MACSON M-64 Surface Grinder Rebuild.

Hey guys,

So thought I would post a little thread on my MACSON M-64 surface grinder rebuild.

Bought this bad boy in 2018 off a guy way up in the blue mountains, took me almost 2 hours to get to his house as most of the roads were dirt and scetchy.

Got it home reassembled it to find it was a bit sloppy in the axis, loud wining spindle noise and the motor was on the way out, but it was working so I just put up with it.

Fast forward 6 months and the Z axis failed spectacularly whilst in use and the spindle dropped onto the part I was surfacing...

Ok now it's time to rebuild and make this little machine "great again".

So ball screws were installed into the Y and Z axis with roller and thrust bearings, new end caps had to be machined for the Z axis.
The X axis shaft was cooked and very worn so the bronze bushings were removed and table was machined to suit roller and thrust bearings.
Spindle housing machined to accommodate proper oil seals for leak free performance ;0).
Original counterweight remade to make raising the Z axis easier and a whole heap of other mods done to make this a little better.

Allot of thought and planning had to go into this to get everything to fit nice and tight with clearance, all ball screws, bearing shells, brackets and mounting hardware was all custom made for this little machine.

It has taken me a bit over a year on and off (mostly off lol) to get this done but I'm happy to say all I'm waiting for now is my nickel plated parts to be finished and it will be humming once again.

Hope you find this interesting.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8887a57027.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8cd2098453.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...be1b1cb5f1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...49195841bd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0a6bf32f66.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8e110f6b69.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...325ab9760b.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by John_Dilinger

Hey guys,

So thought I would post a little thread on my MACSON M-64 surface grinder rebuild.
....

Got it home reassembled it to find it was a bit sloppy in the axis, loud wining spindle noise and the motor was on the way out, but it was working so I just put up with it.


Original counterweight remade to make raising the Z axis easier and a whole heap of other mods done to make this a little better.

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Hi John,

I have a few questions as I have one of these.

1) Where did you get that this is a model M-64 from? I didn't know they had a designation.
2) Where you able to get new bearings for the spindle?
3) You mention a counter weight my grinder has a pack of 12 springs. How much does your counterweight weigh?

Regards

Eric

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lamestllama

Hi John,

I have a few questions as I have one of these.

1) Where did you get the model M-64 from?
2) Where you able to get new bearings for the spindle?
3) You mention a counter weight my grinder has a pack of 12 springs. How much does your counterweight weigh?

Regards

Eric

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Hi Eric,

Attached is the sales advert for the MACSON surface grinder, on the advert it references the grinder as a M-64.

I replaced the spindle bearings with high precision NSK units.

So it's not so much a counter weight but a gas strut system where the old spring packs were, still uses the cable though.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b8c0e53449.jpg

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Here are a couple of shots on how I converted the axis to ballscrew.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0d95605005.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...52f7af6b5e.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by John_Dilinger

Hi Eric,

Attached is the sales advert for the MACSON surface grinder, on the advert it references the grinder as a M-64.

I replaced the spindle bearings with high precision NSK units.

So it's not so much a counter weight but a gas strut system where the old spring packs were, still uses the cable though.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b8c0e53449.jpg

Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

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John,

Thanks for the advert. I am glad bearings are still available.
Any chance of some details of the gas strut conversion?

Eric

Gas strut is a fantastic idea.

1 axis DROhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...31351bafdc.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bb37f7fc60.jpg

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So finally installed the NVR switch, wired it up and got it working...

It is so quiet, spindle spins at 3800rpmhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...01c5c84ee9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b4dbd094e5.jpg

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John

It's looking fantastic. Is there any chance of you giving a few details on the gas strut modification. I am well aware my spring pack hasn't got enough pull any more.

Eric

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lamestllama

John

It's looking fantastic. Is there any chance of you giving a few details on the gas strut modification. I am well aware my spring pack hasn't got enough pull any more.

Eric

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So I used 2x tension gast struts 200kn each. Set it up the same as how the spring packs were setup with custom mounting points. Then used stainless wire cable to connect from top of strut system over the brass pulley wheel and secured it to the bottom of the Z axis.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by John_Dilinger

So I used 2x tension gast struts 200kn each. Set it up the same as how the spring packs were setup with custom mounting points. Then used stainless wire cable to connect from top of strut system over the brass pulley wheel and secured it to the bottom of the Z axis.

Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

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John,

Surely not 200kn ? that would be around 20 tons of force each. A model number on the gas struts would be useful. I am interested to know how you went about tensioning the whole thing. It's not easy even with aged springs.

Eric

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John_Dilinger

So finally installed the NVR switch, wired it up and got it working...

It is so quiet, spindle spins at 3800rpmhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...01c5c84ee9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b4dbd094e5.jpg

Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

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Hi I have been wondering if there is any downside to using a single phase motor? What sort of surface finish are you getting?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lamestllama

Hi I have been wondering if there is any downside to using a single phase motor? What sort of surface finish are you getting?

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I don't see a downside at all, the surface finish is quite good.

A 60 grit wheel was used to get that finish, if I use my 120 grit or 230 diamond wheel its flawless.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8add9b39b1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...22d3a044e3.jpg

Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John_Dilinger

So I used 2x tension gast struts 200kn each. Set it up the same as how the spring packs were setup with custom mounting points. Then used stainless wire cable to connect from top of strut system over the brass pulley wheel and secured it to the bottom of the Z axis.


Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

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I can't see where the gas struts would fit. Please help. Any chance of a pic or sketch of location and details of the original spring pack as I haven't had the courage to dismantle my working machine yet. I use a pool pump motor -single phase 2600 rpm and original flat belt and have found no problems in many years of use.
Also, can anyone explain why they are so under valued when they out perform cheap imports that cost around $ 4000 Au.
Thanks in advance.