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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    1015

    power head to raise and lower non cnc

    has anyone build a power head to raise and lower the head? i have a manual IH mill as well as a cnc model and it gets to be a pain to get to the handle and crank the head up and down. really kills the productivity. if no one has one then i will start working on one and post some pics as i go.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    33
    I would love to see you do that! Might give me an idea how to make mine! Been wanting to put one together for awhile but was stuck on creativity of exactly how to do it. Let the chips fly!!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    1015
    i was really hoping not to be the pioneer on this effort. my current thought is to drive the crank handle, but leave the handle in place just in case or for fine adjustment. ultimately its far enough in the back of the machine that no one would get hit while its spinning.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    33
    I thought about making an attachment pulley of some sort to fit over the shaft coming out of the column. The handle would be discarded. Maybe then use a DC motor with a speed controller to regulate how fast the the pulley attached to the shaft would turn. All I would then need to do is figure out what size pulley & motor I would need to turn the thing to make it work. Doesn`t seem like it would take too long to do but there are always the design & debugging stages where you mod, mod & mod some more. Then it works & several nights have passed. I usually forget about all of that later down the road after I am enjoying the fruits of my labors. I know my back would!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    390
    Look back at the old posts in this forum. There was someone who added a 90V DC gearhead motor. It was nearly a direct connection after making the mounting plate.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    97
    Not wishing to totally reinvent the wheel I've been toying with the idea of adapting the motor & mechanism from an inexpensive ATV winch.

    Tractor Supply has some cheapies on sale, certainly cheap enough for a "proof of concept" exercise in turning that crank handle shaft.

    Rather let the smoke out of one of those than my shoulder!

    Here ya go; http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...g=true&cFlag=1


    Actually, I think this Warn might be better;
    https://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp...http:ClickInfo

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    1015
    i did some rough calculations yesterday and came with about 10 in lbs of torque needed to move the head from a stationary position. mind you this is ignoring friction on the ways. i have a 40 in lb gear motor here that runs on 90vdc and i have a variable speed control to test with. the only thing i'm wondering now is if its worth while to go to a toothed timing belt or use a chain drive. i do still want to retain the handle. i will be starting work on this hopefully today or tomorrow. i will keep you posted.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    249
    Just to add something... I have put two 80lb gas springs underneath my head. I need to fasten them, but they help tremendously! Since this is non cnc, the backlash is irrelevant. You can definetly feel it as you crank the handle the other way. But it has made lifting the head almost feather light. I would highly recommend it. I got the gas springs from SurplusCenter.com

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    1015
    can you post some pics of how you installed them?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    2010
    I've never been called a pioneer but I put a power elevator on my HF mill.
    http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43850
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails DCP_2719s.JPG  

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    1015
    nice work. that lends some credence to my calculations as those motors run at about 40 in/lbs. and if you figure another 10-15 in/lbs in friction, i can see how that motor will work.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    2010
    All compliments are accepted with relish! (LOL)

    I have to turn the speed control all the way down, turn it on by selecting up or down and then ease up the speed control or else the thing will sail past the mark. Oooodles and gobs of power to spare.

    Mine was just lying about after being replaced, otherwise the price is prohibitive. Perhaps if you could locate one in a flea sale?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    33
    Hey Runner, Had any luck with the project? Hadn`t seen you post anything more on this thread. If you`re like me, probably been busy with the holidays & all.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    1015
    i haven't made any progress on this recently due to the holidays. hopefully now that they are behind us progress can resume soon. i have a gear motor here at the shop that should have enough torque to move it. i also have a motor speed controller here as well. all i need now is to find a good way to drive the crank. i was thinking direct drive but then i have to fab a large mounting assembly and i lose the crank. the next thought was a chain drive or belt drive. i fear the belt will slip unless i use an expensive cog timing belt. i like the chain drive idea but i need to order parts for that.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    277
    There are a bunch of guys on the yahoo mill drill group that have made Z power lifts, at least one of them is a IH mill, the rest are rf45s. There are a lot of pics of various setups in the photo section there. One guy used a right angle head off a grinder because it had a 4 to 1 reduction and attached his gearmotor to that.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    626
    I have been quietly working on this for my HM-45 Mill as well. I have a big arse 24V DC(4.5A) gearmotor, with an output of approx 140 rpm, but work has stalled as I contemplate some sort of counterbalance for the head weight. I think it will be just too much load for the gearmotor to drive the head without it.
    I am thinking pulley's and a weight or gas struts...neither which really appeal to me.
    The weight/pulley system would be a bit messy and I can't find gas struts with enough travel. ( I have been told that they tend to fade as well...)
    I also don't know exactly what the head/motor weighs. I guess a ballpark figure would suffice.
    I will post some pics when I get get further down the track.

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