This is my first contribution to the forum
This project began over a year ago. Shortly after buying an X2 mill I immediately saw the need for a powerfeed and research showed most homebrew feeds were made from auto wiper motors, soooooo a quick trip to the local auto scrap yard and $15 later I was ready to start. After many failed attempts at trying various power supplies (I have very little electronic knowledge) I put the whole thing aside while I worked on other things.
Fast forward to about 2 weeks ago and I came across a post describing a powerfeed made from a cordless drill. Hmmm, interesting, I had an old Dewalt 14.4 cordless lying around not doing anything, so I figured lets try this thing again.
First I want to see about getting power to it, so I dusted off a nice power supply I got on Fleabay while working on the first one (it has a 1v to 15v - 6a variable mode and a 13v - 10a mode). So I crack open the drill case and jump the power directly to the motor, and pretty as you please it runs just fine. I suspect I got a bad wiper motor the first time. Now that I knew it would work I cut the handle off of the drill and soldered extensions to the leads coming from the motor.
Next step was to make a drill to leadscrew adapter. I cut a piece of 3/4 alum stock, chucked it up in the lathe, faced, center drilled and then drilled it out to ½ dia 1 inch deep to fit over the end of the mill x axis lead screw (which fortunately was already slotted for a powerfeed). I then flipped the piece around and repeated the same procedure on the other end to fit over the arbor of the drill, also ½ dia and 5/8 deep. Then off to the mill to drill two 5/32 holes for the pin and 10-24 set screws to mount the adapter. I used my own version of the MK-2 eyeball to line up the centerline of the piece (a special thanks here to Sir John you da Man) I then ground two flats on the arbor of the drill as a land for the set screws.
Next up was an adapter to mount to the mill. I considered making an elaborate sliding mount to disengage the unit when using the hand wheel using steel rods and a cam action handle, but to my surprise I found that when the drill is in the high speed range (1400 rpm) the hand wheel turns just fine. I used some 4x4 ¼ alum angle I had around to make the mounting plate. Marked out and drilled holes to match the mill end and one for the shaft to pass through. I next fabbed a box, mounted the box to the angle and made a contoured seat for the drill to nest in from some ¾ solid pvc I had lying around, mounted the drill with a strap of .050 alum sheet - isnt it great when you actually use some of the stuff youve been saving, the problem though is remembering what you have and where the devil you put it. I made a removable top so I can change the speed range when needed and access the clutch, which I left on. In the original post the clutch was used on a low setting so it would slip if the mill jammed or ran to the end.
I wired up a double pole double throw switch (I had to Google how to do that), then installed the unit on the mill, ran the wire to the power supply, turn it on, flip the switch and there she goes, table moving along nicely! I stop it, hit reverse and .. Whoa! it keeps going forward! I told you I didnt know anything about electronics. Any way I just forgot to cross the two jumper wires on the switch. After I changed that around all is well.
I am still experimenting with speeds, It seems that leaving it in the slow range (400rpm) and running around 10v will be the best for general milling. I had thought originally to move the switch from the power supply to the feed box, but wanted to keep it simple for now and to make sure it would work. I also am working out a lever to operate the speed range button on the drill to get rapid traversing.
I dont remember what forum or web page I saw the post on, but I want to thank the author, it inspired me to get off my duff and do it.
Bill
P.S. Anyone want an old wiper motor
This project began over a year ago. Shortly after buying an X2 mill I immediately saw the need for a powerfeed and research showed most homebrew feeds were made from auto wiper motors, soooooo a quick trip to the local auto scrap yard and $15 later I was ready to start. After many failed attempts at trying various power supplies (I have very little electronic knowledge) I put the whole thing aside while I worked on other things.
Fast forward to about 2 weeks ago and I came across a post describing a powerfeed made from a cordless drill. Hmmm, interesting, I had an old Dewalt 14.4 cordless lying around not doing anything, so I figured lets try this thing again.
First I want to see about getting power to it, so I dusted off a nice power supply I got on Fleabay while working on the first one (it has a 1v to 15v - 6a variable mode and a 13v - 10a mode). So I crack open the drill case and jump the power directly to the motor, and pretty as you please it runs just fine. I suspect I got a bad wiper motor the first time. Now that I knew it would work I cut the handle off of the drill and soldered extensions to the leads coming from the motor.
Next step was to make a drill to leadscrew adapter. I cut a piece of 3/4 alum stock, chucked it up in the lathe, faced, center drilled and then drilled it out to ½ dia 1 inch deep to fit over the end of the mill x axis lead screw (which fortunately was already slotted for a powerfeed). I then flipped the piece around and repeated the same procedure on the other end to fit over the arbor of the drill, also ½ dia and 5/8 deep. Then off to the mill to drill two 5/32 holes for the pin and 10-24 set screws to mount the adapter. I used my own version of the MK-2 eyeball to line up the centerline of the piece (a special thanks here to Sir John you da Man) I then ground two flats on the arbor of the drill as a land for the set screws.
Next up was an adapter to mount to the mill. I considered making an elaborate sliding mount to disengage the unit when using the hand wheel using steel rods and a cam action handle, but to my surprise I found that when the drill is in the high speed range (1400 rpm) the hand wheel turns just fine. I used some 4x4 ¼ alum angle I had around to make the mounting plate. Marked out and drilled holes to match the mill end and one for the shaft to pass through. I next fabbed a box, mounted the box to the angle and made a contoured seat for the drill to nest in from some ¾ solid pvc I had lying around, mounted the drill with a strap of .050 alum sheet - isnt it great when you actually use some of the stuff youve been saving, the problem though is remembering what you have and where the devil you put it. I made a removable top so I can change the speed range when needed and access the clutch, which I left on. In the original post the clutch was used on a low setting so it would slip if the mill jammed or ran to the end.
I wired up a double pole double throw switch (I had to Google how to do that), then installed the unit on the mill, ran the wire to the power supply, turn it on, flip the switch and there she goes, table moving along nicely! I stop it, hit reverse and .. Whoa! it keeps going forward! I told you I didnt know anything about electronics. Any way I just forgot to cross the two jumper wires on the switch. After I changed that around all is well.
I am still experimenting with speeds, It seems that leaving it in the slow range (400rpm) and running around 10v will be the best for general milling. I had thought originally to move the switch from the power supply to the feed box, but wanted to keep it simple for now and to make sure it would work. I also am working out a lever to operate the speed range button on the drill to get rapid traversing.
I dont remember what forum or web page I saw the post on, but I want to thank the author, it inspired me to get off my duff and do it.
Bill
P.S. Anyone want an old wiper motor
