Blanchard Rebuild CNC Retrofit

	This is a picture of the Blanchard No. 18 before rebuild and retrofit. None of the original sheet metal guards were useable.
	Here is another Blanchard partially disassembled. It sometimes takes more than one day just to clean out the hardened accumulated debris in the base. The cost of the rebuild includes a considerable amount of time cleaning parts before the precision work can actually begin.
	Pictured to the left in the foreground is the rusted saddle from the above machine before sandblasting. Above it is the column after sandblasting. To the left is the base of the machine after it has been sandblasted and sprayed with pure polyester resin to smooth out the exterior surface of the casting. This provides an exceptionally hard base for the two-part epoxy primer and finish paint which will be applied. The base will next be sanded, primed and filled with polyester glazing. This process is repeated with progressively finer grits of sandpaper.
	To the left can be seen the set-up for grinding the ways of the machine base. By grinding the ways in one set-up we achieve the utmost in parallelism between the two surfaces. Better than .0001 per foot tolerances are easily achieved!

	Pictured to the left is the base of the machine after sandblasting, painting and way grinding. Notice that the left end of the machine has been milled flat and a 1" thick plate has been bolted in place. The inside of the base has been machined to accept another plate which will be used along with the end plate to mount the ball screw. The bottom of the saddle has likewise been machined to mount a ball nut housing.
	To the lower right in the picture to the left can be seen the Gilmer pulley housing with the servo motor mounted to it. This is attached to the end of the ball screw which drives the saddle in and out under the grinding head. On the back of the machine we have fabricated a 1 1/2" square tubular frame which houses the counterbalance assembly, provides support for the electrical housing and the 1" thick steel plate on top of the machine. On the 1" steel plate are mounted the four trunions carrying the sprockets and chains in the counterbalance system.
	Here is a close-up of the trunion and chain counterbalance system. Right between the two trunions in the foreground can be seen the servo motor outboard support. The servo motor propelling the grinding head up and down is mounted directly below the outboard support on the bottom of the 1" plate. The grinding head weighs 1,700 lbs. and the counterbalance weighs 1,500 lbs. This leaves a net weight of 200 lbs. for the servo motor to lift up and down. A 2" ball screw has been added to the Z-axis to assist the servo motor and provide improved accuracy.
	To the left the Blanchard/Fagor longitudinal ball screw cover and automatic oil level control.

To the right is the electrical panel for our Blanchard Fagor CNC Control rebuild with variable speed spindle and magnetic chuck.
	To the left is the Gortite way cover which we add to all machines we rebuild. This is behind the factory metal guard and prevents coolant and grinding dust from getting on the vertical ways.
	The finished Blanchard No. 18 CNC grinder with Centroid control is pictured to the left. We have fabricated all new sheetmetal guards in our shop including dust and coolant covers protecting the upper vertical ways.
	A backside view of the finished Blanchard No. 18 CNC grinder. Two of these machines were built and have provided flawless operation for nearly two years.

	Blanchard/Fagor CNC motor air intake and exhaust.
To the right is a rear photo of the Blanchard/Fagor CNC with solenoid for coolant control.
	To the left is a Blanchard No. 11 rebuild with Centroid CNC retrofit.
Rear side view of Blanchard No. 11 rebuild with Centroid CNC retrofit.