Pinning the Table Before You Begin
If you're considering moving to a fixture based system for holding your work, you will need a repeatable way to mount and remount your fixtures.  Pinning your table consists of adding hardened steel pin liners to the table and steel thread inserts to secure fixtures.

A few notes on pinning:

  • Pinning your table is something you need to think long and hard about, it is a one way trip, once the liners are in they are considered permanent.
  • Properly pinned, you will retain full use of the tee slots.
  • Do Not try to just drill the holes and not use the liners and inserts, the cast iron holes will wear out in a short period of time.
  • Although we use the term 'pinning' the pins are actually used in the fixture, hence the term fixture pins.
We would like to stress the importance of the "Before You Begin" steps, they are important, so don't just breeze through them, take your time.  Setting up a machine properly does take some time up front, but rewards you with smooth performance and a time savings in the long run.

 

Make sure the following steps are done before you begin:

  • 20 Hours

To make sure your machine runs properly, you want at least 20 machining hours under you belt.  We're not talking about "Range of Motion" testing, we're talking about 20 chip making hours.  We ask for this simply because a CNC machine s a complex piece of equipment and if anything is going to go wrong it will in the first 20 hours of operation.

  • Tram...Tram...Tram

Tram means squaring your machine.  The column needs to be trammed (squared) to the base and the head needs to be trammed to the column.  Because we cannot tram the machine for you, you will need to ensure this is done properly.
(No machine manufacturer can tram a machine before moving it, it is impossible to tram a machine, crate it, freight it, set it up and expect it to be the same tram, it cannot be done.)

  • Test Your Limits

Optical Limits are pretty robust little guys, so don't worry about them.  If the machine 'homes' properly they're ok.  You will want to put a drop of Locktite 'RED ' on the mounting bolts for the limits and all the stops, you want them to never move again.

  • Be Comfortable

Pinning and fixturing you mill includes a lot of 'One Way' steps and operations.  You need to be comfortable enough with you skills before you do this.  Many times you will not get a second chance to get the operation right.

  • Be Real Comfortable

Pinning your table and fixture work often includes expensive materials (fixture plates) and other one off operations.  Do it when your day is going well, and the shop is quite.  If you're having "one of those days" don't start this and expect it to go well.

Just so you know, the last step is REAL important, we (I) do all the fixture work when the shop is empty and quite, the last thing anyone wants is to make a "stupid" mistake.
   
 On to the next part Pinning the Table pt1