Installing a new milling machine

[Sonic EscapeParticipant @sonicescape38234]

I have a new toy, an HBM BF28 milling machine. I managed to get it into the apartment with difficulty, but I don’t know how I would lift it onto a table. It weighs about 130kg. Where I live now, I don’t know anyone who can help me lift it. I could dismantle it as a last resort. But I’d rather not do that. I have a few ideas for lifting it in several stages. But they are too dangerous to mention here. How would you do it?

 

 

 

 

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

If you can’t use a hoist or similar, it might be best to split it into 3 parts.

I did that when I bought my Warco wm16 secondhand and it was in an upstairs workshop.

I removed the table in one piece and the head also in one piece. I supported the head on some wood on the table and then removed the retaining bolt.

I found a you tube video at the time where someone showed how to do it.

Stuart

This is a post I made a while ago about a similar question

 

I have a Warco WM16 mill which looks to be the same design as the Chester 20v

I bought it secondhand and it was in a first floor workshop with access via a narrow staircase.

I split it into 3 parts to move it.

I removed the head in one complete part with just 3 nuts/bolts to remove. I watched this video on you tube to see how to do it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=1CzlveOjWiEHe went over the top making a block to hold it. I just lowered mine onto a block of wood on the table. 

Then I removed the table just leaving the base and column together. I removed the complete x/ y table by winding it forwards. I had to remove the lead screw nut from under the table . It was held in place by 2 screws, accessed from the back. This is the heaviest part but one person can lift it though best with 2. (My son in law moved it from my car to my workshop on his own before I had chance to help!)

Myself and previous owner carried the parts down the stairs between us without any problems.

So you should have no trouble doing the same.

You can download a manual from the US site of Grizzly tools which looks like the same design. https://cdn0.grizzly.com/manuals/g0704_m.pdf

Stuart

[HuubParticipant @huub]

All my machines have to be moved to the first floor using a small stairway. So I must take the machines apart and even then, it is a tough job. My latest mill (F207-V) is moved in 4 peaces.

These Chinese machines (I have 4 of them) need a full service right out the box and also a full adjustment. That is good to combine with the assembly.

Don’t lift the milling machine by the head. All forces will be applied to the Z-axis nut/spindle and it could be damaged doing so.

If you want to take the head off, there is a grub screw (not on drawings) at the right bottom of the head, hidden deep in a not fully threaded hole.
Place the head on a piece of wood before you loosen the 2 nuts and use the X-axis to pull the milling head off. Mill a pocket for the spindle end and pinole depth gage to avoid damaging these.

If you take the Z-axis apart, remove the paint in the nuts before you place the wrench. The 4 bolts can be very heavily torqued.

If you have the Z-axis laying horizontal on a table, it is easy to adjust the z-axis gibs.

To mount the z-axis vertical you need a large (100+ mm) granite square or angle block and an indicator mounted on the Z-axis slide.

Once the Z-axis is mounted square, you can mount and adjust the milling head.

The z-axis is probably not square in the X-Z plane. You can use a 400 grid diamond sanding block to get it straight. Give it 1 stroke at the top or bottom half of the mounting planes to get it square. You have to do this a couple of times to get it within 0.02 mm/100 mm. After each stroke with the diamond disk, you have to mount the Z-axis and check the squareness in X-Z direction.

 

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