Round column milling machine modifications

I made a modication to afford a more repeatable location of the milling head on a round column Warco economy mill. I also fitted a stop to the cross slide (Y axis) as the machine does not have one. I also made a shorter chucking arrangement so that changing to drills of different lengths is both quicker and less problematic than using the supplied 2MT taper shank chuck that came with the mill.

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I've considered doing what Edwin has done to locate the head. I think that in addition to the screws at the top and bottom of the rack, putting pins through the rack and column about 4 inches apart to stabilize the plot. At each pin location I'd jack the head to zero the head location as shown in the video before drilling for the pin.
As Edwin notes, the problem usually encountered is changing the tooling and there is no room to get it in or out. Therefore, the more important thing usually is to be able to crank the head up to change tools and coming back down to very nearly the same place and still have the head zeroed on the work.
Cheers from NC/USA

[Mitch]

This video is very helpful. Mine has the holes for stops, but its missing all the peices. I did not know what it was for. Now I do. Thanks a bunch.

[RustyInventions-wzir]

Very nicely done. A solution. I like a good plan and repurposed machinery and tools

[johnkinnane]

G'day Edwin and greetings from Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺 I just happened to stumble across your channel and like you my interests are in stationary steam engines and currently I'm building a No 7 horizontal steam engine, however I found how you explained how you were trying to get the head of the mill ridged, apart from the mill being 25 us old is amazing that the tolerances were so low. Thank you for filming this, regards John

[richharr]

I had the same rf30 mill, since switched to a round column rf40 (geared tilting head) the dro really is the key. I added a 3 axis on my old one after getting frustrated with moving the head. I added one to my rf40 before I even used it. Just zero the dro, go to work, move the head zero again. Also a er collet set can do everything you need without pulling the arbor (other than a large face mill or boring bar) my r8/er32 almost never comes out of the mill, the clamping range covers every drill bit and mill

[crazypj]

I wondered if the rack would work to prevent head rotating, now I know it will.
It's a much more elegant solution than the round or square bar off to one side

[DunderOz]

I have read in comments of other similar videos, that some people use a Lazer pointer for keeping the head aligned.

[eegaugh]

Thanks for your down to earth approach to this machine!

[dozza]

Very useful video Edwin, cheers. I've just picked up a similar machine to yours and have been mulling over how to sort the play in the round column. I can't really foresee a situation where i where i will be rotating the head out of choice so i'm planning on tig welding the rack to the column top and bottom by 3/4 inches and fixing it in place. From what i can tell by looking at my machine is that the movement is caused by the rack moving side to side when under force so hopefully this will sort it out. I may even braze it at a couple of points in the middle to make sure it isn't going anywhere. Good shout on the brass shims too. Thanks for sharing

[fredboat]

Thanks, Enjoyed the video. I have basically the same machine, I bought mine used in 1994 and have rebuilt it several times. Added DRO and power feed years ago. Later from Texas usa.

[conkcat]

Like the rotation mod using shims on the rack, I have just “obtained “ the Axminster white version of the mill, with very very little use. However I need to address the head. Thanks for the idea to fix the rack. This will be my preferred first mod, I may however make guides and bolt these to the upper and lower section of the head assembly. This way I have a little wiggle room for very small adjustment .
Good work sir.

[BensWorkshop]

Many thanks for the tips. I am thinking of buying one of those mills.

[batmanacw]

I screwed my rack to my column and each time I move the head height I push the head to the right and I get within a couple thousandths. I tested with a long bar as well but I did it while I was aligning the rack before attaching it.

[dwightcarlson]

If you want to see another approach, check out some mods which Winkie did to address this issue i.e regarding preventing the head from losing position when raising or lowering.
Great idea about the modification to make a more compact chuck👍👍👍

[SimonHollandfilms]

excellent....im considering a warco round column major you were me....would you buy a round or a square column new mill?

[philleeson]

Great video. I have the same mill with the problems you've mentioned.
I will be carrying out the mods as you have.
Great tip to centre an old chuck👍.
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.