Van Norman Milling Machine

[scra99tch]

Finally got it in the garage.  Serial number dates it to approximately 1943. 

Will hook up power in the next few weeks and take a cut, hope all the power feeds work, otherwise it will do everything else while burning calories.

Comes with a few attachments, what looks to me like a 7B&S spindle adapter (might be a high speed spindle adapter), also a slotting attachment (think shaper).  A bunch of arbors and collets.

This is a nicely built machine, change over from horizontal milling to vertical milling in minutes.  A possibility down the road to add a Bridgeport head to the overarm support for quill work.  The ways look good (all scraping is gone but level), some backlash in X close to zero in Y.  .0008 run-out in spindle. 

Anyone else have some checks I should do as I a relatively new to milling and mainly work on CNC lathes.   

[Rick4003]

Cool looking machine! looks tough as nails!

I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with it. I bought a TOS FNK25A milling machine earlier this year and I can't wait to have time to play with it. I have lots of Guzzi plans for it. Dual plugging and valve seat work here I come :)

-Ulrik

[Chuck in Indiana]

It'll take a cut all right.. why did you go with this bruiser instead of a knee mill?

all scraping is gone but level

  With very little back lash, maybe they never *were* scraped?
Asphalt shingles work very well for vibration damping/leveling.

[scra99tch]

I really liked the idea of the vertical and horizontal capability, plus these things are cheap and this one was not rusted to hell and seemed in pretty good shape.  Plus it has power feeds in all axis (if they work).

Good idea on shingles, thought leather might work.

Now I have to source more collets and maybe have to get another spindle and have it ground to accept Cat40.

A little overkill but I think I'll put drainage screws into the bottom of my Calvin forks.

[LowRyter]

Do you plug that into 110 wall socket? 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Do you plug that into 110 wall socket?

Riiiiight. 

[scra99tch]

Do you plug that into 110 wall socket?

I'm up for trying anything once (body parts excluded).

[huklbery]

I'm trying to remember what spindle taper the 22L has.  I'm thinking it was an obscure Brown & Sharpe, mine has  an adapter for 30 NMTB much easier to find.  Sadly never moved to the shop with 3phase so it just sits for now.  It's a good idea on the Bridgeport head, adapting it to the support ram bar.  The vertical Van Norman head is not for dainty work by any means.   

[scra99tch]

You would not happen to have any collets not including the 30NMTB your not using?  I have a extra spindle extension that takes the 5V (look like an R8, I have a a adapter that looks like the old C collets. 

I have a few arbors but they are under 8" it looks like. 

Can't wait to power it up and play around.

[scra99tch]

Got it powered finally. 

I try to post a video of it running, gotta replace and refill all oil first before I start cutting. 


https://www.facebook.com/james.knight.969/videos/10155740372167486/

[hauto]

Does the shaper head come off? Yeah it's a beast of a machine,probably more than you'll ever need.What are you using for a phase converter?You can pickup a lot of good used machine tools for a good price these days.

[scra99tch]

Yup, shaper head comes off.  Easily I might add.  I also have a high speed attachment takes different sized collets though.  And The company made a universal high speed attachment for more compound cuts. 

I am using a 30HP American rotary phase converter temporarily until I down size for something more economical. 

Made my first cut on it, and make some more adjustments.  Just for the time being I am cleaning and and replacing the lubrication on it for now. 

74 years old and the wiring is atrocious I am just waiting for the smoke to escape the control boxes.

[dxhall]

Before you downsize your phase converter, have you looked into wiring up a VFD instead?  I got rid of my 15hp phase converter five years ago and put VFDs on all of my machines, including the Van Norman no. 12.  I was a huge improvement.  You just need 220 single phase power and patience to configure the VFDs.  If I can do it, anyone can.