Power Feed to Milling Machine Table

Surprise surprise I don't sit here all day and have no problem popping out - I often do sometimes part way through posting. No problem eating either. But yes I suspect I do post too much at times. Depends what I am doing at the time. Actually I usually disappear from forums i am on at some point. I was even missed on one. That should be a couple actually.

The workshop isn't doing much. I am part way through an immense reorg and tidy up. It's reached breaking point. I have been holding back on that waiting for a builder to knock one wall down and build another as then things would be a lot easier. Getting a builder to actually do it is proving to be a problem. I am slowly stirring myself to manage with the set up I have without the new wall. Looks like one lathe will have to go and later another which is in storage. There are still a few "bits" of of other tooling to go. A couple are pretty heavy. Getting the lathes right for selling might take time as I wont sell junk.

When it is sorted will I be making something. Maybe maybe not. I tend to machine things when I want them and feel like doing it. I have enough ideas to keep me going for a long time so it comes down to do I feel like doing it. First job when I can get at it easily will be some sorting on the Boxford. New bearings and probably some changes to the drive. Resite the inverter or get rid of it. Not sure which yet..

Just add there is a minuscule amount of oval bearing wear on the boxford. It tends to cause it to take a minute recut near the end if I run the same cut again. Infuriating.

I might decide to actually power the head lift on the Dore Westbury I might not. Much depends on if the motor I have is suitable. The power supply is bound to be useful at some point. The motor could go back on ebay.

I most certainly will rejig my dividing head at some point for the maidstone engineering plates and very probably change the worm and wheel as well.

3D printing and casting are closely connected for me. I do know where to get what I need now and have some of it. Unlikely to happen this year.

I do want to make a clock and have more or less sorted ideas on what I will do for that but still some to go. No shiny gearbox for me though. It has to keep good time.

I also tend to buy things I need for potential projects rather slowly. In that respect I have at least 4 on the go at the moment. Some may never happen.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 03/08/2016 19:54:19

Edited By Ajohnw on 03/08/2016 20:00:25

At the risk of upsetting Neil et al. ( linking off-site) I have recently recounted my own mill table power feed project here and it may prove useful to someone wishing to try their own version. If nothing else, it highlights some of the pitfalls to avoid. The unit is not pretty but it works well and cost next to nothing.

Regards, Steve

Steve,

I doubt if you will upset Neil et al, but ...

It would be nice if I had permission to view the thread that you linked.

MichaelG.

Ah! Sorry, I don't know how to sort that problem. I expect that non-members can only view the "General Chat" area.

Apologies to any who cannot access the article, I will remove the link if requested.

Regards, Steve

Thats the case steve, non members only get to see the top couple of topics which include the general discussions. Easy enough to register though for those thinking off using a wiper motor as the power source.

The link can stay.

Gentlemen,

My sincere apologies to anyone who has wasted their time following my earlier link.

I am currently logging my locomotive build on my own website and I have written up my mill power feed on there in the tools and jigs section. If anyone is interested, you can link to the article here

If Neil or Jason feel this is inappropriate, I am sure one of them will remove this post.

Regards, Steve

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Great stuff, Steve ... Much appreciated

MichaelG.

We have no issues with forum members linking to their own blogs elsewhere, although it's nice to have things posted here

Neil

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You may find it underpowered at slow speed ... The nominal full speed is much too high for a table drive, and would require much gearing-down.

Personally, I would use the sewing machine motor for a drilling spindle [as demonstrated by Rodney Jenkins]

MichaelG.

I used a sewing machine motor to power my Supper Adept, the motor didn't really have enough power, and after very little use the armature burned out, it has been replaced with a 4 pole 180W shaded pole motor. It doesn't have the revs of the universal motor, nor does it have variable speed, but it is adequate, I can take a .010" cut on a 1" diameter bit of stainless ( not sure of the grade, maybe 303).

Ian S C

The reason I went for a 24v wiper motor was more power over a 12v one. 24v is usually only used on HGV's and in order to keep the current levels down.

The other reason was for a table feed and possibly using steppers. However if a 12v motor is driven 50:50 on off it should be pretty happy.

I thought that a 4046 might be the nicest and simplest thing to pulse a stepping motor driver with. But I probably have a couple from years ago some where. Also 555's. A quick look bought this link up - a bit garbled

**LINK**

There should be some better info about even though they are usually just used a phase locked loop. As it mentions R1, R2 and C1 sets what it does and I would probably use anything from 5 to 10k for the pot or fixed resistors, The supply voltage wont be critical but 24v is I think too high.

John

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Here again - another MAJOR drawback with a sewing machine motor is that generally they aren't reversible as they use offset brushes, you buy them as clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation. Also having opened one up to try accessing the leads I quickly gave up on that idea, as the only way I could see to do what I wanted, would have virtually destroyed the motor and connections.

Jonathon - I use one for powering a small cross slide mounting milling/drilling spindle, works quite well. You could also use one to power a small tool-post grinder.

Find a sewing machine to put it on.