Building a base for my mill

[DanMc]

Here's an update on my mill frame.  Yesterday I hauled the mill over to my machinist friend in Brimfield, MA.  He welded up a 24 foot long frame for me to set the mill on.  These are 2x4 steel tubes with 3/6" wall thickness.  The cross members are 3" steel pipes that he had laying around his yard.  As you can see in the photos, his yard is a virtual storehouse of valuable parts and supplies just waiting to be transformed into something valuable. In the top photo, it looks like one of the steel tubes is curved.  It looks like the camera did that.

   

 

[DanMc]

More pics.  The frame is 24 feet long.  That length is because the 2x4 stock was that long and we didn't want to cut it.  I can add a second extension to the track and still be on the frame. 


  

 

[DanMc]

The current plan is to weld M16x2 flange nuts to the top of the frame and then use the stock bolts that are used for the feet.  I'll remove the feet from the bolts, and turn them around so the heads are at the top so I can tighten the bolts into the flange nuts.  With this I'll be able to make any fine adjustments in the track as needed.  After all, my machinist friend said that the frame has a about a  1/16" twist in it from end to end.  :D

[samandothers]

Interesting thread. Thanks for thread with pictures.  I understand the empty nest and doing stuff.  I too suffer from the week long in front of a computer screen and then weekend warrior of doing stuff.

[DanMc]

On Sunday afternoon we welded on the flange nuts, and caps over the ends of the tubes.  The flange nuts match up with each bolt that formerly had a foot on it.  I will still be able to adjust the track using the same nuts as the original track design.

Gave it a coat of primer and some paint.  Last night I set the track segments onto the frame and ran the bolts (without the feet) into the flange nuts to get it secured to the frame.  Some of the bunks are not bolted in with this pic.  It's good to see the track now very nice and straight. 

Again, the frame is 24 feet long, because that's how long the two steel tubes were.  We figured we'd just use the full length rather than cut them to the length of the track.  As it is now, there's enough frame there to add a track extension.  The way it is now, I'll flip the whole thing end for end, and the extra length of frame will extend out beyond the trailer bed in the triangular hitch area.

[thecfarm]

One member added on some rails just to get the head out of the way. I don't think he saws on the added rails,it's just a place to move the head out of the way. But at the same time,you do gain some sawing space.

[DanMc]

"One member added on some rails just to get the head out of the way."

Hmmm......  Thanks for the tip.  Excellent idea!

One of the things I need to do next is to develop a method of securing the mill head during transport, and that could be done on that extra 4-foot section of the frame.  .  I have hauled it by lifting it off the track onto wood blocks and also by leaving it on the track, of course strapping it down securely with each methog.  After hauling for 150 miles sitting on the track, I can see a minor wear spot in the track.  Also, it's going to be very hard on the bearings in the rollers to be sitting in one spot bouncing around for hours with a lot of extra pressure from the straps.  I'm thinking of some small auxiliary rollers using the same bearings that are used as the blade guide stop.  The rollers would go up a ramp to lift the head 1/8" off the track and then I'd need a solid locking mechanism to hold it in place.  I'm pondering that.