I have tried several different lights: incandescent, florescent, and LED, and have not been happy with any of them, so I build my own.
It is based on an Alpena SpotLite, dual LED package from Auto Zone. http://www.autozone.com/lighting/led-lighting/alpena-led-spot-lite/111799_0_0/
I want this to work for both milling and drilling, to avoid being blocked by the drill chuck, the LEDs need to be mounted on arms and aimed at an appropriate angle that gives good illumination both close in (milling) and further out (drilling). Here is the mounting assembly
BOM:
(1) Alpena SpotLite package (includes 2 9V batteries)
(1) 2" x 1.5" x 1/8" steel (mounting plate)
(2) 2.5" lengths of 1/2"square steel tubing, (angle arms)
(2) 2.5" lengths of 1/4-20 All Thread (extension arms)
(2) 1" fender washers (LED mount plates)
(1) miniature push-on/push-off SPST switch
8" steel strapping (battery mount)
(2) 9 volt battery connectors
(2) M5-.8 x 12mm SHCS, with flat and lock washers
(1) 5/16 NC 18 x 2" bolt (battery mount)
The angle arms were drilled and tapped, then notched and welded to the mounting bracket.
The extensions arms were bent and welded to the fender washers. These arms, with wingnuts are threaded into the angle brackets. This allows a bit of adjustment in the Y-axis (fore and aft) direction if needed sometime.
The battery mount uses steel strapping and a bolt into a now unused hole on my mill. (I have the LMS air spring, this hole was, I think, from the factory spring arm.) The lamp assembly mounts where the chip shield should be; my used mill didn't have one.) Alpena's momentary contact switch was replaced by a push-on/push-off latching SPST switch and the LEDs, switch, and battery connections wired up.
And the completed lamp, installed and in use. It works great!
Greg
It is based on an Alpena SpotLite, dual LED package from Auto Zone. http://www.autozone.com/lighting/led-lighting/alpena-led-spot-lite/111799_0_0/
I want this to work for both milling and drilling, to avoid being blocked by the drill chuck, the LEDs need to be mounted on arms and aimed at an appropriate angle that gives good illumination both close in (milling) and further out (drilling). Here is the mounting assembly
BOM:
(1) Alpena SpotLite package (includes 2 9V batteries)
(1) 2" x 1.5" x 1/8" steel (mounting plate)
(2) 2.5" lengths of 1/2"square steel tubing, (angle arms)
(2) 2.5" lengths of 1/4-20 All Thread (extension arms)
(2) 1" fender washers (LED mount plates)
(1) miniature push-on/push-off SPST switch
8" steel strapping (battery mount)
(2) 9 volt battery connectors
(2) M5-.8 x 12mm SHCS, with flat and lock washers
(1) 5/16 NC 18 x 2" bolt (battery mount)
The angle arms were drilled and tapped, then notched and welded to the mounting bracket.
The extensions arms were bent and welded to the fender washers. These arms, with wingnuts are threaded into the angle brackets. This allows a bit of adjustment in the Y-axis (fore and aft) direction if needed sometime.
The battery mount uses steel strapping and a bolt into a now unused hole on my mill. (I have the LMS air spring, this hole was, I think, from the factory spring arm.) The lamp assembly mounts where the chip shield should be; my used mill didn't have one.) Alpena's momentary contact switch was replaced by a push-on/push-off latching SPST switch and the LEDs, switch, and battery connections wired up.
And the completed lamp, installed and in use. It works great!
Greg
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