Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get tool plans

User Tag List

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 27

Thread: Drill Press DRO

  1. #1
    PJs
    PJs is offline
    Supporting Member PJs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Northern CA
    Posts
    1,844
    Thanks
    8,431
    Thanked 1,129 Times in 725 Posts

    PJs's Tools

    Drill Press DRO

    I'm finally posting a recent project here on this great forum...to add another DRO to the big list here. I've been wanting some kind of DRO for my drill press for quite a while now and finally came up with something for my Cheep and Cheerful modus. It ended up being a bit more convoluted than I thought with some obstacles to get through but here it is. I have added a full write up on my website with more pictures and dissertation. Hopefully some might find it useful. ~PJ

    Drill Press DRO-dp_dro14_web.jpg Drill Press DRO-dp_dro12_web.jpg

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. The Following 17 Users Say Thank You to PJs For This Useful Post:

    12L14 (Jul 31, 2019), blkadder (Aug 13, 2015), C-Bag (Aug 11, 2015), carloski (Sep 27, 2022), crahar (Aug 13, 2015), grandviewdoug (Oct 28, 2017), jere (Aug 11, 2015), Jon (Aug 11, 2015), kbalch (Aug 12, 2015), kboy0076 (Jan 5, 2023), knoba (Aug 12, 2015), morsa (Aug 15, 2015), nova_robotics (Aug 24, 2021), oktimo (Aug 21, 2021), Paul Jones (Aug 11, 2015), Tonyg (Jul 6, 2019), total (May 12, 2017)

  3. #2
    Supporting Member C-Bag's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    California, central coast
    Posts
    720
    Thanks
    689
    Thanked 879 Times in 471 Posts

    C-Bag's Tools
    Good job PJs and thanks for the tip about the screws. That must have really thrown you for a loop to have the caliper quit on you. I also have experienced the intense head scratch of how to adapt existing materials into the desired end. I put a dro on my mill drill but had a stop mechanism to attach to unlike your drill setup.

    There are so many novel ideas out there for modding HFTs. One of the best ones I got was putting this circular LED light array that's usually put on cars called "angel eye" running lights on the quill of the mill drill. I think it's like 30 LEDS and runs on a little 12v power wall wart encircling the quill. Nice and bright, nothing to look around and best of all no shadows! I think the lite and power pack were somewhere around $30.

    2,000+ Tool Plans

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to C-Bag For This Useful Post:

    PJs (Aug 12, 2015)

  5. #3
    Supporting Member Paul Jones's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Del Mar, California
    Posts
    1,231
    Thanks
    5,810
    Thanked 1,461 Times in 657 Posts

    Paul Jones's Tools
    PJs,
    I like the insight provided on your website about the screws. The combination of your spindle clamp and hose clamp solved a tricky assembly problem and looks great. I have been considering adding a DRO to my drill press. Thanks for the posting and new ideas.
    Paul

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to Paul Jones For This Useful Post:

    PJs (Aug 12, 2015)

  7. #4
    Supporting Member knoba's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Sussex, England
    Posts
    94
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked 129 Times in 58 Posts

    knoba's Tools
    That is completely wicked! What a great mod. Nicely executed too, PJs!

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to knoba For This Useful Post:

    PJs (Aug 12, 2015)

  9. #5
    PJs
    PJs is offline
    Supporting Member PJs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Northern CA
    Posts
    1,844
    Thanks
    8,431
    Thanked 1,129 Times in 725 Posts

    PJs's Tools
    Thanks C-Bag! Glad to be of service on the screw torque issue, just my nature not to give up and toss something. Much rather figure it out...then toss it in spares bin if need be. Each case is pretty unique I think but sometimes a spark can send someone in the right direction. That's what I love about this forum!!

    I try not to limit myself to HFT mods but they always need something and there are a lot of creative ones out there! I've been eyeballing one of those angel eyes, mainly for my brothers new mill, but the 50-60mm might work for mine. For me another wall wart might shut off the lights in Cincinnati! But have some LiPo's left from another project that might work...have to check the current draw first.
    ‘‘Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.’’
    Mark Twain

  10. #6
    PJs
    PJs is offline
    Supporting Member PJs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Northern CA
    Posts
    1,844
    Thanks
    8,431
    Thanked 1,129 Times in 725 Posts

    PJs's Tools
    Thanks Paul, the clamp did seem the quick simple solution to a cheap and cheerful project. Glad to share on the screw issue. Looking forward to what you come up with!
    ‘‘Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.’’
    Mark Twain

  11. #7
    PJs
    PJs is offline
    Supporting Member PJs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Northern CA
    Posts
    1,844
    Thanks
    8,431
    Thanked 1,129 Times in 725 Posts

    PJs's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by knoba View Post
    That is completely wicked! What a great mod. Nicely executed too, PJs!
    Thanks for the kind words Knoba...Wicked from you, makes my day!
    ‘‘Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.’’
    Mark Twain

  12. #8
    kbalch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Clermont, FL
    Posts
    5,034
    Thanks
    2,275
    Thanked 532 Times in 384 Posts
    Thanks PJs! I've added your Drill Press DRO to our Digital Readouts and Drilling and Drill Presses categories, as well as to your builder page: PJs' Homemade Tools. Your receipt:


  13. The Following User Says Thank You to kbalch For This Useful Post:

    PJs (Aug 12, 2015)

  14. #9
    PJs
    PJs is offline
    Supporting Member PJs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Northern CA
    Posts
    1,844
    Thanks
    8,431
    Thanked 1,129 Times in 725 Posts

    PJs's Tools
    Thanks Very Much, Ken!
    ‘‘Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.’’
    Mark Twain

  15. #10
    Supporting Member C-Bag's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    California, central coast
    Posts
    720
    Thanks
    689
    Thanked 879 Times in 471 Posts

    C-Bag's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by PJs View Post
    . For me another wall wart might shut off the lights in Cincinnati! But have some LiPo's left from another project that might work...have to check the current draw first.
    LOL, I know that problem very intimately! My garage shop is all on castors to be able to reconfigure for the process at hand. That's the only thing that keeps the electrical situation from getting out of hand. But that is on the list for a complete redo. I think you'll be shocked at what a difference those angel eyes make and they don' draw anything but the wall wart is a little inconvenient. So there's always a trade off.

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to C-Bag For This Useful Post:

    PJs (Aug 12, 2015)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •