made three pieces in wire (with wire from a hanger made for my shirts) to guide the shutter and tied each of two points to one of the elements of bamboo (see **LINK** and **LINK**).
5 – Finally fixed the small shutter by its top to where the bellows were tied. Did not tie the lowest part hoping that the weight of the assembly keep the shutter taut (see **LINK**).

See other pictures, please, in the **LINK** album.

So far it has worked well and prevented the chips pass to where I do not want to have them.
There are clearly improvements to make on this protection and the amount of shutter that still allows me to have all the tests that I want…

Best regards
Dias Costa

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Temporary replacemente of a bellows by a small shutter in my milling machine

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Nice one – but doesn't the swarf stick to the sushi when you roll it?

Russell.

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

G'day Dias.

My uncle once built skyscrapers in Hong Kong, KL etc.

When I visited I asked him the secret of his success.

He said 'Danny, once I realised that bamboo scaffolding actually works, no problems'.

Where I live in Australia, sometimes parts are not easy to obtain, so we resort to what is fondly known as 'bush mechanics'. If it get's the job done, and nobody is killed then it a success. I recently watched a TV program where indigenous Australians were given several challenges. The best one was where the people stuffed a flat tyre with grass. It got them home. When I was in the Australian Army, a mate made a Land Rover distributor cover from the stop light cover assembly. It won him a $500 reward from the Army suggestions scheme.

Creative thinking Dias. Well done.

Regards from the land of the kangaroo

* Danny M *

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Perhaps adding very thin plastic to the back or between two layers would also keep out the finer stuff. It does look like a nice solution to other chip control problems like the sides as long as you don't need to see through it.

For faster delivery I believe one of the site advertisers does a range of bellows.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Added bonus..easily moved to allow cleaning if required…
Many auto matics used something like “tank” track to cover ways again just liftup and clean IF required..usually worked so well but brass swarf gets every where

[Richard MarksParticipant @richardmarks80868]

Danny M

You will then know about a guy called Len Beadell, ( think I spelt it right ) I cannot get his books up here as they are very expensive but a good read they are.

Dick

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Nice lateral thinking Dias.

I fixed a broken link on my Cortina's carb somewhere between Ullapool and Cape Wrath, using a paper clip.

Neil

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

Many years back I had to do an 'emergency' engine swap on my Mk1 Cortina GT – it blew up on our honeymoon!!

My brother and I swapped in a Mk2 Cortina engine but being a X-flow the carb linkages were all on the other side.

A bit of head scratching and a rumage in the loft – Out came my old meccano set, 20 minutes later – working throttle linkage. It stayed like that until I got rid of the car 2 years later!

CB

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Mine was a Mk 4 estate. The rear axle sounded like a jet engine. I convinced myself the VV carb was a waste of time, fitted a manual choke conversion and then 'upgraded' to a great big Weber off a large-engined transit. My tuning didn't get further than one of those see-through spark plugs, but it was the fastest thing on the road 0-30mph!

Neil

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Dias

Sorry to hear its curtains for your bellows but take heart for:-

The Blind man Cometh.

Lady Fylnn was taking her bath
There came a knocking at the door
“Pray who is that” the lady said
“Declare yourself I do implore”.

In Irish voice the man did say
“Ti’s I, the blind man m’lady Flynn”
No need to cover up she thought
And beckoned him come in.

He opened the door and stared real hard
The lady had the fits
For he said, now where do want this blind
Oh and compliments on those t*ts!

Rik

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello all,

Russel: Nice one – but doesn't the swarf stick to the sushi when you roll it?
DC: No. This risk exists because I eat and work at different times.
——————————————–//————————————–
Danny M: Creative thinking Dias. Well done.
DC: Nice story. Thank you.
——————————————–//————————————–
Bazile – Perhaps adding very thin plastic to the back or between two layers would also keep out the finer stuff. It does look like a nice solution to other chip control problems like the sides as long as you don't need to see through it.
DC: In my opinion, the use of plastic is a good idea, but not sandwiched because the result would be too thick. But the plastic can be sewn in some points of some elements of the shutter. Or alternatively the length of the blind may be dimensioned so that the elements are closer by their own weight one over the other.
Bazyle: For faster delivery I believe one of the site advertisers does a range of bellows.
DC: Yes, you're right. ArcEuroTrade (AET) is one of those advertisers and has a very fast delivery system. It's a pitty it's not cheaper! It is a pity that the dimensions of the bellows they sell are not compatible with my milling machine.
Thank you.

Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 19/10/2013 15:10:27

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hello all,

Jason Udall: Added bonus..easily moved to allow cleaning if required…
Many auto matics used something like "tank" track to cover ways again just liftup and clean IF required..usually worked so well but brass swarf gets every where
DC: Yes, you're right. Not forgetting that furthermore is very easily (and cheaply) replaceable.
——————————————–//————————————–
Neil: Nice lateral thinking Dias.
DC: Thank you. We in Portugal have a popular saying that says: anyone who does not have a hunting dog, hunts with a cat!
——————————————–//————————————–
Rik: Sorry to hear its curtains for your bellows but take heart for:
DC: As you certainly know it is not easy for a person to understand the peculiarities of a language other than their mother tongue. And even those of their mother tongue many people do not dominate…
When it comes to poetry then the problem of course worsens.
I searched the WWW for some reference to help me understand it from the point of view of an English but did not find anything I could use.
From what I understand from the poem, which is a bit spicy, I liked.
Thank you.

Dias Costa
 

Edited By dcosta on 19/10/2013 15:06:54

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