Power LED light for the mill

[Christophe Mineau]

I made a custom light for my mill, based on a 10W power LED

These kinds of LEDs are really amazing, they provide a really bright and warm enough light, they, overall, have a low consumption, and they are really insensitive to vibrations.
The only difficulty you have to deal with is the heat they can generate and the power supply.
For the power supply, you must take care that LEDs are not driven by tension, but by current. You absolutely need a "LED driver", the only possibility to get the full light power from your LED. It is a common mistake to see on the Web this kind of Led driven using a voltage regulator, this will not give you the maximum light possible with your LED.

For the heat, I built a solid body aluminum case, and fixed the LED using heat grease, just like you can do with a microprocessor in a computer.
This is also the reason why in a previous post I showed how I cut a circular glass lens. If it was not the heat, I would probably have cut it out of acrylic, but here I needed glass.

Here are the separate pieces (I got the LED and driver on eBAY) :


The Led, with heat grease :






The bracket to fix it under the mill head, in the cavity. Several holes to be able to set up the depth and orientation.


Here it is in place :



I installed the driver and a switch in the command box of the mill.


The new switch, top right.


And here we go, plenty of light !

[Paul Jones]

Hi Christophe,

The LED light design looks well designed and very useful beyond the machine shop. The lights would be a great addition in the kitchen for tiny spotlights under the kitchen cabinets for additional light to the kitchen counter tops.

Regards,

Paul

[skibo]

HI, Does the driver plug into normal 110 voltage? I could look into building one for my drill press, even though it has a built in light, I could reduce the amount of watts I use in my shop and have better utilized light!
skibo

[Christophe Mineau]

Hi Skibo,
Look at ebay, I see they now sell the combo LED+driver for nothing from China (up to 100W !) :
10/20/30/50/ 100W LED SMD Puce Ampoule LED Chip Pour Lampe Outdoor Flood Lights | eBay

If you look at the Driver spec, it says :
10W
Input:AC 85V-240V 50/60Hz
Output:9-12V

Christophe

[Ralphxyz]

Thank you, Christophe finally I am starting to understand what and why LED driver. Not sure what a tension driver is but I understand current.

I just finished my Mill table light (Clausing 8520 Vertical Mill)

The LED ring I used does not require a heatsink, if it did I probable would just use the spindle.

Nice project.

Ralph

[toma]

Professionally made project, with good understanding of problem, congratulation ...

[Christophe Mineau]

I am starting to understand what and why LED driver. Not sure what a tension driver is but I understand current.

Hi Ralph,
Just to illustrate the LED power supply issue, here is a little sketch I quickly made :


You see that to get the maximum light power, it's easier to fix the current to what you want it to be than to fix the tension V. The zone of tension in order to get the desired current is not well defined, especially depending on the build process of the LED, so it's easier and safer to fix the current.
That's what the LED drivers are made for, deliver a fixed current, whatever the tension is (in certain limits of course)

Thanks everybody for the kind words !
Christophe

[DIYer]

Thanks Christophe Mineau! We've added your Mill Light to our Lighting category,
as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Mill Light by Christophe Mineau

tags: light, power supply, LED

[Lance Maskell]

Great idea I think I will have a crack at this, I look for lighting when filming for my little youtube channel.

[skibo]

Hi Chistophe,
I looked at those on the link and went on Ebay to look at the same ones selling in the US and the persons seller feedback wasn't that good. I know it's a cheap price and all, but I'm thinking on it while I'm doing a little more looking.
Thanks