Martin Models Die Filer

[Admiral_dk]

Great waypoint in the build and not long before a very useful result 

Per       

[cnr6400]

  looking great Kim!

[Dave Otto]

Nice and smooth!

Dave

[Kim]

Thanks Chris, Per, Jeff, and Dave! 

Kim

[Roger B]

It moves  Looking good   

[bent]

Looking good Kim! 

[Kim]

Thanks Roger and Bent! 

I've completed the last of the components for the Die Filer - the file collets and the shield.  It all looks great, and I'll post some pictures pretty soon.  I left my camera out in the shop, and it's not really worth a trip ALL the way out there for it.  It's not really that exciting - it doesn't look much different than what I've already shared.

Now I'm working on mounting it all on a base, with a motor and controller. I just made a bracket to hold the motor, but I still have to mount everything.  It's surprising how much little fiddly work goes into 'completing' a project like this!  Maybe one more shop session?  But likely not till Thursday. On Wednesday's I don't tend to have any shop time.  Being retired is much more work than you think! 

Kim

[Kim]

A few days ago, I completed the file collets (top two parts) and the swarf guard (bottom two parts).  I have both 1/4" shank files and 1/8” shank files, so my collet is a little different from what is shown on the plan, but not much 


I purchased a variable-speed DC motor off eBay.  It was the best deal I could find with the features I wanted, and it seems to be working out well.  I had originally thought about using a treadmill motor, but those were more expensive, and usually didn’t come with the controller. When they did, they were twice as expensive.  This one was just about $180 and has WAY plenty of power.  I was looking for something in the 1/4 HP area, but this is more like 1.5 HP.  But as I said, it met all my other criteria, including being the least expensive option.

After a couple of days spent figuring out how best to mount everything, here now is my completed die filer!




And a short video to show that it is actually alive and working!
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaT8XgKLWmo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaT8XgKLWmo</a>

I can’t wait to use it on my clock project!

But I have to clean up the mess on my assembly table first! 

Kim

[crueby]

Great result!!  Looks like a good range of speed on the motor, and it doesn't hop all over the table. Looking forward to seeing more on the clock!
 

[cnr6400]

  That's looking great Kim, and working well. The speed control will make dialing in settings for individual files and metals easy. Very nice. You didn't happen to make a second one, to send to me, did you?       

[Kim]

Thanks Chris and CNR 

No, only made one I'm afraid!  But I know Gary has more if you wanna pick up the set of castings. I can tell you they are VERY nice to work with! And so is Gary.    I would highly recommend them.

Kim

[RReid]

That's a very nice tool you've made there, Kim. Well done, as usual! With 1.5 hp it should file it's way through your entire steel stock! (I know you really meant 1/5 hp )

[Kim]

Thanks Ron!

Actually, I did mean 1.5 HP, though  I may be mistaken.  The listing didn’t actually rate the motor in HP, it rated it as 1100 Watts.  I did a conversion from watts to HP and came up with 1.475 HP, which I rounded to 1.5HP.  But I’m no expert at this, so I may be misapplying my unit conversions.  It’s been known to happen! 

This is the motor I got: https://www.ebay.com/itm/266946093767


And here’s the stats that they provide.


Regardless of the actual power of the motor, I think you’re right!  It should be able to file its way through just about anything I've got!

Kim

[Admiral_dk]

Great result Kim 

.... and now back to "Clockwork Orange" - sorry, not the right color 

Per           

[Kim]

Great result Kim 

.... and now back to "Clockwork Orange" - sorry, not the right color 

Per