Thread: LED Lighting for HM-45 Mill

Originally Posted by Sterob

Do you happen to remember what thread it is? The pitch is very fine. I assume its imperial.....Is is a special 'gooseneck' thread?,,,,lol

Sterob

I'm having the same problem after getting mine today.
The thread is 5/8" x 27tpi. Apparently a thread used for microphones (UNS) and something I can't cut on my lathe.

Originally Posted by wannabe

I'm having the same problem after getting mine today.
The thread is 5/8" x 27tpi. Apparently a thread used for microphones (UNS) and something I can't cut on my lathe.

Thanks Pete, yeah I did a quick google and came up with "5/8-27"...nasty.
Looks like I'll be machining it off and making my own.A nice Metric thread, me thinks....

Sterob

Hi Sterob'
I tried a round ring of LED lights mounted around the bottom of my RF31 mill/ drills spindle, they fitted in real well but I found they did not provide enough light on the job and produced too many shadows to see good enough. Your idea of a couple of flood lamps looks better as long as they don't get in the way.For the 27 TPI fittings you could probably get away with standard brass threads which are 26 TPI only about 0.0014" difference per thread.
Bob

Looks like you guys ill have to screw and glue OR do a nylon shuffle bore out the nylon coupling hand screw on the goose neck and tap the other end for the fittings. just A THOUGHT .

Originally Posted by krisfarm

Hi Sterob'
I tried a round ring of LED lights mounted around the bottom of my RF31 mill/ drills spindle, they fitted in real well but I found they did not provide enough light on the job and produced too many shadows to see good enough. Your idea of a couple of flood lamps looks better as long as they don't get in the way.For the 27 TPI fittings you could probably get away with standard brass threads which are 26 TPI only about 0.0014" difference per thread.
Bob

Yeah, it will be a little saga trying to find the right spots for them so they don't get in the way. It doesn't help that I am fussy as well....

Good idea on the brass fitting. We may have some at work,although I think it will be easy enough to machine the thread off an re-tap to a 'normal' thread though.
Sterob

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

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

Its in the post .........

I have modified the threads on the goose necks by machining them down a cutting a M14 x 1.5 thread. Was no problem. I also made some thin M14 nuts and spacers. I just have to make new brackets so the cable has clearance to run down the centre of the goose neck so its as neat as possible.

Sterob

I assume that's the male end you rethreaded. What about the female end, are you just using the available adaptor there?

Guys. I've got a thread going over in the Hercus forum regarding 27 tpi threads and they suggested I try using 28 tpi or metric 0.9 pitch.
I tried the 28 tpi today and it works well. I just cut the threads a little deeper.
I'm going to make a female/male adapter for the female end and make a nut for the male end using the 28 tpi. One end of the adapter will be 1/2" - 28tpi which matches the existing gooseneck so I don't have to drill out the mounting bracket and can also use the existing nut. The adapter end will be mounted at the mill end so Ithe gooseneck isn't trying to support the extra weight of the adaptor.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

I assume that's the male end you rethreaded. What about the female end, are you just using the available adaptor there?

Yes, ,the female end is unchanged as I am using the matching base.

Hello Sterob,
I have a mill similar to yours and I made my own lamp which takes a 50w halogen globe. The lamp is attached to a rigid horizontal rod which is connected to the front underside of the cast clamp which clamps onto the quill. I can swing the lamp to the left or right, depending which way I am milling. I have another attachment at the rear of the quill where I attach my dial gauge when I need to square up the vice or level up a job in the vice. I find that the lamp does not get in the way,( it is only 80mm dia. and 70mm deep.) The rod which the lamp is attached to is 150mm long.
Hope this helps. Regards, Russell

I have just got the lamps mounted to the goose necks and I find the lamps are too heavy for the goose necks to support them. If they were only about 200mm long they would be ok, but at 450mm long the weight of the lamps is just too great.
I have looked at shortening the goose necks but that would be problematic as well.
I have gone back to my original plan of mounting the lamps on either side of the Head.
I will use a piece of 8mm thick 80 x 320 mm aluminum flat bar, bolted to the underside of the Mill head. The lamps will hang off either end and be angled towards the job.

This is getting to be bigger than Ben Hur.......

Sterob

I know how you feel, It's a pain when things don't work out after all the effort you put in.
Just a suggestion, If these are 240v lights you would be better off with steel instead of aluminum so it can be earthed properly to the machine.

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

I know how you feel, It's a pain when things don't work out after all the effort you put in.
Just a suggestion, If these are 240v lights you would be better off with steel instead of aluminum so it can be earthed properly to the machine.

Dave

No, they are 12V LED lamps Dave so it's all good.
They better be bright enough after all this....lol