Hoss,

How do you think this machine compares to the RF-45 and clones?

I am going through the tedious process of making my X2 accurate. I am going to see if I can get some time on a knee mill to true up the ways and mounting surfaces so they are all square. There is no adjustment to the head other than to shim it, and the ways are not true from front to back. I have "scraped" them and made derlin gibs, that has made a huge difference in the accuracy of the XY and allowed them to be tight but not bind along the entire length of the beds.

I am too far into this machine to give up on it. I will finish building out the ATC and enclosure, and use this as a learning experience. This truly has been. But I am really looking at buying a Rong Fu 45 rather than a knock off in hopes that the finished machine work will be ready to go out of the box. I don't want to have to spend weeks messing with the ways and final fit of the parts such that they are accurate. (Spindle square to the table across entire XY)

Blarg, not meaning to bitch here, the X2 is a great learning tool. But I keep running into its flaws now that I am dialing it in. I honestly think I would be best served by taking the castings to a Knee Mill and re-facing all the machine surfaces to be true off the spindle. Anyway.....

On my next unit, is the extra capacity of the RF-45 sufficient to justify the cost difference? Its only about $500 right? How are you finding the machine?

John

The G0704 showed up on Tuesday, now the fun begins.
The crate slid off the truck, down the stairs and into the house without too much trouble.
Glad they bolted it to the skid because I ignored the "This End Up" placards.
I took the column off the base to move it around easier. The original plan was to use
the rolling cart I got for the new X2 (this replaced that) but this mill is too big and heavy.
I'll put it on the stand in my lab.
A few notes so far, the axis move .100 per/rev, it IS an R8 spindle but the drawbar doesn't
come out like a normal drawbar, will have to change that for a power drawbar.
There is 7 1/4 inches between the spindle center and the column so increasing the Y travel (6 7/8)
will be pointless unless a head spacer is added. The dovetails aren't ground but machined very smooth.
The table is huge compared to an X2 or X3, will make a nice home for a 5 inch vise.
They claim the motor is 1 HP and 750 Watts in all the literature and on the mill itself
but the motor label states 600 watt, or about .8 HP, who to believe.
Overall the fit and finish so far is far better than the X2, on par with the RF45's.
Well worth the money.
Hoss

Check out the videos.

G0704 in the house

G0704 notes

G0704 Spindle Break In

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Gosh, you've... really got some nice toys here.-Roy Batty

I put together a little chart to see how the G0704 ranks in comparison to 4 other
commonly used Milling machines.
The RF45, SX3, X3 and X2.
It compares the major features that are used when choosing a mill, at least for me,
X,Y and Z travels, Spindle Motor HP, Spindle RPM, Table size, Weight and Price.
The data and results aren't subjective, they are as advertised by Grizzly Tools and WholeSale Tool.
The G0704 ranks 2nd, below the RF45 and above the SX3.
Download the XLS below.
I own 3 of these mills now.
Hoss

File Attachment(s):
g0704 ranking.xls (16kb) downloaded 30 time(s).

Hoss attached the following image(s):

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Gosh, you've... really got some nice toys here.-Roy Batty

Hi,
I also just recieved the G0704 this week and set it up, I wanted to ask you about when it's running in reverse is the speed as high as when forward?

Well good, I think. I was afraid something was wrong. I took the time putting a meter to make sure the circut it is on had the correct power and polarity. I'm still going to call them about it though I think, the manual says for break in to run it in reverse at 2250, but I doubt I'll get a straight answer. I'll let you know what they say.

Hello Hoss and All,
I'm new here but I been following Hoss on U-Tube. I have build cnc mills based on the Sieg X-1 and I'm planing to convert an X-3 to cnc. I bought Hass' dvd and plans for the Hass Auto Tool Changer and I helped a friend build the Hoss CNC Threading Attachment.
Has anyone seen the X-3 with the long table? A Canadian company is offering it for sale but I haven't found one in the States.
Here the URL: https://www.machinetoolswarehouse.com/xcart/catalog/X3L-p-16280.html
The 27.5 inch table makes the X-3 really look good to me. I'll know more when I get the one I have here set up. Sorry if this has been discussed, I couldn't find anything but I could have missed it.
Again, hello to everyone and Hoss, keep up the good work. You have given me and my friends a lot of good information, ideas,and inspiration.
Tex Rubinowitz in Springfield, VA

I have a couple gears on order to do a pretty simple gearing mod to the mill
that should put out about 4200 rpm give or take.
The quill and Hi/Low work as original.
Could go up to 5000+ rpm with different gears but I'm playing it a little safe.
Still much better than 2250 and would be on par with the typical X2 belt drive rpms.
Just temporary to show how it can be done though, I'm yanking all the gears and Quill
for my final belt drive.
Hoss

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Gosh, you've... really got some nice toys here.-Roy Batty

Hoss,

First off I would like to offer my thanks as you have saved me so much time so far with your "discoveries", such as the proper way to do backlash compensation with Mach3.

Now I intend to institute your edge finding screen and setup.

I am even working on my own atc design loosely based on your design.

But the main thing I am doing right now is ordering a g0704 to convert.

I think you hit a sweet spot with that mill.

When are you measuring up the motor mounts? and are you doing ballscrews too?

Technoviking

Hoss you were right, when I called Grizzly they said that that had found out that is normal to run 1/2 speed in reverse. after using mine a little, I see it doesn't really matter.
I don't have any plans to add CNC to mine in the near future but I think I would like a power feed on the x-axis, I am not sure what to look for it looks like there are a few that could be adapted maybe just by drilling a couple of holes or a adapter mounting plate. Harbor Freight has one (ITEM 39745-1VGA) and something similar I saw at lathemaster, but I wasn't sure about the gear or mounting to the screw if wither of thewse would work or is there a gear that could be bought to make it work. this is my first small mill so I've not seen power feed & I'd like to hear what you think about it.
Thanks

Dan,

How do you go about determining the minimum torque rating for the stepper motors? What drives are you thinking about going with? Gecko?

Thanks,
Duane