Tired of cranking the Z

[drs23]

...so I've been looking into power feeds like I have on the X. The prices seem to be all over the map. Enco's having what they're calling a "Blow Out Sale" so I went and checked them out. They want $1485 for the same dadgum thing! (at least it looks identical other than the name sticker) I found one for $320 shipped from CDCO Machinery. It's listed at 150 lbs. like many others I've looked at. It appears to be a rebadged Align like I have on the X. My concern is it's listed for 150 lbs. duty but all I've found so far have been as well.

Is this what you guys with power Zs have used? Or something similar.

 

[Ray C]

...so I've been looking into power feeds like I have on the X. The prices seem to be all over the map. Enco's having what they're calling a "Blow Out Sale" so I went and checked them out. They want $1485 for the same dadgum thing! (at least it looks identical other than the name sticker) I found one for $320 shipped from CDCO Machinery. It's listed at 150 lbs. like many others I've looked at. It appears to be a rebadged Align like I have on the X. My concern is it's listed for 150 lbs. duty but all I've found so far have been as well.

Is this what you guys with power Zs have used? Or something similar.

Yeah, what he said... Let me know when you find a high-torque, slow speed motor that doesn't cost more than the mill. I'm really tired of the hand crank on my PM45. Yeah, I know, lots of different attachments out there but none are anywhere near close to "plug and play" and I don't have the time for another project.

Ray

 

[darkzero]

I'm assuming for a BP or similar knee mill?

Here's a cheaper solution to use with a drill. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bridgeport-...=BI_Heavy_Equipment_Parts&hash=item460ced72c0

Adam talks about it in a video below, says they are slightly oversized to fit a 1/2 drill chuck properly but work fine. You could probably easily make your own though. I would also rather get a dedicated power feed for it but wow, those are pricey for BPs.


[video=youtube_share;ogQDmUCJc34]http://youtu.be/ogQDmUCJc34?t=9m53s[/video]

 

[JimDawson]

In my opinion Servo brand is the only way to go. Cheap, no, but they work. I have had problems with the Servo knockoffs.

 

[darkzero]

In my opinion Servo brand is the only way to go.

+1

That's what I have heard also. Shars carries the ALGS brand. I have heard of these failing over time. Also hear of the main gear stripping but that's more of a user error & cause it's plastic. I don't have a BP/knee mill but my mill came with a ALSGS power feed. Mine hasn't smoked yet but it's for the X axis. I bought an extra gear to have on hand just in case. So far so good.

 

[drs23]

In my opinion Servo brand is the only way to go. Cheap, no, but they work. I have had problems with the Servo knockoffs.

Thanks for the reply Jim but I'm glad I was already sitting down or I'd have fallen down! 724 duckin' fallers + shipping! It's made right here on our soil and I'd love to be able to stretch that far, just can't. My friend who works in a job shop that's had the Align brand on all their mills forever can get parts for nothing or next to. Looking at the Servo brand the parts "look" just like the Align innerds plus the fact the Align brand/clone is "rated" for +10 in lbs. more as in 150 vs. 140.

I'm on the verge of "guinea pigging" this unit for the masses. I'm waiting on a couple or email responses. If I don't hear anything back in the next couple of days I'm going to pull the trigger on the cheapie. I'll report back with honest details.

Thanks for all the replies guys,

Dale

 

[LJP]

Look on YouTube for "Shadon HKW" he has a vid named "DoAll mill tour". He added a low speed, high torque air motor to raise the Z. I seem to remember the air motor was about $450. Home built job that looks pretty good.
Stan is a good guy, I have traded emails with him. I am sure he would answer any questions you may have about how he built it.
Larry
Here is the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y9...Iz50L3g_Ps73s41qtJT&feature=player_detailpage

 

[Pontiac Freak]

I got tired of lifting and lowering the table but didn't have the $$ to do power yet so I got the 1/2 drill adapter and have thoroughly enjoyed it so far. It does do power feed up or down for boring but for everyday jobs of lifting and lowering the table it works well on my setup. I use a dewalt cordless drill on it. Bought it on Ebay.

 

[dave2176]

Have you tried talking jbolt out of the one he took off his PM932 for the CNC conversion. Probably just taking up shelf space. :whistle:



Dave

 

[TomS]

I adapted a 12V DC RV slideout gear motor to my round column belt drive mill drill. I bought if off Ebay for $200 including shipping. You may be thinking that a round column mill drill head such as mine doesn't weigh nearly what a geared head weighs. Keep in mind that an RV slideout weighs several hundred pounds. Not to mention the friction associated with the RV slide mechanism. Moves the head up and down without straining a bit.

Motor specs are:

12V DC at 30 amps max

59:1 ratio (96 rpm output)

170 in. lbs. of torque

The pictures below don't show a lot of the detail but the adapter is a simple tube and flange arrangement. The gear motor is coupled to the Z axis mechanism with a LoveJoy coupling.

This may be the answer you are looking for.

Tom S