Power column elevator for HF mill

[jhowelb]

The purist among you should read elsewhere for your amusement as this project is pure redneck engineering!!

As I pass my 65th birth day, the act of cranking the head of my mill up and down gets less appealing and due to my ever present oxygen tube (COPD), it is approaching impossible.

While musing this quandary, my eyes happened to fall upon the motor once used to power the mill table before I converted to CNC and my old brain hit passing gear! Why not use that expensive piece of junk to make life better?!

The two pictures below show the height adjuster with the crank removed and the left over parts of the power unit. The red circular item adapted the unit to the table end using the stock lead screw.

[jhowelb]

The first order of business is to machine a landing on the casting removed from the mill.

Yup, I told you about the redneck in my tendencies!

The little CNC lathe made a real snug press fit landing the first try with no mishaps and no sweat. Gad I love CNC equipment!!!

Notice how short the shaft is on the worm drive!

[jhowelb]

A little more Oakie Engineering helps me drill and tap holes to secure the adapter plate on my newly made landing and the motor in one swoop!!

[jhowelb]

Now as to that short shaft on the worm screw, a 1" deep hole with a 3/8" drill bit provides a receiver. A trip to the scrap box yields a short piece of 3/4' bar stock which I turned to the same o.d. as the worm and then turned 3/4" of one end to .004 greater than the i.d. just drilled. A hammer applied to one end of the stock drives the two together for ever. Presto! A longer worm shaft!!

And yes, that is a 6" chuck on that little lathe. What would you expect from a redneck??

[jhowelb]

Unused parts from the mill table give me piece with three lugs that match the lugs in the brass bevel gear and that Oh-So-Handy CNC lathe face off some unnecessary metal. A 1/4" bolt makes a set screw and the unit is mounted and work great!!

[MIKE JEFFERS]

love it

blokes in sheds ,aint we kin great

[Andre' B]

Originally Posted by jhowelb And yes, that is a 6" chuck on that little lathe. What would you expect from a redneck??

Being used without top jaws no less.