Power Feed For My SX3 Mill

Hi Mark,

The UT video is for a X2 mill which is much smaller that the X3. Therefore you would need a bigger power feed motor. I have a shop bought, Seig power feed on my SX3 mill.

Motor specification: 150W, 230v DC, 0.9A, 4000 rpm.

The Home Machinist web site has a DIY version suitable for an X3 mill

**LINK**

SX3 mills have also been converted to CNC and have power feed on the Z-axis. Although these use stepper motors, a non CNC mill would need a similar or bigger motor to that used on the X-axis. The torque to raise the head is more that that to move the table. (or use a similar size motor with a gear reduction for added torque)

Paul.

Thank for your reply, that link is interesting.

I just found a couple of old electric scooters, I am wondering if these motor would be any good for the Z axis, other wise a stepper motor is probably the way to go.

I use a car windscreen wiper motor for the X feed on my mill. Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 01/06/2016 10:55:07

Window winder motors are often easy to come by, either in 12V or 24V versions. The latter will tend to be more powerful, as larger vehicles tend to have larger windows.

I bought one for peanuts for (X-axis) feed on my mill drill and drove it with a variable bench PSU. Change over switch to change directions and (I would have got round to) limit switches to prevent damage at the ends of travel. The in-built reduction is about right for direct connection to the leadscrew through a coupling which in my case allowed it to be removed quickly by undoing a wing nut. Pictures in my album.

You'll notice that many of the CNC Z-axis conversions use either a counterbalance weight or a gas strut (spring) to offset the weight of the head. This reduces the load on the motor when raising the head. Obviously if you go the counterweight route you are increasing (possibly doubling) the inertia of the head assembly.

Is this for power feed during drilling etc or simply to raise and lower the head for different jobs?

Murray

I built my sx2 powerfeed from an old 12v B&D battery drill, a speed controller from eBay and some bits I had lying around the workshop. Cost was @ £40. There are some pics in my machines album and some video on my YouTube channel.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FZxfKUu9yBg

If they are like the scooter motors that i have then they will need to be geared down a lot. Mine are something like 2800rpm @ 24v. A wiper motor or electric window motor will be 12v and much slower where the gearing maybe close to your needs already.

Other alternatives are a 24V wiper motor or perhaps even use a window winder motor from a lorry as a strarting point.

Hi,

I have just purchased a Sieg SX3L mill from Ausee.com.au and with the long table there a lot of hand winding.

Ausee.com.au have just received a shipment of the All NEW SIEG X3 Auto Feeder with Clutch

There is a clutch to disconnect the motor from the mill table when hand winding, this solves one of the main issues with the previous design.

-----------------------------------------------------

SIEG's newly developed power feed with clutch and limit switches for SIEG X3, X3L, SX3 and SX3L Mill.

This Variable speed power feed mounts on the left end of the worktable and smoothly drives the X-Axis leadscrew at a constant speed (feed rate), thus, smoother and finer finish can be achieved.

The kit comes with clutch to disengage power feed for manual override.

Features:
1. Fits on SIEG X3, X3L, SX3 and SX3L Mill (Note: there are version for some of the other Sieg Mills)

2. Variable speed

3. Clutch disengages power feed when manual operation is required.

4. Adjustable limit switches

5. Supplied with a 120-240V, 50-60Hz power adaptor.

**LINK**

--------------------------------------------------------------

I have placed a order for one of the new power feeds for my now SX3L mill, expected arrival Monday 22 Aug 2016.

Once I have it installed and working I will report back.

Regards

Ray (Brisbane OZ)

Ray if possible you may want to put your order on hold, I'll say no more at the moment but you may want to read the thread about torque required for a small mill!

That unit looks nice but at £250 its a luxury I cant afford!

Hi,

Two years ago I purchased a Sieg SX3L Mill and also purchased the then new version of the Sieg X axis power feed.

See my message above I posted just after I purchased the mill from Ausee.com.au in Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

In the early days of using the SX3L I had intermittent problems with the X axis power drive clutch which connected motor to the X axis lead screw, the clutch was jumping out of engagement,

I made some measurements and found out the clutch only had a 1mm engagement, I called Ausee.com.au and explained the problem I was having with the SX3L clutch. They contacted Sieg HQ in China, It turned out the wrong part had been supplied with the Sieg X axis power feed.

Sieg HQ supplied the correct part which had a extra 4mm of engagement over the old one, a week or so later it arrived via courier, and I soon had it fitted, that was over two years ago.

I am VERY pleased with the Sieg X axis power feed and my SX3L mill, Ausee.com.au provided great service.

The X axis power feed has saved me from many hours of hand wheel cranking.

I am now working on driving the Z-Axis hand crank with a NEMA 23 Stepper motor,  3.0Nm(425oz.in), 10mm shaft

Regards

Ray (Brisbane, Australia)

Edited By Ray Creighton on 22/09/2018 13:33:42

My simple totally unsophisticated power cross feed consists of an up/down car window motor, these motors are designed to rotate in both directions unlike some windscreen wiper motors. For speed control I used a small circuit published in Model Engineer 21st September 1990, so by reckoning its worked without failure for 27 years and all the electronic components we were pre-used. Total cost less than £5. John

Mine is a 12v window wiper motor, free, A Chinese transformer, approx' £12 iirc, pwm off e bay Approx' £6 iirc, a change over switch off e bay ( cheap as ' ), some bits of ally plate, 10 mm ally rod, couple of bolts... have a look at my album...' X axis drive'

George.

I am in the process of fitting a motor to my Chester mill Z axis have a look it is on this site on latest post you should find it may give you a few hints.

David

I used an old B&D battery drill motor, plenty of torque at low speed. Took the leadscrew out, drilled and tapped the end and loctited in an extension piece. This connects to the motor with a simple pin to couple the two together. This is easy to pull to disengage the drive. Drilled and tapped 2 holes in the end of the bed and made spacers to mount the motor and cover. Controlled from an PWM controller and old laptop PSU. Total cost @ £30. Been working reliably for several years now.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FZxfKUu9yBg

Edited By Bob Perkins on 24/09/2018 20:08:44