Aciera F1 Milling Machine - Anglo-Swiss Tools
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Transcript of Aciera F1 Milling Machine - Anglo-Swiss Tools
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Aciera F1 Milling Machine - Anglo-Swiss Tools
http://anglo-swiss-tools.co.uk/aciera-f1-milling-machine/[25/03/2015 13:25:05]
Aciera F1 Milling Machine
One of the most
desirable small
milling machines,
the Aciera F1 is
popular with
horologists and
other micro
mechanics. A
direct development
of the earlier F12
machine, produced
up to the late
1940s, the F1
employed
Schaublins W12
collet in both the
cutter and indexing
spindles. Aciera
Swiss machine tools for the discerning horologist and precision engineer
Home Products Contact Archive Wanted
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Aciera F1 Milling Machine - Anglo-Swiss Tools
http://anglo-swiss-tools.co.uk/aciera-f1-milling-machine/[25/03/2015 13:25:05]
also used the same
external thread on
the indexing head
spindle as that of
the Schaublin 70
lathe spindle.
Consequently, the
F1 is an excellent
companion to the
Schaublin 70. With a working footprint of 1300 x 530 mm and a maximum weight of 210kg the F1 is small and
light enough to be located in a spare bedroom. The 245 watt three phase 220/380v spindle motor lends itself
perfectly to being driven by a 220v inverter (VFD) giving not only the advantage of being run from a domestic
single phase supply but also providing infinitely variable spindle speeds.
The smallest of Acieras milling machines the F1 had traverses of 100mm (longitudinal x axis), 75mm (headstock y
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Aciera F1 Milling Machine - Anglo-Swiss Tools
http://anglo-swiss-tools.co.uk/aciera-f1-milling-machine/[25/03/2015 13:25:05]
Aciera F1 Universal Vertical Support
axis) and 150mm (vertical z axis). The plain table was provided with three 8mm T-slots and had a clamping surface
of 100mm x 220mm. The F1 came equipped with both screw and lever operated slides increasing the machines
versatility. Sensitivity of the vertical slide was ensured by the use of an adjustable spring compensator located in the
body of the machine.
The machines 40mm diameter quill and drive motor and gearbox assembly could be easily removed from the
horizontal position and replaced with a swiveling vertical bracket into which the quill could be inserted. Thus,
converting the machine from horizontal to vertical operation was an easy one-person operation taking a matter of
minutes. In addition to the simple vertical bracket a universal bracket (inclinable in two planes) was also available.
Feedscrews were of special steel with ground trapezoidal thread form available in metric (2mm) or imperial (10
tpi) pitches and provided with large micrometer dials with a resolution of 0.01mm or 0.0005. The non-adjustable
cylindrical feedscrew nuts were of bronze alloy matched to the feedscrews and, when new, had less than 0.01 mm
backlash. A locking cotter secured the nuts into the slide casting and could be quickly released to enable lever
operation of the slides. Both horizontal slides were lever actuated by rack and pinion, while the vertical axis was by
pivoted lever. Adjustable stops were provided for all axes.
The F1s dovetail form slides were ground and hand-scraped to
a overall geometric accuracy better than 0.01mm. Slides were
fitted with rhomboid section jibs with adjusting screws and
locking nuts. Accessories were mounted to the longitudinal
slide by means of a external male dovetail running the entire
length of the slide. The plain table mounted directly to this
dovetail while a swiveling universal support accommodated
the 35mm spigot on both vices, tilting table, indexing head and
rotary table. The universal support allowed simple and rapid
exchange of accessories while the use of the external dovetail
allowed the support bracket to be both positioned anywhere
along the length of the slide and quickly removed and
exchanged for the plain table.
Earlier machines had a six speed spindle from a three speed flat
belt drive and two speed gearbox while later (late 1970s
onward) machines produced eight speeds from a pair of four
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Aciera F1 Milling Machine - Anglo-Swiss Tools
http://anglo-swiss-tools.co.uk/aciera-f1-milling-machine/[25/03/2015 13:25:05]
Aciera F1 Tilting Vice
Aciera F1 Drilling Attachment
stepped V belt driven pulleys combined with the gearbox. The
earlier type of spindle employed a special needle roller bearing
at the front end to take radial loads and a pair of ball races at
the gearbox end to deal with axial loads. These early spindles
are now a challenge to service if wear is present in the front
bearing as the original fitment is no longer made. Later eight
speed machines employed a pair of sealed angular contact bearings at the front end which are still available.
Another minor difference between earlier and later machines is
the method of fixing the horizontal overarm cylinder. On
earlier machines the Y axis headstock casting was slit through
to the overarm bore with a pair of pinch bolts arranged to
clamp the overarm cylinder in place. On later machines a more
elegant method was provided with the overarm being
internally clamped. In these machines the headstock casting is
not slit through and the overarm rod is clamped by a cross-
plug operated by a socket headed eccentric-ended rod through
the centre of the cylinder impinging with the bore of the
headstock.
Machines were supplied as standard for horizontal operation
without a plain table or other accessories. All other equipment
was supplied to the customers requirements.
A vast
range of
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Aciera F1 Milling Machine - Anglo-Swiss Tools
http://anglo-swiss-tools.co.uk/aciera-f1-milling-machine/[25/03/2015 13:25:05]
Aciera F1 Indexing Head
Aciera F1 Slotting Head
accessories were available for these machines allowing a wide
range of machining jobs to be performed. Probably the most
desirable accessories include the beautiful spigot mounted
machine vice and the indispensable direct indexing head which
could be converted to full dividing head with the addition of a
very rarely seen worm and wheel gearbox equipped with three interchangeable indexing plates. Even rarer is the
superb sliding quill drilling head and diminutive slotting head.
Accessories were accommodated in the doors of the substantial
fabricated steel stand, each door being fitted with hardwood
receptacles designed to accept a particular accessory. The
stand also housed the machines electrical switches with later
machines having a push-button low voltage switching system
contained in an additional cabinet fastened to the rear of the
stand.
There are rumors that the F1 was not manufactured by Aciera
in-house and it appears that rights to manufacture it were
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Aciera F1 Milling Machine - Anglo-Swiss Tools
http://anglo-swiss-tools.co.uk/aciera-f1-milling-machine/[25/03/2015 13:25:05]
Aciera F1 Indirect Dividing Attachment retained in Switzerland when Aciera went into liquidation. An
updated version of the F1 known as the F1+ continued to be
made by a firm in Switzerland after 1992. If any reader can provide information on these machines I would be very
grateful.
Some equipment from the very similar Sixis 101 will also fit the F1 without modification, suggesting that at least
some of the equipment for both was made in the same factory.
Aciera index page
Aciera F1 photo gallery
Aciera F1 1987 catalogue (English) download
Aciera F1 1975 catalogue (German) download
Aciera F1 1971 manual (English) download
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Anglo-Swiss Tools 2015
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