Plans in MEW or ME for roller Mill

Hi

Does anyone know of any plans published in ME or MEW for a small roller mill. I am thinking of only using it to create flywheel tubes or inner sections like the ones that Stewart Hart makes.

I was thinking of something with rollers about 100mm across.

Thanks

Bruce

Newbee warning - - Maybe this is actually a slip roll design I am after

Bruce - A fellow named George H Thomas drew up a set of plans that are widely available. Google "George Thomas bending rolls" for examples and maybe even (ahem) a copy of the article.

I made a set from Hemingway Kits; it came with gears, etc, and is very sturdy.

I did do some of the work via CNC - I did put some of the results up on my blog at **LINK** for anyone interested.

Presumably this is what you are looking for?

Thanks John

Yes that is the sort of think I am after.

I see that you have a very similar mill to mine so I will be trying to absorb your CNC conversion posts with glee.

What month/year would the bending rolls info be on?

Regards

Bruce

The short ones are also known as "ring rollers" if you look back at teh M-machine thread from last week you can see Andrews one in action. And a search on youtube for Myfordboy shows his set that use cranks rather than gears getting some abuse!

As JAS say google will throw up the article as a pdf

Edited By JasonB on 05/05/2015 07:31:53

Sorry Jason you lost me with this comment

These pics

**LINK**

**LINK**

Myfordboy

Edited By JasonB on 05/05/2015 08:09:24

Ahhh now that's what I am talking about

Thanks Jason

Bit more about Andrews one here

Edited By JasonB on 05/05/2015 08:13:23

There was an article in MEW no 80, Feb/Mar 2002 (that long ago?? -seems like yesterday).  Probably bigger than you need

First page shown below. If you want a scanned copy PM me with an email address.

Phil

Edited By Robbo on 05/05/2015 09:57:28

I started off making a set of rolls to that design. Nothing seemed to fit properly, so I gave up. The other issue with the design is that the rolls are pyramid, not initial pinch, so will leave a 'flat' at the ends of the work.

Andrew

If you visit my MEW index and click on Bending Rolls you will find there are 9 articles listed. I have not looked at them but from memory the one by David Fenner I think is close to what you are looking for.

Harold

Thanks everyone for your responses

I now have plenty of food for thought

Bruce

Hi Bruce;

Regarding my blog and the Hemingway Rolls kit, if you follow this link, I think you'll find entries with the word "rolls" in it. There is a search box in the top left corner (or, should be!) - this is Googles' "blogger" site and I'm no expert in it.

Here's a link with a search: **LINK**

The CNC conversion was fun; actually, all of Model Engineering is fun!

Another of my Hemingway Rolls construction pictures:

Gentlemen,

I make fuel tanks for my Lister's and have been using a modified mangle and angles for bending but this weekend I treated myself to one of these 3 in 1 machines, a guillotine, box bender and rolls, it has a maximum material size of 1mm but for what I need it fits the bill.

Martin P

Nice Martin

John, do you have any pictures/detail on the mounting/mods required for the ball screws on X & Y? I read through all your blog entries last night (up until 11.50pm reading them) and I am inspired.

Was there anything needed for the Z?

I am thinking of CNC down the track a bit but there is wear in the lead screws now so I was considering replacing them with ball screws anyway but just fitting the handles back on.

Regards

Bruce

Edited By Bruce Edney on 06/05/2015 01:22:28

Bruce; Regarding my latest mill conversion, I purchased a "kit" consisting of mounts, ball screws, for the mill. I'm over in North America, so I purchased the kit from "http://www.automationtechnologiesinc.com".

If you want to do more work, you can make everything, "g0704.com" sells plans, that seem to be well liked.

I went with the kit because, for me, the electrical and programming side of things is the fun bit. Other people have different interests, of course.

The kit is basically a bolt-on arrangement, but for me, the Y axis did not bolt, because of the drunken holes in my mill base. (nothing wrong with the kit)

You will find that the ball screws have a pitch of something like 4 or 5mm, much more coarse than the original lead screws.

Quite a few people like to use "acetal", molding plastic around the current feed screws, for an almost zero backlash nut without changing the feed screw. (but, as you say, you may have some uneven wear there) There was a fellow Canadian (Evan) who did a great job explaining this process on "bbs.homeshopmachinist.net" - can't find the exact link to it at the moment, and heading out to work...

Thanks John

Bruce, sorry for jumping in....John, a question about the gears. I scratch built mine to G Thomas plans, definitely needs the geared top roll. (Plans suggested the gear train may be an additional,extra.) Might sound dodgy, but why not just drive the top roll from the bottom using spur gears meshing nice and deep. The rolls will only ever open to about 2 mm and a bit of backlash is no harm when used at the limit of the machine? Thoughts.

Andrew

Andrew - I have a friend here who built a larger set of rolls using "gears" for chains much as you suggest. It's certainly not as smooth to operate, but does the job.

I purchased the Hemingway kit to 1) support the suppliers and 2) sourcing materiel "over here" might have been more expensive anyway, with the cutting charges and so on, and the gears came with the kit. But, good for you for just doing the build yourself.

John.