MetalworkingFun Forum

Even though I haven't been to work since I broke my shoulder in July, the boss sent me a good bonus with his Christmas card. When I was trying to decide what to use it for, I remembered that I would like to add a power drive to my mill/drill's X-axis. I ordered one off eBay and it arrived in only about a week. Since the eBay listing doesn't say which machines it will fit, I ended up with the wrong one. Good thing I have a machine shop.

If I adapted the drive to fit on the leadscrew, I would have lost 6 or 7 inches of travel. Here's the original arrangement.
[attachment=14072]

I made up an extension mount to give back the travel I would have lost.
[attachment=14073]

And a shaft extension. Trial fitting the Woodruff key after cutting the slot.
[attachment=14074]

Almost done.
[attachment=14075]

Then, an adapter sleeve to mount the original dial.
[attachment=14076]

I haven't used it much yet. I'm really looking forward to not having to turn the crank on long cuts.

I'm doing something similar with my mill. It's an oldie, maybe even before power feed was discovered :) It's from a bridgeport and fortunately I won't lose any travel. I picked up bridgeport dials for it so it looks better (and these old eyes can see it).

That said, when I add the DRO to it I'm going to need to extend the Y axis feed handle. I like what you did! I may have to do something similar - smaller tubing tho. That is tubing,. isn't it? The one pic makes me think you bored out a solid bar.

(01-05-2017, 12:24 AM)Vinny Wrote: [ -> ]That is tubing,. isn't it? The one pic makes me think you bored out a solid bar.

I believe that's solid. I thought the same until I took another look at it. It appears the end was mill off rather than faced off on the lathe and it looks like he's center drilling the end. I could be wrong though.

Ed

EDIT: And looking again, I think he must have welded on a solid end to the tubing.

3" pipe. Machine end is as seen, plate welded on. Crank end is a bit different method. I welded on a 2" long piece of 3 1/2" diameter stock, then cut it off on the bandsaw. As noted, it was finished off with a 1 1/2" carbide face mill in the horizontal mill.