New rails

[sawkerf]

Is there a good replacement rail system for the prt alpha? Mine are getting pretty worn and I would like to do some tune-up work on my 2004 model. Thanks

[bleeth]

You have a couple of choices to redo x rails without going too much further on other areas.
1. Have your existing rails reground at a shop with a long enough mill.
2. Put either BWC or Superior Bearing rails over your existing rails. This will change the width slightly so you may have to re-bore some mounting holes to move one of the x rails in slightly as well as drill all the holes for the hardened rail.
3. Replace the rails all together with new BWC or Superior Bearing rails mounted on a aluminum pillow block which is mounted on a square aluminum extrusion bolted to your existing steel C-channel. This is similar to the current rail system and what I did. You will have to remove your existing rack gears and install them on the new pillow block as well as drill a lot of very precise holes.

[ron_moorehead]

The other option is to contact ShopBot and get the replacement rails for your machine. I have a PRT Alpha and I have contatcted Shopbot in the past few month and got a price last July of about $3,000.00 to replace both the X and Y rails with new rails and new racks. They provided the shims to realign your wheels to the new rails. I am going to be contacting ShopBot this week to order my set.

[gc3]

Take a look at www.mechmate.com (http://www.mechmate.com) forum. You can fab new or regrind your old ones easily.

Save at least 2.5K for other upgrades.

[ken_rychlik]

Hey Gene,

Are those your pictures?

[erik_f]

http://www.cvsupply.com/servlet/the-MechMate/Categories