Fitting digital readouts to an old Centec milling machine

[@pjofurey6239]

Enjoyed this, built my 2b about 14 years ago , always fancied a DRO , this might be the enthusiasm booster I needed!

[@LozHarrop]

go for it mate.

[@jonsworkshop]

Well you made that look easy Loz, embarrassing me for needing 6 thirty minute episodes! Cracking job mate, well done. Cheers, Jon

[@LozHarrop]

Well Jon your set up is way more pro mate but for my wing it milling work it will do me. cheers 👍

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Hi, I have just found your channel. We have just bought a Centec 2B and did a very brief into to it in a workshop tour video recently. Your video about adding DRO's is great and given us lots of ideas, thanks

[@LozHarrop]

Hi There, Yes great addition to to mill I have since moved my motor again and fitted it to the side of the mill which has been a big improvement the 2b is a more versatile mill than the 2a, you should check out lathes.co.uk there is good info on your mill there as well as most of the old british tooling like surface grinders and lathes etc. cheers

[@myoldlandy]

I have recently purchased a Centec 2B. They are a superb machine. I hadn't thought about a DRO but I may do now!

[@LozHarrop]

Cheers Mate really like the 2b, you should do it low cost and works great.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Your fearless nature of learning new stuff is inspiring Loz. Now if I could remember why I forgot to keep being like that.✌

[@LozHarrop]

never too old to learn mate cheers

[@davidmaynard9361]

Loz, your enthusiasm and innnovation have fired me to use your method for the DRO on my recently acquired 2A. My motor is side mounted, and I've changed to 3ph 3/4HP with VFD - I do want to use reverse! I think I'll put a scale on the Knee as well - utilising knee stop t slot.

[@LozHarrop]

Cheers David, yea its a great mod mate, good idea on the knee dro. a week or so back I moved the motor and mounted it to the rh side of the mill. I just could not get the belt aligned on the two pulleys. So glad i did its much quieter now and runs great on a shorter belt. Must do an update on it soon. Cheers.

[@LawrenceButcher]

Excellent video, many thanks. I am in the process of refurbing a Centec 2A and I am definitely going to use your solution or the quill DRO. Great work.

[@LozHarrop]

thanks mate yes the least damaging solution I could come up with but it works great.

[@LawrenceButcher]

@@LozHarrop What did you do in terms of replacement spindle bearings? I've found just standard Timkens, but had no joy finding proper precision ones? I currently can't seem to get less than 1.5 thou runout with them on the spindle bore.

[@pearcemachineshop5200]

Lovely little mill that reminds of my first one. Al.

[@jameslamb4573]

Thanks mate! Brought a tear to my eye.

[@LozHarrop]

My pleasure mate !

[@jameslaurencesmith7537]

loz i need a vertical head for my centrec 2 canth thou help regards laurence

[@ezeerbanmurd]

I changed the motor of my Centec 2Awith the help of modified car jack which is a safe procedure.

[@LozHarrop]

Good idea mate

[@davidmaynard9361]

Loz If you do ever want to add the rapid traverse assembly to the X axis, you will probably have to change the Y axis DRO - the gear for the attachment will interfere with the read head - I'll have to take mine off!

[@LozHarrop]

cheers mate I think it too much faff disengaging the half nut to use it mine is pretty worn so i locked it up tight.

[@carllie4848]

Looks very good. You have a ER32 COLLETTHOLDER MT2. Using a metricdrawbar? You changered it from inch to metric? I belive the Original drawbar is inch? Best regards from Norway Carl Erik ( I sent you the same question on another of your Centecmill video:-).

[@LozHarrop]

Hi Carl, yes I re cut the thread on the old bar to metric, it is not clean but holds fine I will make another drawbar though. Cheers.

[@jameslaurencesmith7537]

hey up loz .. my centec 2 table has a lump out of it pn the nearest "t " slot two inch in from the left i was thinking of doing half a turn so its two inch in on the farthest slot on the right hand side .. i also bought in a moment of madness one of them red and green milling table tops its got forward front an back an left an right but no up an down i was thinking of changhing this and dobbin it on the centec if it fitts ! if not make it fit! ! thus save ing me a wad of money,, plus the inner satisfaction of solving the problem ... i can be sure this top i fit will be inferior to what was fitted before but unless i see on ebay what i want fir pennies then thats whats going to happen ... loz.. this riser i. m making ,,, you can either have the short version or the long version ,, the short version has a 4" rise and 8" length. the long version is the same rise but 16" long enable ing the vertical head to used without the need to take the horizontal bit of [ hope this makes sense ] and dont get into a flap .. i know of plenty of aluminium stock holders who will bend over backwards to help me ,,, let me know if its the long or short version and i will take it from there you sound local i live in notts derby area. and have transport at my disposal ... get shut of that covid ..!! i have lost more friends thanks to covid tha a little well loz be good regards laurence

[@LozHarrop]

Hi Mate, might be an option to have a piece tig welded onto the broken table? if possible? you could then remount the table and use the mill to machine the piece to fit. Just a thought. very kind of you to offer the riser piece, I only use the vertical head and have no plans at all to use the horizontal so I suppose the 8 inch long one would be perfect. Thanks, got over the crappy covid now it was just like really bad flu but energy was totally sapped for about 3 weeks after. Im in southport below blackpool so not too far from you if you ever want to come over and study my mill etc you are more then welcome. Regards Loz.

[@bigunone]

Cool

[@milobearfrenchie]

That is one cool fucking set up but why was your voice so raspy at the beginning?...🤔😂 only teasing mate glad the vfd has come to use 👍🤝