Good price for a X-Y milling table

[peteski]

I just got an email about the sale.  $50 is a good price for this item.  I have one of these and it is good for some light milling (like loco frames).

https://modelexpo-online.com/cross-milling-machine-compound-working-table.html

[wvgca]

you have to check how much free play they have in the threads, i have two, one in the large drill press [with a fair bit of play] that is used mainly for 1/4 inch and up, and a tighter one one the small dremel drill press table [downstairs] ,that i use for milling flat car frames / bolsters  .. i run ho stuff so no milling needed on locos ..

[peteski]

you have to check how much free play they have in the threads, i have two, one in the large drill press [with a fair bit of play] that is used mainly for 1/4 inch and up, and a tighter one one the small dremel drill press table [downstairs] ,that i use for milling flat car frames / bolsters  .. i run ho stuff so no milling needed on locos ..

This X-Y table doesn't have much free play in the screws, and it also has dovetail slides.  It is plenty good enough for light milling where accuracy is not super-critical.  Like N scale frames. I now have Sherline mill, but I have in the past successfully used this X-Y table.

[wvgca]

for the price i assumed dovetails .. i assume one side adjustable and the other side fixed ??  screw threads would probably be acme thread ..

[peteski]

for the price i assumed dovetails .. i assume one side adjustable and the other side fixed ??  screw threads would probably be acme thread ..

That is correct.   Mine has hand-wheels marked in inches but I think this one might be metric.

[wvgca]

mine has graduations marked in both elglish [one side] and metric [other side] .. this was way back when canada was converting -most- everything from english to metric ... i still think and work in english units, lol

[Chris333]

Same product number
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MRIFLPO

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How to take it apart

[peteski]

Looks like even better bargain than what I  posted.

[Maletrain]

OK, I watched both videos.  They do help me understand what this gizmo is like and how to take it apart.

But, what was the point of adding radial ball bearings to the ends of the 2 travel screws where they go through the holes in the frames?  It is still just a loose fitting threaded rod going through the holes in the centers of the bearings.  I don't see how that improves anything with respect to the table motions.

What would have made more sense to me as an improvement would have been something that takes the lash out of the screw adjustments for the table position.  But, that seems like a much more difficult problem to address.

[peteski]

But, what was the point of adding radial ball bearings to the ends of the 2 travel screws where they go through the holes in the frames? 

That is to reduce friction when turning the handwheel.  Similar bearings are offered as an option on Sherline Mill's Z-axis handwheel.  It really isn't necessary for such a small (aluminum and plastic, held by screws) X-Y table, as the loads on it are not very large.  Wasted install if you ask me.  I agree that decreasing the lash would be a more worthy effort.

[wvgca]

i never opened the link, so i didn't see the table shown above  .. the ones i have are quite a bit different, and are made from cast iron ... the larger one [for the drill press in the garage] is maybe 11 or 12 inches on the long direction .. the smaller one is basically the same, but is only maybe 8 or 9 inches, and is in the dremel table downstairs ..
sorry about the confusion ..

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