Thread: LED Lighting for HM-45 Mill

Have you considered using a gooseneck connection for each lamp?
It may simplify the bracket needed as well as allowing for positioning of each lamp.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

Have you considered using a gooseneck connection for each lamp?
It may simplify the bracket needed as well as allowing for positioning of each lamp.

I did in passing but hadn't seen the goose necks available on their own. These may not be strong enough for my lamps as they have cast alloy bodies on them, but I may look for heavier duty ones. Thanks Geoff
I might be able to mount the lamps to the sides of the column.

Sterob

I have a couple of the Jaycar goosenecks (one is for mounting a DRO on the mill).

If you like, I can test what sort of load they can support without drooping. Fixing one end and then connecting a known weight to the other should do it.

Just a thought.
What about a couple of magnetic bases. Moveable to wherever you are working.

Roger

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

I have a couple of the Jaycar goosenecks (one is for mounting a DRO on the mill).

If you like, I can test what sort of load they can support without drooping. Fixing one end and then connecting a known weight to the other should do it.

It supports a DRO? They must be substantial then.
Thanks for that. I don't know the weight but they must be over 500g. Can you confirm the diamter of the gooseneck for me please? Jaycars website says its 6mm. The pic suggests its bigger and 6mm seems small.
I see they sell the bases as well. It might be the way to go...

Sterob

Originally Posted by rogerbaker

Just a thought.
What about a couple of magnetic bases. Moveable to wherever you are working.

Roger

Thanks Roger, I was after a permanent mount for them so they don't get knocked over, etc.

Sterob,

The two I have are 15-16mm across the flexible part. The solid ends are slightly larger and threaded for a 5/8" adaptor. Picture attached. The optional adaptor is shown on the shorter one. The inner diameter is about 6mm so your wire would need to fit down that

I did a quick and dirty test by putting one end on the scales and pushing the other end at about a 90 degree angle until the flexible bit 'gave'. I got a reading of about 1.5Kgs. This was with the shorter one.

My DRO is a Shumatech 350 and weighs about 1 Kg max.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

Sterob,

The two I have are 15-16mm across the flexible part. The solid ends are slightly larger and threaded for a 5/8" adaptor. Picture attached. The optional adaptor is shown on the shorter one. The inner diameter is about 6mm so your wire would need to fit down that

I did a quick and dirty test by putting one end on the scales and pushing the other end at about a 90 degree angle until the flexible bit 'gave'. I got a reading of about 1.5Kgs. This was with the shorter one.

My DRO is a Shumatech 350 and weighs about 1 Kg max.

Thanks Geoff. That makes sense now. They look like a good thing. I will order a couple and go from there.
Did you get both of yours from Jaycar?

Sterob

Both of mine came from Jaycar. The longer one looked a bit out of place on my (small) X2 mill so I bought the smaller one.
I still have to finish off mounting the DRO. The box is built and working but I still need to modify a couple of the scales. This involves milling some fibreglass board which I hate doing as I itch for hours afterwards

I looked on Jaycars website to see if I could see 2 different length goosenecks but can only see the one size...no matter. I have ordered two and bases and will see how this is going to work when they arrive.
Thanks for the heads up Geoff.

Is anyone else using LED lighting on their machines? Make sense to me if you make sure they are bright enough. Mine are rated at 1150 lumens so should be fabby.

Sterob

I've got one of these UFO lights. In testing. it provides a fairly even light on the workpiece.
It needs the centre hole enlarging which I must do now the DRO is finished (mostly),

If I can't bore out the centre hole, I may just have to make a new enclosure and install the led arrays in it.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

Have you considered using a gooseneck connection for each lamp?
It may simplify the bracket needed as well as allowing for positioning of each lamp.

Thanks for the link. The gooseneck on my mill light has been as limp as .......... for ages but I didn't know where to get a new one. Didn't think about microphone booms. All I could think of was finding an old bedside lamp somewhere.
Got one from Jaycar today so once I get it installed I should be able to see something now rather than the light continually drooping.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

I've got one of these UFO lights. In testing. it provides a fairly even light on the workpiece.
It needs the centre hole enlarging which I must do now the DRO is finished (mostly),

If I can't bore out the centre hole, I may just have to make a new enclosure and install the led arrays in it.

Thats what I was originally going to go for. I think that would be better than my idea in my first post as the weight would be alot lower and not affect the spring return as much.


Sterob

Originally Posted by Sterob

Thats what I was originally going to go for. I think that would be better than my idea in my first post as the weight would be alot lower and not affect the spring return as much.

Sterob

If it's any help. the centre hole is 35mm. There's enough plastic around the hole so you could bore it out to 41mm (which is what I need for the X2 mill) and still have the two parts of it lock together . Anything over that, you'd have to look at some other way of joining the halves together.

[Just noticed I've done 1000 posts. Where do I collect my prize?]