RongFu RF 25 Drill/Mill

[bazmak]

When your in Melbourne check out AUSEE machine tools they have a large showroom.Bought my Sc4 lathe from them got a good deal with lots of freebies
bought quite a few accessories.Service and price are very good

 

[Blogwitch]

Gus,

The choice has to be yours as it is your pocket money we are trying to get you to spend, but a bit of forwards planning can save a great deal of grief and cash later.

As you know, I had an old RF machine, which was MT3 and my new one (small BP clone) came with an R8 quill.
I took any tooling that could be used on my lathe (MT3 tailstock) plus any tooling that had a replaceable shank, drill chucks etc., and they were re-shanked to R8. What was left over was given away to the chap who bought my old mill as a sweetener, and he was very grateful.

The R8 is a wonderful system, there is no need to white knuckle anything when tightening up, and the shanks release from the spindle with the lightest touch from a lead persuader.

I bought myself a full metric/imperial ER32 collet chuck system as soon as the machine was installed, but soon found I was running out of throat space when attempting to machine large items or use my dividing head with chuck fitted in the upright position (and I have a 14" throat on my machine), so I changed over to a full metric and imperial R8 collet set, which all in came to about the same price as the ER set.
This gave me back the missing 2" to 3" throat space that the ER collet system had stolen from my machine, plus the cutters ran more rigidly and accurate. For twist drills I just use a normal drill chuck or if a full sized drill, eg 7 or 8mm, the R8 collets.
The ER collets didn't go to waste, I use them on my lathe nose, RT nose and my sharpening systems for larger milling cutters.

There is one weak point with the R8 system, and that is the locator pin that the R8 shank uses to locate itself inside the quill.
It is a fairly good bet that sometime in the future, that will snap off.
Unlike other people who say it is perfectly OK to run the machine without that pin, that is an old wives tale, it isn't. You run the risk of jamming an R8 spindle up inside the quill and all the damage which that entails.
Find out as soon as you get the machine how that pin is replaced and change it as soon as it happens. Mine was just a dog nosed 5mm grub screw and took about half an hour to replace, mine snapped off after about 3 years use. If they are cheap enough to buy as a spare, get one, or a couple, and keep them safe until they are needed.

This is how it is replaced on my machine, yours might be similar

Plus if you need to make or check something out on an R8 spindle, this picture gives you everything you need to know.

Better to be prepared beforehand than when you are panicking when something goes wrong.

If you need to see some R8 tooling that is a little special, then let me know and I can take some piccies for you.


John

 

[goldstar31]

I also endorse John's ideas.
As I have mentioned several times, I am fully in favour of standardisation whenever it is possible. I'm still on Myford 'nose', No2 Morse Taper etc as I have retained a very sizeable collection of accessories which fit in that 'envelope' Earlier in the year, I bought a half as old as me Myford ML10 with its own quite sizeable additions and only yesterday, I bought an Arrand small boring head with a No2 MT shank which arrived with a GH Thomas 4 way tool holder to fit either machine. Whilst it is probably true that this isn't the best system, it is one that would be extortionate to change. It works and has stood the test of time.

Again, I'm old enough to be whole heartedly in favour of Imperial measurement. Again, it is not for everyone. I might well have to swop about from pounds sterling, into Euros, into HongKong dollars and lately the Fijian variety but if you are betwixt and between in a new investment , I'd certainly commend what others are recommending!

Meantime

My best wishes

Norman

 

[goldstar31]

In a necessary break from never ending office work, I went onto Model Engineering Clearing House. I've got quite a lot of associates there and it is different and interesting. Whilst I finally bought an Align power feed at the beginning of the year, there is an interesting dialogue on both a cheap(er) alternative and a dog clutch- which continues to fascinate me.

It is certainly worth a look or more.

Again, the interesting 'MadModder' site has a guy who is currently asking members what he needs to go CNC on his small mill. I've asked in various places and never received what was to me, a fully informed reply.

Again, worth a moment or two.

Cheers

Norman

 

[Wizard69]

In a necessary break from never ending office work, I went onto Model Engineering Clearing House. I've got quite a lot of associates there and it is different and interesting. Whilst I finally bought an Align power feed at the beginning of the year, there is an interesting dialogue on both a cheap(er) alternative and a dog clutch- which continues to fascinate me.

It is certainly worth a look or more.

Again, the interesting 'MadModder' site has a guy who is currently asking members what he needs to go CNC on his small mill. I've asked in various places and never received what was to me, a fully informed reply.

This is probably due to the no right answer problem. CNC machines come in so many varieties and configurations that it is very difficult to answer the "what's needed" question. You really need a running conversation to answer the question but every system consists of mechanical, electrical and software components.

Again, worth a moment or two.

Cheers

Norman

 

[goldstar31]

I have no option but to mumble an agreement. After writing, a 'shopping list' was created on 'MadModder' which went some way to assist.

Unfortunately, the next problem is the difficulty suggested in both being able to use CNC and manual control.

Might I now be permitted to mumble 'silently'?

However, there is some good news. An EvilWay ad appeared locally. I put two and two together and realised that this was a four way tool holder. After a quick headscratch- he was quoting metric, it was a George Thomas design and probably originated from Hemingwaykits at one time. It had eluded me because it had a hardened ratchet. which I doubted was impossible to construct. Well, by me.

CNC was attempted some years back on my mill/drill. It was rather more expensive than I could then afford and to make matters worse, even the dummy run to test the thing created lost part revolutions.

The English idiom is 'Once bitten twice shy'

Meantime

Kind Regards

Norman

 

[gus]

When your in Melbourne check out AUSEE machine tools they have a large showroom.Bought my Sc4 lathe from them got a good deal with lots of freebies
bought quite a few accessories.Service and price are very good

OK .Will do.

 

[gus]

Gus,

The choice has to be yours as it is your pocket money we are trying to get you to spend, but a bit of forwards planning can save a great deal of grief and cash later.

As you know, I had an old RF machine, which was MT3 and my new one (small BP clone) came with an R8 quill.
I took any tooling that could be used on my lathe (MT3 tailstock) plus any tooling that had a replaceable shank, drill chucks etc., and they were re-shanked to R8. What was left over was given away to the chap who bought my old mill as a sweetener, and he was very grateful.

The R8 is a wonderful system, there is no need to white knuckle anything when tightening up, and the shanks release from the spindle with the lightest touch from a lead persuader.

I bought myself a full metric/imperial ER32 collet chuck system as soon as the machine was installed, but soon found I was running out of throat space when attempting to machine large items or use my dividing head with chuck fitted in the upright position (and I have a 14" throat on my machine), so I changed over to a full metric and imperial R8 collet set, which all in came to about the same price as the ER set.
This gave me back the missing 2" to 3" throat space that the ER collet system had stolen from my machine, plus the cutters ran more rigidly and accurate. For twist drills I just use a normal drill chuck or if a full sized drill, eg 7 or 8mm, the R8 collets.
The ER collets didn't go to waste, I use them on my lathe nose, RT nose and my sharpening systems for larger milling cutters.

There is one weak point with the R8 system, and that is the locator pin that the R8 shank uses to locate itself inside the quill.
It is a fairly good bet that sometime in the future, that will snap off.
Unlike other people who say it is perfectly OK to run the machine without that pin, that is an old wives tale, it isn't. You run the risk of jamming an R8 spindle up inside the quill and all the damage which that entails.
Find out as soon as you get the machine how that pin is replaced and change it as soon as it happens. Mine was just a dog nosed 5mm grub screw and took about half an hour to replace, mine snapped off after about 3 years use. If they are cheap enough to buy as a spare, get one, or a couple, and keep them safe until they are needed.

This is how it is replaced on my machine, yours might be similar

Plus if you need to make or check something out on an R8 spindle, this picture gives you everything you need to know.

Better to be prepared beforehand than when you are panicking when something goes wrong.

If you need to see some R8 tooling that is a little special, then let me know and I can take some piccies for you.


John

Hi John,

Thanks. Sometime ago was surfing the net and saw MT and R8 Adapters.Initially there was not much interest. With the Sakai Mini Mill I was very limited and restricted in tooling. Soon as I get back will get started in the tool hunt. Had a great time mixing with locals and having local food here in South Thailand. Language not a problem.

 

[Hopper]

Hi Barry,

Some years back when I was an employed high flier by Ingersoll-Rand,I took my wife to Adelaide. Very good Aussie Food and HongKong Chinese Food too.
Loved their baked oysters.

Hey Gus, when you were high flying around to Adelaide for Ingersoll-Rand, did you come across these for babies?


They are the old XL series compressors in the boiler house at the old Chrysler (later Mitsubishi) factory in Adelaide. I worked in the boiler house as an apprentice in the 1970s and spent my first post-apprenticeship year in there running the boilers and compressors. The tea-break/lunch table was right next to number four compressor - so it's no wonder I have major hearing loss today! We thought we were too tough for hearing protection in those days. Doh!

But lovely old machines with their row of sight feed oilers on the side. I think they came secondhand from Detroit when the factory was built in the 1960s. Don't know where they went when the factory was shut down and mostly sold off in the past 10-15 years though.

 

[gus]

Hey Gus, when you were high flying around to Adelaide for Ingersoll-Rand, did you come across these for babies?


They are the old XL series compressors in the boiler house at the old Chrysler (later Mitsubishi) factory in Adelaide. I worked in the boiler house as an apprentice in the 1970s and spent my first post-apprenticeship year in there running the boilers and compressors. The tea-break/lunch table was right next to number four compressor - so it's no wonder I have major hearing loss today! We thought we were too tough for hearing protection in those days. Doh!

But lovely old machines with their row of sight feed oilers on the side. I think they came secondhand from Detroit when the factory was built in the 1960s. Don't know where they went when the factory was shut down and mostly sold off in the past 10-15 years though.

Hi Hopper.

From 1969------1980 ,I did turn-key bids and installations and start-ups of dozens of XLEs in the region. Imagine a young grad with a wee bitty hands on experience supervising installations and startups. XLEs will last and last forever and ever given the dued maintainance. Also installed big Centacs.
From 1978---------2001 I was the Operations Manager of Small Compressor Plant in Singapore. I then knew nothing about machining other than the basics taught in Trade School. Joined Metal Box 1965 as a trainee and was sponsored to do Higher National Dip. Mech.Engineeering part time evenings.
Ingersoll-Rand Singapore took me off the street and gave me a job which lasted till 2001. My Boss is Aussie and now retired in Bandanoon. Been a great boss and great company to worked for!!! He went around selling the single stage ESVs and ESHs which seems to last forever and ever.

Take care.

 

[Niels Abildgaard]

Hej Gert

Use the mail system for private talk in danish.

 

[gus]

Hej Gert

Use the mail system for private talk in danish.

Hi Niels,

I have yet to learn Danish.

 

[Niels Abildgaard]

Hello Gus
You will not find it to difficult to learn.
English is just a simplified form of danish.
English come from Angel (Anglo Saxon) that is a peninsula between Flensburg and Schleswig under danish rule until 1864.
Anglo Saxons being primitive people, gave up the three sexes of other german languages and also the crazy verbal conjugations .
Only the s in third person singularis remain and will disappear very soon.
Did You get a quote from the manufacturer of the 113 kg BF25?
Wonderfull machine.
I love it.
https://www.hbm-machines.com/produc...etaalfreesmachinesssub/hbm-bf-25-freesmachine
http://maxnovopower.en.made-in-chin...d-Milling-Machine-mm-BF25-Super-MAXNOVO-.html