King Midas mill conversion

[Robin Hewitt]

The sensitive drill part is really useful when you come to hammer a collet out of the taper, it gives you something to hammer against.

Best if you can release the Z axis screw before you hammer so you aren't bashing against expensive ball nuts and bearings.

[diy-john]

Good point Robin. Thanks!

Alternatively, perhaps one could use the lever on the left hand side of the quill, to lock it (during hammering)
- Not sure though is it strong enough / meant for that purpose.

Hoping to receive some bearing mounts, before weekend, so would have something to play with..

[diy-john]

Status -update:

[x] received six (6) bearing mounts for the ballscrew -bearings
- a small local workshop made them for me.
- these are temporary bearing mounts, but very good at such.



- Holes for bearing are 32mm in diameter. Used heat to expand the mounts, so that bearings would go in easier. Holes are quite tight and precise, think it is impossible to remove the bearings in one piece.



[x] continued with a temporary, crude build
- in particular Z-axis

- Z-axis now looks like this

- Z-axis lower bearing mount. Used an electric drill to fabricate some supports



- Purpose is to make a mock-up of the build, write down anything that needs changed, and then hopefully make it a nice looking mill.

[x] an un-necessary side-step was when I dropped balls from a ballnut. Thought first oh well, that was 100 quid down drain. But to one's surprise, managed to find all balls and with instructions found from internet, put it back together. For record, took out the remaining balls, and used a plastic straw from a WD40-bottle to put them back in, one by one. Used bearing grease (like Vaseline) to make the balls stick to the plastic straw / and also stick onto the inside-walls of the ballnut.