Powered head adjustment-Chinese Mill
- Thread starter Brian Rupnow
- Start date
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I made some more progress today on this project. Both hubs are finished and welded to the sprockets. I didn't realize it, but the sprockets appear to be made from some type of sintered metal.--I'm not sure how good the welds are going to be because of this, but I will take a "Try it and find out" attitude. I also finished the shaft for the bottom sprocket, and got the keyway cut in it to key it to the relocated handwheel.
Hi , just read your post and thought i might contribute to it,I too have a large mill and the handle is on the right behind the drilling handles(very inconvenient ) plus the head is heavy to raise .After a while i removed the handle and installed a chain sprocket and used a 24vdc motor from a childs scooter running on 12vdc.
after a few weeks noticed that something was amiss ,on investigation found that the spur gear had parted from the feed screw alignment. this caused major problems in refitting it (2 days on back under mill) . Decided to alter tack and after trolling the net found someone who had installed a Gas strut -liked the idea and purchased two off flea bay for £10 delivered.Installed both and had to remove one as it made it impossible to wind down but could wind up with your finger,it is now fine about the same up and down. I mentioned the first as a cautionary tale to would be modders (especially chinese machines).
regards coldte
after a few weeks noticed that something was amiss ,on investigation found that the spur gear had parted from the feed screw alignment. this caused major problems in refitting it (2 days on back under mill) . Decided to alter tack and after trolling the net found someone who had installed a Gas strut -liked the idea and purchased two off flea bay for £10 delivered.Installed both and had to remove one as it made it impossible to wind down but could wind up with your finger,it is now fine about the same up and down. I mentioned the first as a cautionary tale to would be modders (especially chinese machines).
regards coldte
Well, there we go. Project is finished. Everything worked out pretty well as I anticipated, and it IS in a much more comfortable position for me to reach that handwheel which raises and lowers the head. Of course, the "proof of the pudding is in the eating" and I will have to try using it this way for a while before I am really sure that I have indeed improved the machine, ergonomically. One good thing about a project like this, it didn't really cost anything other than my time, and if I don't like it, then it is very simple to return to its original condition. As I said in an earlier post, power would have been nice, but then you get into limit switches, power supplies, and all the logistics involved. This way its a lot simpler, and hopefully an improvement over what it was.---Brian
Brian, that is a nice fit, again, copy and paste time, did you put bearing in the two block, is that a 43 chain, how about a close up shot while I am asking, thank again for the great ideas and projects of improvement, Lathe Nut
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Brian, thanks again and again, copy paste and saved to file for hope this winter project, that must be nice to be able to draw thing out before doing them, your good to us, thanks again, Lathe Nut
Hi,
I dont own a bench top machine, but thought I would let you know that the tiltadoors and panel lift doors on garages are operated off a bike chain as well. I know around here the roller companies throw the old units out when instailing new doors, most still have good motors on them. I dont think it would be much trouble to incorparate a 3rd sprocket for power feed using one of those motors, thats if you or the others wanted to go that way in the future.
Just a thought,
Dave.
I dont own a bench top machine, but thought I would let you know that the tiltadoors and panel lift doors on garages are operated off a bike chain as well. I know around here the roller companies throw the old units out when instailing new doors, most still have good motors on them. I dont think it would be much trouble to incorparate a 3rd sprocket for power feed using one of those motors, thats if you or the others wanted to go that way in the future.
Just a thought,
Dave.
Thanks for the tip Dave, will be looking for them now, Lathe Nut
