Stupid Warco 16B Mill Idea

[Tifa 8572Participant @tifa857287838]

I’ve a Warco 16B mill and have installed an X axis powerfeed and an M-DRO DRO kit.

Very pleased with now it except for the heavy upward Z axis winding adjustments.

It crossed my mind that I could possibly make life a bit easier if I install a gas strut (or two?) to the Z to bear the brunt of the lifting of the head? Should make upward winding as easy as downward?

I don’t particularly want to go the power route yet if I can avoid it.

As always opinions and advice greatly appreciated.

Stupid idea? Yea or nay?

Thanks!

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

It may work. I’d test the idea with a temporary (but safe!) arrangement before any modifications to the machine itself though, especially if it’s still under guarantee.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Not stupid at all. Arceuro actually sell gas strut kits for their SX2 mills, which I believe is the next size down from the 16B/SX3.

Rod

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

As above, it is a known solution.

The gas strut suppliers (e.g. https://www.gasspringsshop.co.uk/) will configure the force the strut exerts to your specification.

To determine this, rig up a pulley, some string and weights and keep adding weights until the up and down cranking force is roughly equal.

Remember that it is not only the force you need to specify but the travel of the strut (it is no good it topping out before the mill’s travel tops out nor it bottoming out before the mill Z-axis reaches its minimum).

Look through the index to MEW as I think the topic has been covered in the magazine in the past.

[Tifa 8572Participant @tifa857287838]

Thank you all Guys!

Very much appreciated!

[KenLParticipant @kenl]

I’ve done one such modification in the past to replace the crude spring arrangement on a smaller “Chinese” bench mill. I simply measured the stroke required and guessed the force needed then ordered a couple from one of the cheap Ebay sellers. They’re so cheap you can buy a couple of different strength ones to see which works best.

Result was excellent and much better than the old spring loaded arrangement.

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

I had a SX3 until a couple of years ago and designed and made a gas strut counter balance assembly which fitted inside the column.  It all worked well and prevented snatch on the down feed so long as I wasn’t to aggressive. So I would say go for it, make sure that the struts you choose have a little more force than the downward mass.

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