Square or Round?

Computer Numeric Control - All aspects of Computer Numeric Control - machinery as well as software 

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Subject Author Date Square or Round? mweb 07-04-2006  Re: Square or Round? F. George McDuf... 07-04-2006  Re: Square or Round? Anthony 07-04-2006  Re: Square or Round? mweb 07-06-2006  Re: Square or Round? Anthony 07-06-2006
Posted by mweb on July 4, 2006, 11:40 am Please log in for more thread options Hello, All! Please correct me if I don't get the terms right, English is not my first language! On a vertical mill, which is the preferred shape of the moving Z-axis "collumn?" - square / rectangular or round and why? Your input will be appreciated With best regards, mweb. E-mail: me@home.com Posted by F. George McDuffee on July 4, 2006, 12:17 pm Please log in for more thread options >Hello, All! > >Please correct me if I don't get the terms right, English is not my first >language! > >On a vertical mill, which is the preferred shape of the moving Z-axis >"collumn?" - square / rectangular or round and why? > >Your input will be appreciated > >With best regards, mweb. E-mail: me@home.com > ===================== Everything else being equal, a square or rectangular column will tend to maintain better alignment in the x-y plane than a round column as the head is moved up and down, for example to allow tool changes. That being said, note that a well built and aligned machine with a round column with key may well maintain better alignment during head movement than a cheaper [less rigid] machine with a square/rectangular column that is not accuratly machined and square to the table [x-y] plane. Posted by Anthony on July 4, 2006, 1:19 pm Please log in for more thread options > Hello, All! > > Please correct me if I don't get the terms right, English is not my first > language! > > On a vertical mill, which is the preferred shape of the moving Z-axis > "collumn?" - square / rectangular or round and why? > > Your input will be appreciated > Too vague in your description. Is the entire column on linear rails, box ways or other moveable members, or is it a fixed column with a moveable quill within the housing? -- Anthony You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make better idiots. Remove sp to reply via email Posted by mweb on July 6, 2006, 4:25 pm Please log in for more thread options Hello, Anthony! You wrote on Tue, 04 Jul 2006 17:19:42 GMT: ??>> Hello, All! ??>> ??>> Please correct me if I don't get the terms right, English is not my ??>> first language! ??>> ??>> On a vertical mill, which is the preferred shape of the moving Z-axis ??>> "collumn?" - square / rectangular or round and why? ??>> ??>> Your input will be appreciated ??>> A> Too vague in your description. Is the entire column on linear rails, A> box ways or other moveable members, or is it a fixed column with a A> moveable quill within the housing? Basically a square or round fixed cast iron housing with a quill moving up/down. Spindle motor inside this quill. Quill is aligned within the cast iron housing by 8 adjustable preciscion bearings. What concerns me is resistance to torsion and vibration, but I guess the bearing system will determine most of that. From what has been answered so far it seems pretty 50/50. I would prefer a round quill for ease of machining. You've probably guessed that I'm constructing a cnc mill. With best regards, mweb. E-mail: me@home.com Posted by Anthony on July 6, 2006, 4:47 pm Please log in for more thread options > Basically a square or round fixed cast iron housing with a quill > moving up/down. Spindle motor inside this quill. > > Quill is aligned within the cast iron housing by 8 adjustable > preciscion bearings. What concerns me is resistance to torsion and > vibration, but I guess the bearing system will determine most of that. > > From what has been answered so far it seems pretty 50/50. I would > prefer a round quill for ease of machining. > > You've probably guessed that I'm constructing a cnc mill. Most of what I have seen of the good mills out there that have a fixed- height table, have a moveable column for the Z axis. There is no quill per `se. The spindle, spindle motor, etc are contained within this column casting. The whole casting moves on ways (linear or box). To me, this would be the sensible way to go, as you get more mass damping to the tool. -- Anthony You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make better idiots. Remove sp to reply via email Similar Threads Posted Round inserts in square-insert facemills? January 5, 2009, 9:10 am Tri-Square / Indi-Square By Request June 10, 2009, 10:22 pm bar feeds and non round bars August 26, 2008, 11:11 pm Speaking of round inserts.... January 5, 2009, 10:23 am Re: Tubing suppliers, rect. CR, round SS June 20, 2010, 9:29 pm How do you turn round cavities on a manual lathe? June 17, 2006, 7:48 am Turning a out of round aluminum tube true November 26, 2008, 7:58 pm Knurling a (not round) part profile on a mill? April 22, 2010, 8:44 pm Knurling a (not round) part profile on a mill? April 22, 2010, 8:51 pm Half-round alum, ovals -- buy or make? July 3, 2010, 11:28 am