A candidate for a tube notcher

[JeepinDoug]

I have this extra machine that gets no use in the shop so I thought it might be a decent candidate for a tubing notcher.
It's a Hudson cam shaper for swiss screw machine cams.
The table top is fixed but a XY axis table will mount easily along with a swivel vice and v-block jaws, that's the easy part.
The head only cycles up and down. I've never had it apart but I'm assuming it has a cam, a disc with an off-set pin and bearing. Hopefully I would be able to remove the disc and make a coupler for a roughing endmill. The rpms on this machine are slow, not sure about the actual rpm or variable speed. It has a bottom mounted motor and pulley drive up the head.
If I could convert it to straight 220v from 3 phase this thing would rock.
I'm mulling over the idea of spending the money on a different motor, the thing's so old I'm not sure if it could be wired for 220v single.
Any thoughts before I start ripping the head apart?
http://www.crawltech.com/albums/album159/Hudson_shpr_3.jpg

[lilscorpion]

Neat idea...kinda sounds like you're gonna basically buy every part for the notcher and just use the donor for the regidity and table part.

I guess my initial thought (obviously without seeing it in person) is that it might end up being more work to convert it than just building one from scratch. My second thought is that if that it looks to be not as bad then I'd do it...I'm dying for a notcher like that!

:beer:

[lsloth]

Great idea. I have been playing around with ideas to make my own notcher using and endmill. Do you guys think it would be better to bring the tool to the tube or bring the tube into the tool?

[PTSchram]

I'd think that with the ability to move the head in a given pattern, you could cut cams to move the tubing and use a 1/2" mill bit to cut any size of pipe. IIRC, there is a company that makes a notcher that works in this fashion.

[JeepinDoug]

A place I used to work for had a Deckle mill, it was set-up much like this Hudson but gave you the option of using a swivel and fix 90* mill head. We're thinking of tossing this machine for the scrap, which is nothing but before that I want to see if it's worth the effort for converting.

[big97redtj]

I have this extra machine that gets no use in the shop so I thought it might be a decent candidate for a tubing notcher.
It's a Hudson cam shaper for swiss screw machine cams.
The table top is fixed but a XY axis table will mount easily along with a swivel vice and v-block jaws, that's the easy part.
The head only cycles up and down. I've never had it apart but I'm assuming it has a cam, a disc with an off-set pin and bearing. Hopefully I would be able to remove the disc and make a coupler for a roughing endmill. The rpms on this machine are slow, not sure about the actual rpm or variable speed. It has a bottom mounted motor and pulley drive up the head.
If I could convert it to straight 220v from 3 phase this thing would rock.
I'm mulling over the idea of spending the money on a different motor, the thing's so old I'm not sure if it could be wired for 220v single.
Any thoughts before I start ripping the head apart?
http://www.crawltech.com/albums/album159/Hudson_shpr_3.jpg


A ariable frequency drive can be your friend in this case....... automationdirect.com has decent inexpensive units.

[JeepinDoug]

I'll wait on the VFD until I have a Bridgeport at home, then the tube notcher will be obsolete.

[Eric]

Why not buy the VFD now and use it when you get the Bridgeport?

I have a GS2 2HP VFD from Automation Direct for my Bridgeport.

[JeepinDoug]

Cause I have a few other projects going on right now. I'm just sourcing ideas for this machine at the moment. More than likely a Bridgeport will be another year away. I'm mulling over the thought of a new CNC mill at the shop, cause the guy I have do my sub work sucks. If I find a nice machine for the shop I won't have room for one of the BPs.
This machine would be nice though as a dedicated tube notcher since it has such a small footprint.
I'll get a VFD as soon as I absolutely need one and Eric, I'll be bugging you with a couple of questions once I do. I do have your link from your spec write up;
VFD (http://web6.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/AC_Drives_-z-_Motors/GS2_(230_-z-_460_VAC_V-z-Hz_Control))
Thanks again for that.

[Eric]

Just let me know if you have any questions about VFDs since I have designed quite a few different systems at work. :grinpimp:

Oh yeah, rewiring a motor or swapping out to a single phase motor usually costs more than a VFD (unless you get a deal).