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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    76
    Posts
    31

    Smile Hercus 9C cross slide milling rig.

    Hi Guys,

    Second only post here I believe.
    I have finally gotten around to properly overhauling my Hercus 9C.
    Firstly the ways were very worn, which brought it to a head. That was solved by obtaining a exchange bed from Mal at AMH https://www.australianmetalworkinghobbyist.com/store for a very reasonable price.
    The transport would have been a significant cost but luckily my son was travelling through Holbrook, and we organised an exchange on the spot.

    Next problem was the wear on the cross slide, I have managed to purchase a very large piece of Turcite for a much cheaper than most of the prices I was quoted, I will only be using a small amount of this so I will be happy to sell the balance as pieces or one part when I have finished the job. Still waiting for two 3M suppliers to get back to me regarding the supply of 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Epoxy Adhesive 1838 the correct Turcite epoxy is not obtainable in Australia, and apparently this is the next best thing. 3M say 1838 is available in Australia.

    So my next issue was machining the saddle, I knew someone with a mill, but I didn't want to impose on his time with a long setup for the job. So I came up with a rig to hold the cross slide at exactly 45 degrees so it could be easily secured and leveled on the mill bed, (it can only be machined from one side BTW). This meant 6 thou could be taken off both the vees with one pass of a roughing end mill, and it came up perfect, ready for sand blasting and Turcite as soon as I get some epoxy.
    Hercus 9 cross slide milling rig (3).jpg
    Hercus 9 cross slide milling rig (2).jpgHercus 9 cross slide milling rig (4).jpgHercus 9 cross slide milling rig (1).jpg

    As I will have no need for this rig again, it is now available for free to anyone who wishes to pick it up or arrange for pickup by someone else (Patterson lakes Vic 3197).

    I have also spent months researching lead screw material availability, and found most stuff online leading a dead ends (no stock, 6 weeks delivery, very expensive). However, I have now secured all three screws from different sources, with the cheapest being the cross slide LH screw, so cheap I bought two! I have decided after lengthy research to use all Trapezoid screws and fit magnetic DRO's by the way.

    Also for what it's worth I use a single phase squirrel cage motor for drive, virtually identical to the old 3 phase motor.
    I will post further info as the job progresses.

    I am interested to know if anyone knows of somebody making a replacement cross slide for the Hercus 9 with a flat or T slotted back end for mounting milling attachments etc.

    Cheers
    Tex

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Tennant Creek, Aust
    Age
    61
    Posts
    596

    Default

    Welcome to the forum Tex.
    I will follow your thread with interest, I am currently restoring my Hercus 9, or will be once the weather cools down a bit more.

    Ratty 05/2004 -05/07/2010 COOPER 01/08/1998-31/01/2012

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    134

    Default t slot crosslide

    Quote Originally Posted by Tex260Z View Post
    Hi Guys,

    Second only post here I believe.
    I have finally gotten around to properly overhauling my Hercus 9C.
    Firstly the ways were very worn, which brought it to a head. That was solved by obtaining a exchange bed from Mal at AMH https://www.australianmetalworkinghobbyist.com/store for a very reasonable price.
    The transport would have been a significant cost but luckily my son was travelling through Holbrook, and we organised an exchange on the spot.

    Next problem was the wear on the cross slide, I have managed to purchase a very large piece of Turcite for a much cheaper than most of the prices I was quoted, I will only be using a small amount of this so I will be happy to sell the balance as pieces or one part when I have finished the job. Still waiting for two 3M suppliers to get back to me regarding the supply of 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Epoxy Adhesive 1838 the correct Turcite epoxy is not obtainable in Australia, and apparently this is the next best thing. 3M say 1838 is available in Australia.

    So my next issue was machining the saddle, I knew someone with a mill, but I didn't want to impose on his time with a long setup for the job. So I came up with a rig to hold the cross slide at exactly 45 degrees so it could be easily secured and leveled on the mill bed, (it can only be machined from one side BTW). This meant 6 thou could be taken off both the vees with one pass of a roughing end mill, and it came up perfect, ready for sand blasting and Turcite as soon as I get some epoxy.
    Hercus 9 cross slide milling rig (3).jpg
    Hercus 9 cross slide milling rig (2).jpgHercus 9 cross slide milling rig (4).jpgHercus 9 cross slide milling rig (1).jpg

    As I will have no need for this rig again, it is now available for free to anyone who wishes to pick it up or arrange for pickup by someone else (Patterson lakes Vic 3197).

    I have also spent months researching lead screw material availability, and found most stuff online leading a dead ends (no stock, 6 weeks delivery, very expensive). However, I have now secured all three screws from different sources, with the cheapest being the cross slide LH screw, so cheap I bought two! I have decided after lengthy research to use all Trapezoid screws and fit magnetic DRO's by the way.

    Also for what it's worth I use a single phase squirrel cage motor for drive, virtually identical to the old 3 phase motor.
    I will post further info as the job progresses.

    I am interested to know if anyone knows of somebody making a replacement cross slide for the Hercus 9 with a flat or T slotted back end for mounting milling attachments etc.

    Cheers
    Tex
    hi
    mal from amh does a t slot cross slide for a hercus
    steve

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    Nice work Tex, If you need anything im not far from you in Mentone and have a pretty decent workshop. Shoot me a PM if you get stuck with anything. Ive never used Turcite before but i have imported and used Moglice (which is an all epoxy liquid product) I found that appropriate surface cleanliness and prep was vital and ended up just baking my castings for a long period to drive the oil out. 1838 is hopefully less sensitive to contaminants.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    With your Metric thread for the cross slide are you making your own nut or buying one from the supplier of the thread?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    76
    Posts
    31

    Cool Metric cross slide

    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    With your Metric thread for the cross slide are you making your own nut or buying one from the supplier of the thread?
    Hi, the LH 12 mm. x 3 mm. screw actually just arrived I am currently calculating whether I can just drill out the old thread and tap the new one in the nut.
    If not I was planning on drilling it out and pressing in a piece of bronze rod with a machined step on each end which I can fill with silver solder, then drill and tap to the new size.

    While I'm here, may as well drop a couple of tips, one of which I share with Old Tony on YouTube.
    I have found that old car gear boxes are full of great bits which are useful around the workshop, especially selector rods which make great boring bars etc.
    The other one is if you happen to an old PC on the hard rubbish collection grab it! rip of the old hard disks (lots of nice screws etc.) tear them down and extract the rare earth magnets.
    I use them on the drill press, work bench, and lathe, you will never lose a chuck Key again, guaranteed!

    HD Magnets (1).jpg HD Magnets (2).jpg
    Be warned, these suckers are strong.
    You can stick a good sized piece of bar to one.
    HD Magnets (4).jpg
    or just hang it off the end
    HD Magnets (5).jpg
    or how about a half full gas bottle!
    HD Magnets (9).jpg

    Cheers
    Tex

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    76
    Posts
    31

    Thumbs up Turcite and other tales

    Quote Originally Posted by caskwarrior View Post
    Nice work Tex, If you need anything im not far from you in Mentone and have a pretty decent workshop. Shoot me a PM if you get stuck with anything. Ive never used Turcite before but i have imported and used Moglice (which is an all epoxy liquid product) I found that appropriate surface cleanliness and prep was vital and ended up just baking my castings for a long period to drive the oil out. 1838 is hopefully less sensitive to contaminants.
    Thanks, I will keep that in mind. Not getting very far with the Epoxy at the moment, but early days yet.

    Yes I was planning on baking and sand blasting.

    Cheers
    Tex

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    76
    Posts
    31

    Thumbs up T Slot Cross slide

    Quote Originally Posted by shaper07 View Post
    hi
    mal from amh does a t slot cross slide for a hercus
    steve
    Cheers, thanks I will check it out.
    Tex

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Nice work Tex.
    I'm interested in buying the leftover Turcite when you're done as I know I need some for my surface grinder rebuild. The grinder already has it on the traverse ways - not sure if its factory or been rebuilt at some stage - but definitely well worn and damaged in places.
    I'm in no rush, give me a yell when the time comes.

    Steve

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    With your Metric thread for the cross slide are you making your own nut or buying one from the supplier of the thread?
    You might answer this one seeing the previous didn't get a look in.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    97

    Default

    I'd be interested in some turcite
    It seems you can only buy it in large sheets

    I'm about to make a riser block for my hercus mill and I want the dovetail either cast iron or another bearing material

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    76
    Posts
    31

    Smile Turcite

    Quote Originally Posted by OxxAndBert View Post
    Nice work Tex.
    I'm interested in buying the leftover Turcite when you're done as I know I need some for my surface grinder rebuild. The grinder already has it on the traverse ways - not sure if its factory or been rebuilt at some stage - but definitely well worn and damaged in places.
    I'm in no rush, give me a yell when the time comes.

    Steve
    Hi Guys,

    I will work out something on the Turcite when my job is finished (still no reply on epoxy, chasing 3M guy). Should be enough for a fair few applications.
    Not sure what happened to my post re. using gear box parts for boring bars and rare earth magnets in the machine shop? still getting my head around how all this works.
    Cheers
    Tex

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    Have you got a chance to answer my question or haven't you considered what you are going to use?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    76
    Posts
    31

    Thumbs up Cross slide nut.

    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    Have you got a chance to answer my question or haven't you considered what you are going to use?
    Hi, I did reply, but some of my posts seem to go missing.
    As I said, Because I have gone up to Trapezoid 12 mm. I believe I can just drill and re tap the old one, If not I will drill and fit a piece of plain bronze with a recess should each end and press it in and silver solder each end.

    Cheers
    Tex

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    I maybe able to supply you with a Tee Slotted Cross Slide but I would need to know before you make your nut if interested price would be under $400.

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