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Way Covers for milling machines

Our shop's excello bridgeport-clone milling machine is now functional and we would like to cover the ways to prevent chips getting into the ways and to speed cleanup. What have people used for these cover and where have they purchased the materials? Specifically, I have seen many people take a flap of rubber/leather and hang it off the machine covering the top of the knee dovetails and the y-axis ways behind the table. I am a bit confused as to how to attach the top of the flap to the machine. Is it just pinched in a metal channel that is screwed to the machine? Thanks, Woodworker88 Los Altos High School Robotics Team

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woodworker88
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Yes, that's about it. What I'd recommend is you buy one of the $40 way cover kits from one of the machine tool vendors. They can be trimmed pretty easily to fit machines a little smaller than the full-size Bridgeport, or where the shape of the machine is a bit different. You get an accordion-pleated piece for the front part of the Y ways, and an apron-like piece that hangs in front of the knee ways on the main column and also covers the Y ways behind the saddle. There may be several versions of this for different machines.

Jon

Reply to
Jon Elson

"woodworker88" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

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Reply to
Anthony

I have an Excello 602. Its a bit bigger than a Bridgy and the Bridgeport covers couldn't be made to fit.

I bought generic accordian style cover from Mcmaster Carr. Had to make up custom end plates and drill/tap the base casting but the job ended up very nice.

Karl

Reply to
Karl Townsend

Thanks for all your advice. I have to talk with the rest of the shop but I think I may order a set from mcmaster. We order regularly from them and their prices aren't too high. And as Karl pointed out, bridgeport sets may not fit the 602 I have.

Reply to
woodworker88

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