My first knee mill

[Aaron_W]

Well no pictures today. Just some information in hopes of some suggestions.

First, the quill won't fully extend. It stops a bit short. I feel like I could force it, but am hesitant to inadvertently scratch, scar, of break something. Any ideas?
Secondly, the missing power feed is fine. I know I'll never find a working original. But the PO stuck a handwheel on that side which I believe belongs on a little lathe. I'm torn between ignoring it, buying a servo power feed, and making some kind of cap, or painstakingly trying to make realistic replacements of dial and handwheel by copying the left side unit. What would you do?
Lastly for now, the motor leads are toast, and I believe the windings are open. It's a dual voltage single phase motor. Again, what would you do? Three phase and VFD? The motor shaft is over 4" long. Looks expensive. Lol

Good to find out why the quill won't extend but not that big of a deal in the short term as long as it isn't damaged. The only time I use the quill is drilling, the knee is much more accurate and solid when milling.

 

[Bob Korves]

What brand and model is that mill?

 

[jwmay]

Rockwell Delta 21-100

 

[john.oliver35]

If you are open to a 3Ph motor and a VFD, then I would recommend that. I have a 21-100 on single phase. The minimum spindle speed is 370RPM. I have had several instances where I would have liked to have had a slower speed.

 

[jwmay]

My only dilemma is the shaft length. I saw a guy had made an extension for his and I just can't believe it'd hold up. I imagine there's plenty of bending force being applied to the motor output shaft. Having a "splice" outboard of both bearings doesn't seem sturdy at all. But only that guy could say I guess.

 

[jwmay]

Dual voltage single phase motor troubleshooting

I've got a dual voltage single phase motor I'm really trying to will back to life here. I thought the motor leads were damaged but they aren't. It all looks fine. I'm used to three phase motors, but don't know what I'm doing with this. The internet didn't yield anything I didn't know. The...

www.hobby-machinist.com

There's my topic on the motor. Cliffs Notes version is that the motor is fine, and the only thing wrong with it was a lazy repairman..me. So honestly, the lazy repairman is also pretty cheap, and probably won't be switching to three phase with VFD unless some ridiculous bargain slaps me in the face. But if anyone with this mill and the 3 phase motor wants to trade motors, do let me know.
This problem was the only one of any significance that I had with the mill. I guess I'll get my Servo power feed ordered while I keep scrubbing!

 

[jwmay]

More good news: The quill is also fine. After looking over a few pictures on the internet, I decided to measure the downfeed travel. Sure enough, someone at some point moved one of the quill locking nuts to the top of the depth indicator. I guess they got a little more travel out of it that way. I've got it taken apart. I'm going to clean the pieces, get as much junk out of the quill as I can, and put it back together as it was originally built.

 

[jwmay]

Chased the threads on the screw, cleaned, and deburred. All is as it should be now I think.
I'm starting to think this whole job would have been easier if I had disassembled it. There's so much crud. Everywhere I look, and places I thought I already looked. Kerosene though seems to be the answer. Kerosene and a brass brush.
First photo shows where the power feed was removed, and what was done so they could use it.

 

[jwmay]

Well with any luck, there won't be cause to remove the table

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[jwmay]

The power feed side was machined into what it is. Now it's deburred too. It's a cast aluminum part, and there's the bearing number for the handwheel just so it's saved for all time. Also found somebodies oops in the bearing housing.