On my mill, which is a Canadian version of a G1004 mill, the Y axis feed shield between the column and the X table had a crappy thin rubber shield on it when I got it. It sat in the barn for 4 years til I found a spot solid enough on the shop floor to prevent it punching through.

So by the time I got it set up, it was quite rotten and I replaced it with what I had at hand…woven plastic. Once I got into Robb Jack cutters and could really move metal…the hot chips melted that thing. So I spared no expense and got me some neoprene 1/8 thick sheet rubber….and today I spied a little hole melted into this one as well.

I know the solution…coolant. I can't afford the coolant at 1000+ rpm as it flies everywhere, so I have a spray bottle of the stuff to cool the end mill when I'm cutting, plus air to clear chips. As I am going to a poor man's DRO on this thing, and the sensor will be on the backside of the table, this rubber will be in the way anyhow. I'm thinking of lining the garbage can with this rubber chip shield and leaving it bare.

What say you all on this?

Yup, thats the one Tyler.  Y axis has 8" of travel, less of course, with a pile of rubber in the way.

Thanks Tyler,

I have been looking and snooping about for something light flexible and the ever-in-demand quality–cheap.

I think vulcanized rubber would do it, but is definitely thicker than I want. Anything even 1/8 thick will sooner or later limit Y axis travel…and yet some protection is needed.

I have come up with Silpat oven liners, fiberglass weave, impregnated (lovely!) with silicon rubber. In Target and Homeless they are 14 bucks. Will stand 500 degrees so heat should not hurt them. Very flexible.

I hope this works.

Hey Ironman,

    If you get conveyor belting you will want

PVC Belting I used alot of this type will work good on mill. Also my friend made

a plex glass box for his mill to keep the coolant on the table works real nice

                                        Vernon

Tyler, A delete button would be handy