Safety Shield / Guard on Busy Bee Tools Model CT129N Milling Machine.

[dgenge]

I want to share my experience of the 1st few days with my new mill. I thought my on/off switch was broken as sometimes it would stay on (normal) and sometimes not! I did the usual checks like take apart the control panel and look for loose wire, etc. Couldn't figure it out, must be another quality Chinese product...

Anyhow, I was so frustrated that I contacted the company and they said it could be the micro-switch on the clear plastic safety shield just in front of the spindle. Sure enough thats what it was. Nothing in the flimsy manual mentioned anything about this safety device. To look at it you would never have thought there was a switch attached to the post mounting this guard. lesson learned.

Darren

 

[kf2qd]

I know this is not supposed to be said, but What safety shield??? Hmmm, I guess mine came off sometime in the first 5 minutes and has not been seen from again....

 

[dgenge]

Mine will be coming off soon also, It's to small for any good it might do. Which mill do you own?

 

[Tin Falcon]

That is a new one to me as well. I can see a micro switch on the door of a cnc enclosure. But a the "guard" on a mini mill . what will the lawyers come up with next. That is along the lines of " This machine is to be used only by a professional trained machinist" this line in the manual for my x-2 mini mill ,which I have yet to see in any professional machine shop. I am professionally trained so I can use mine . How about you ????
Tin

 

[dgenge]

I just couldn't believe, there was nothing referencing that switch in any literature. I am a self-taught machinist, I read manuals for pleasure, I am weird that way. I love to tinker in the good old American way... Darren Check out my BLOG.. http://ct129n.blogspot.com/

 

[Tin Falcon]

unfortunately not really surprised.
They stuff the pages with leagalese like do not use this machine for stirring drinks and then leave out useful info that the owner operator may realty need.
tin

 

[dgenge]

Very funny" Do not use this machine to still drinks" ... So what mill do you own?

 

[Tin Falcon]

I have an x-2 from micromark the stirring drink warning is not actually in the manual but I have seen some real silly stuff.
Tin

 

[Philjoe5]

Grizzly sells an equivalent of the Busy Bee mill here as the G0704. When I got mine home, I went through the manual for setting it up and attempted to power it up. I had taken the safety shield off SO I COULD SEE WHAT I WAS DOING at the business end and sure enough no go. Tried a bunch of stuff but still no power. So I did the same thing - called tech service at Grizzly. He asked me if the safety shield was in place. That's when I discovered the safety interlock on the shield.

Not to worry I said. We home shop machinist types never let such obstacles stand in the way of progress. Take the shield off of the rod, attach a small lever to the rod, turn it in position to satisfy the safety device and bingo - you have a clear view of what your cutting tool is doing.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[dgenge]

Phil,
Did any of the literature from Grizzly say anything about the safety?
Check out my Blog which includes your Grizzly model, you are welcome to post if you have made any mods to your mill..
Darren

http://ct129n.blogspot.com/

Grizzly sells an equivalent of the Busy Bee mill here as the G0704. When I got mine home, I went through the manual for setting it up and attempted to power it up. I had taken the safety shield off SO I COULD SEE WHAT I WAS DOING at the business end and sure enough no go. Tried a bunch of stuff but still no power. So I did the same thing - called tech service at Grizzly. He asked me if the safety shield was in place. That's when I discovered the safety interlock on the shield.

Not to worry I said. We home shop machinist types never let such obstacles stand in the way of progress. Take the shield off of the rod, attach a small lever to the rod, turn it in position to satisfy the safety device and bingo - you have a clear view of what your cutting tool is doing.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[Philjoe5]

Darren,
No mention of the safety shield safety interlock that I can find in my manual. In fact, in the troubleshooting section under "motor does not start" no mention of the safety shield position is made. I know this is a new machine in the states so Grizzly will update the manual as it gets feedback, as they have in the past.

I did visit your blog and I believe I posted a few comments as well as 6/1at650. You improved the x axis gib locks right?

Phil

 

[dgenge]

From that comment your not sure, I must amend that. Yes! I feel that the mod I made is an improvement over stock. And they don't get bent when you move in the Y axis... The know size gives you the right amount of torque to get the job done. Still working on the y axis. will finish 1st one and trial it before making 2nd one.
Thanks for any input, much appreciated. Now post a pic of your mill, if you have one.
Darren

Darren,
No mention of the safety shield safety interlock that I can find in my manual. In fact, in the troubleshooting section under "motor does not start" no mention of the safety shield position is made. I know this is a new machine in the states so Grizzly will update the manual as it gets feedback, as they have in the past.

I did visit your blog and I believe I posted a few comments as well as 6/1at650. You improved the x axis gib locks right?

Phil

 

[Philjoe5]

Darren,
Sorry for the misleading comment about the gib locks. With the limited use I've made of my machine I can see the OEM locks will often get in the way. Your improvement looks like just the thing to avoid that problem.

I don't have a picture of my mill but here's one from the Grizzly website:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Drill-Mill-with-Stand/G0704

BTW do you have any trouble locking tools into R8 collets? I believe the way they have this setup is to avoid overtightening R8 tooling in the spindle. Trouble is there's no spindle lock so tightening tooling to my satisfaction in collets is not to my liking though it seems to work OK.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[dgenge]

Thats my only beef with the BB model its MT3 not R8. I would have a much better choice with R8. I should be happy because it used to have a MT2.
So far I have had no problem getting tooling as BB in Canada has a pretty good selection. Thank god for online also.
Darren

Darren,
Sorry for the misleading comment about the gib locks. With the limited use I've made of my machine I can see the OEM locks will often get in the way. Your improvement looks like just the thing to avoid that problem.

I don't have a picture of my mill but here's one from the Grizzly website:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Drill-Mill-with-Stand/G0704

BTW do you have any trouble locking tools into R8 collets? I believe the way they have this setup is to avoid overtightening R8 tooling in the spindle. Trouble is there's no spindle lock so tightening tooling to my satisfaction in collets is not to my liking though it seems to work OK.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[Andy K]

Trouble is there's no spindle lock so tightening tooling to my satisfaction in collets is not to my liking though it seems to work OK.

On the CT129N, if you lower the quill by about half an inch, you will see a slot to the right of front-centre. Rotate the spindle until its slot lines up, then you can slide something in there to hold the spindle while you tighten or loosen the drawbar. I find an 8mm hex wrench to be ideal. Is the Grizzly unit different in this respect?

Andy.

 

[Omnimill]

What safety shield??? Hmmm, I guess mine came off sometime in the first 5 minutes and has not been seen from again....

Yep, same here!

Vic.