A word of warning to anyone watching this: wearing a dust mask rated for sanding dust like he did is not optional, it is a MUST. I don’t know the exact composition of the castinite but if there’s any silica sand in it - or if you are using a DIY mix with silica in it - and you breath the dust, you will get silicosis. The problem is that silica is totally bio-inert; so it goes into your lungs and stays there forever... preventing air from reaching the surface of your lungs. The net result is that you can’t effectively breathe.
I missed your previous flex test, so it's great to see you did record it and can do the comparison. A very welcome upgrade for not a lot of effort indeed. Great to see. Thanks for the vids - please keep them coming.
That Would indicate total flex distance. I may have used a bad choice of words. The base flexes and bows when the column is pushed or pulled. This is similar to the forces applied when machining. There was quite a bit before the epoxy fill with even the slightest force applied to the column. With the #150 of gearbox , beltdrive, motor. And pdb there will be some forces pulling the column down but with all that weight it will be in one direction.
I don’t understand your methodology, was the mag base sitting on the granite base, if yes at the base of the column what you are mesuring my not be flex but lifting of the base ( base sitting on 2 legs).
The base is heavy without the added #50 of epoxy and we are measuring very small increments .0001" There is no lifting at all. there is a great deal of flex in the base without the epoxy fill the slightest pull or push would cause deflection as much as .005" toward the center of the base. Now i will admit I did not use anything to measure the amount of force I applied to induce the deflection measured. However I can tell you after the epoxy fill I put a lot of effort trying to get it to deflect. I would say 10 x as much as before. I understand these are not clinical tests But I did use the same method before and after.
Cool Sam. I'm finishing up my gantry mill. And might do this. The ATC is on hold. I have not been able to stop tool pull out. It looks like I'll have to put a better spindle on it with a BT-30 tapper. I'm using an R8 and Tormach tools right now. Keep it up man love it! Best Matt
Sam, being that the epoxy concrete is porous, would it be a good idea to seal it with an epoxy sealer or epoxy paint to keep any coolant/oil from soaking into the castings? Nice video, glad to see them start up again.
If the e-granite is just a few thou high, it will easily compress under the weight of your Z column. Be sure to bolt it down solidly to the floor to get the benefits of your slab strength and stiffness.
I found that Yes it definitely adds Mass I feel that every time I move it. LOL The flex is also definitely improved. from what i can tell. will see if I ever get finished.
Sam what if you filled them with lead? As in melting and pouring lead. I know that would be quite impractical but wondering if lead would work even better than granite fill
No, lead is not stiff at all. He's getting absorption of vibration AND stiffness increase. Check the explanation here: www.adambender.info/post/2017/03/25/epoxy-granite-machine-frame-how-to
@Mr. Morningstar Well there you go in that case with the flex and vibration it may act like a mold and pop right out. which is no good. you want it to bond together and become one solid piece.
Mr. Morningstar Thank you for the link, interesting chart. I see lead as higher on the loss scale than epoxies and stone but indeed softer. So it would absorb vibrations better than diy granite however it is not stiff. But as long as it is enclosed in a metal frame stiffness may not be an issue? Just wondering. As far as shrinkage that’s not an issue. Lead with a little bit of tin or antimony shrinks very little. Obviously lead would not work as a stand-alone router base
Yeah these projects can get crazy if you let them 'm happy to hear your finding a place that you will be able to set up shop. yes keep me up to date. I'm on instagram pop in.
I thougt, whether I should mention it, but your last words were, be safe. So I do it: Never use gloves together with rotational tools. I know it, because I am a safety expert, and I know it, because before that i had a bad reversible accident with a milling insert in an electric drill, where the glove was caught, and my thumbnail with it. It is not lethal but very painful!
Yes you are correct I do try and emphasize safety as well as practice it myself. Holding a piece of stock while boring a hole is definitely a no no with gloves. I thought for certain someone would pick up on the fact the guard was missing and gig me for that. Lol. Unfortunately the disc would not fit with it on. Thank you for pointing the gloves out I did way the risk and I wore them to carry the base out to the truck.
A word of warning to anyone watching this: wearing a dust mask rated for sanding dust like he did is not optional, it is a MUST. I don’t know the exact composition of the castinite but if there’s any silica sand in it - or if you are using a DIY mix with silica in it - and you breath the dust, you will get silicosis. The problem is that silica is totally bio-inert; so it goes into your lungs and stays there forever... preventing air from reaching the surface of your lungs. The net result is that you can’t effectively breathe.
Yes this is nasty stuff and Outdoors is best so your well ventilated.
I missed your previous flex test, so it's great to see you did record it and can do the comparison. A very welcome upgrade for not a lot of effort indeed. Great to see. Thanks for the vids - please keep them coming.
Yes great bang for the buck.
Wouldn’t putting the mag base on the column and the indicator on the base give a more accurate measure of flex?
Possibly, but comparing the original flex setup with the same setup post-EG pour provides a like to like comparison.
That Would indicate total flex distance. I may have used a bad choice of words. The base flexes and bows when the column is pushed or pulled. This is similar to the forces applied when machining. There was quite a bit before the epoxy fill with even the slightest force applied to the column.
With the #150 of gearbox , beltdrive, motor. And pdb there will be some forces pulling the column down but with all that weight it will be in one direction.
I don’t understand your methodology, was the mag base sitting on the granite base, if yes at the base of the column what you are mesuring my not be flex but lifting of the base ( base sitting on 2 legs).
The base is heavy without the added #50 of epoxy and we are measuring very small increments .0001" There is no lifting at all. there is a great deal of flex in the base without the epoxy fill the slightest pull or push would cause deflection as much as .005" toward the center of the base. Now i will admit I did not use anything to measure the amount of force I applied to induce the deflection measured. However I can tell you after the epoxy fill I put a lot of effort trying to get it to deflect. I would say 10 x as much as before. I understand these are not clinical tests But I did use the same method before and after.
Great work Sam! Good to see your test.. and the results! Cheers Cliff
Thanks Cliff worked out well.
Cool Sam. I'm finishing up my gantry mill. And might do this. The ATC is on hold. I have not been able to stop tool pull out. It looks like I'll have to put a better spindle on it with a BT-30 tapper. I'm using an R8 and Tormach tools right now.
Keep it up man love it! Best Matt
Hi Matt
Thanks what size bellvilles are you using? I've yet to have that with my pdb setup.
Sam, being that the epoxy concrete is porous, would it be a good idea to seal it with an epoxy sealer or epoxy paint to keep any coolant/oil from soaking into the castings? Nice video, glad to see them start up again.
I dont think it will be a issue. And the casting is in primer.
muy buen mejora comparada con la original..te felicito por el trabajo que estas haciendo y te doy mi like positivo
Gracias, sí, esto resultó muy bien y agregará mucha rigidez y fuerza.
Happy for you !!!
thank you!
Thanks for posting.
You're welcome
If the e-granite is just a few thou high, it will easily compress under the weight of your Z column. Be sure to bolt it down solidly to the floor to get the benefits of your slab strength and stiffness.
Yeah maybe but it's pretty solid stuff.
In my experience the epoxy granite adds mass for dampening, not rigidity. This machine has flex due to its light weight design. Another good video.
I found that Yes it definitely adds Mass I feel that every time I move it. LOL The flex is also definitely improved. from what i can tell. will see if I ever get finished.
great job!
Thank you!
Sam what if you filled them with lead? As in melting and pouring lead. I know that would be quite impractical but wondering if lead would work even better than granite fill
No, lead is not stiff at all. He's getting absorption of vibration AND stiffness increase. Check the explanation here: www.adambender.info/post/2017/03/25/epoxy-granite-machine-frame-how-to
Well I think it would work if you had a way to form it up. I dont think it would shrink and it should provide all the same benefits.
@Mr. Morningstar Well there you go in that case with the flex and vibration it may act like a mold and pop right out. which is no good. you want it to bond together and become one solid piece.
Mr. Morningstar Thank you for the link, interesting chart. I see lead as higher on the loss scale than epoxies and stone but indeed softer. So it would absorb vibrations better than diy granite however it is not stiff. But as long as it is enclosed in a metal frame stiffness may not be an issue? Just wondering. As far as shrinkage that’s not an issue. Lead with a little bit of tin or antimony shrinks very little. Obviously lead would not work as a stand-alone router base
I would say if you have access to free lead , a way to melt , pour and make forms then go that route.
The Dykem was a waste of time but I left it in the video as an example of what not to do. The epoxy is to porous.
@Andrew Cowell it's been awhile my friend! Were ya been? The column to base will need to be trammed in and the column is already filled as well.
Yeah these projects can get crazy if you let them 'm happy to hear your finding a place that you will be able to set up shop. yes keep me up to date. I'm on instagram pop in.
I thougt, whether I should mention it, but your last words were, be safe. So I do it: Never use gloves together with rotational tools. I know it, because I am a safety expert, and I know it, because before that i had a bad reversible accident with a milling insert in an electric drill, where the glove was caught, and my thumbnail with it. It is not lethal but very painful!
Yes you are correct I do try and emphasize safety as well as practice it myself. Holding a piece of stock while boring a hole is definitely a no no with gloves. I thought for certain someone would pick up on the fact the guard was missing and gig me for that. Lol. Unfortunately the disc would not fit with it on. Thank you for pointing the gloves out I did way the risk and I wore them to carry the base out to the truck.