Container Weld Shop build -

[BukitCase]

Thanks; I like the finish I get with solid carbide, but it went kinda slow (only had an 8mm dia. in carbide) - I just ordered a 1/2" center cut one, TiAlNi coated; just under $70 with shipping - glad I bought a lot of the spendier accessories for the mill when I wuz still gettin OT (like the angle table, H/V rotary table with chuck, vises, blocks, 3 clamp sets, collets, boring bars, etc - "little" items don't hurt quite so bad in "onesie-twosies", at least til I get enough room for the matchng lathe

Now, if I kin just convince meself to "GOYA-DIN" in this crappy weather, I might get a bit more done today :umbrella-guy: ...Steve

 

[dragoneggs]

A used mill with lots accessories is on my bucket list. Don't want to deal with 3 phase or conversions though. If a recently old Bridgport comes my way, I will make room!

 

[BukitCase]

I gave up on used machine tools around here a few years ago, looked for a LOOOOONG time and everything I saw had been rode hard and put away wet (if at all) at least 30 years ago; somehow that made it worth more than it cost NEW - My Grizzly ain't a Bridgeport, but it's a square column (not a glorified drill press) with power X axis, power up/down on the head - if I ever find that "tuit", I have all the Arduino stuff and scales to add 3 axis DRO (wireless) and a free android app called TouchDRO - for what I need, it's been fine so far... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Today I got more done on the corner braces - first thing I noticed is that, even though both of the channel "spreaders" were perpendicular to post and I beam, the 2 identical length 45 degree tube gussets did NOT both end up positioned the same relative to the channel EDGES - meaning, SOMETHING was outa whack...

So I clamped one of the gusset pieces temporarily to the post, adjusted it so it was parallel to the I beam (from the side), then looked down from above the I beam - sure 'nuf, the clamped piece was NOT parallel to the I beam - so I loosened the 4 bolts that hold the main I beam clamped to the post, used the clamped tube gusset as a lever and rotated the post (slightly) til the I beam and tube WERE parallel, then re-tightened the bolts -



The channel spreader (with 45 degree milled slots) bolted to the post - the piece of 1-1/2" tube and the 1/4" FB below it are just spacers; the channel needed to be 1-3/4" above the larger post tube, these kept it in place til it was bolted -



Got things clamped up, ready to weld in place - I REALLY like those Stronghand 4 in 1 clamps, notice the "pipe" adapters also work on oddball angled stuff -



New MM211 and its "4-way cart" moved easily on my "high-tech gravel floor", ready to make sparks -



Manual settings for 1/8" steel -



Welds done (some nicer than others; note to self: get COMFEY, THEN pull trigger )



I should get the other brace done tomorrow, then I'll unbolt both, clean up, paint, and re-attach - Then it'll be time to fab the trolley for the 1-ton electric hoist that'll share the beam with a chain fall (for when 2 pick points are better)

Must be supper time... Steve

 

[Xfaxman]

Amazing. :thumbsup:

 

[BukitCase]

Thanks; but I may have lied about what's next - the more I look at that first vertical weld, the more I consider grinding it out and doing it RIGHT - maybe I'll do the OTHER brace first, THEN see what I think... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Did the second diagonal brace today; Same problem on a couple of vertical ups as before - looks like I'm gonna have to spend some "quality time" with the little MM211, those welds would've looked like "flatlander" welds with the MM252 But even so, they're plenty strong for this and I'm ready to move on anyway

Spreaders bolted up and diagonals clamped (had to do the same "post rotation" as the other one) -



Got the "2 axis balance control) pretty well dialed in on the cart's pick point (yes, the wheels ARE 4" off the ground) -



Wind started comin' up so I invoked "plan B" -



All the welds look about the same, so you can just look at THIS one 4 times :laughing:



Looks like manana's gonna be a "housekeeping" day, got 4 5 gallon buckets full of tools/clamps and a workbench I can't find anymore - Then it'll be time to unbolt everything I just did, clean it up and paint - after that I get to fab the interface between the 1 ton electric hoist and the trolley(s)... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

"housekeeping" day, got 4 5 gallon buckets full of tools/clamps and a workbench I can't find anymore"<<<<<<<<<<<I have that trouble everytime I dont organize or put my tools away at the end of the days project, I find it better to keep organized than speaking in tongues when trying to find the hammer on starting the next days job.

How come you dont use autoset on the 211?

 

[BukitCase]

"How come you dont use autoset on the 211?"

I used to use it on the previous transformer mm211, started seeing things with my welds that that I couldn't see a reason for - then I read somewhere (wish I could find it again ) that Autoset changes parameters DYNAMICALLY depending on stickout??!? - so I started setting it manually (slightly colder than the chart recommends) and my welds started improving -

Then (of course) the MM252 doesn't HAVE autoset, so I just kept doing it the same; then when I started using the DIGITAL MM211 (Really, Miller??!? ya couldn't-a at least put a "D" after the number?) it didn't work quite like I expected. The last batch of welds agree, they SUCK at least a third of the time - but it's a PITA to drag the 252 out across my "custom high-tech gravel floor", and I had this nifty "offroad" cart, soooo....

So now, guess I'll put some of those scraps to good use and learn to weld all over again First thing I'll try is what worked on the transformer 211; autoset, set about one "notch" thinner metal than I'm actually welding...

I'm ALSO not real happy with Miller's new M150 gun - got a 15' 'cause 10 is just stupid (gonna extend the work clamp too ) - but the torch is typical Chinese, it's so stiff you almost can't force it to rotate where YOU want it - I wonder if the newer M25 guns are that way now too? My older M25 is fine, I can rotate the nozzle a full 360 degrees without having to fight it...

Well, I got 3-1/2 of those buckets emptied and can see about 2/3 of the bench, then took one of the diagonal braces apart so it'd come off the crane, the bolts for the upper spreader didn't wanna come out easy so I took one at a time out and went up 1/64 on drill size, did cleanups - also decided that having the bolts that close to the channel legs wasn't gonna work well (bolts tended to pull sideways) so I took the offending piece of channel (the spreader) down to the shop, set up the mill with a center-cutting cutter and flattened out the area around the holes a bit - now they sit fine, and apparently it wasn't the welds pulling so much as just too tight a fit -

I'll do the same to the OTHER brace manana, maybe touch up a couple of the worst welds, clean both of the braces up and paint -

Probably won't get much done Saturday, it's #1 son's 47th BD so we'll probly go offer him a beer (to cry in :laughing: )...Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

I have the older 211 (2013), use with .030 70s, my heat and and and and and corresponding wire speed is just about spot on. So nice when I'm going from different thickness of steel, instead of moving both dials, I just move one, haven't tried it on .035 wire yet. My mig gun is 10' long, wonder if that makes a difference in the autoset? Sometimes a longer mig gun will have a harder time feeding wire.