Motorized Router Lift

[BuffaloJohn]

http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/B6/32/B7/iB632B708-CF41-4285-8025-76F63993AE72.jpg

http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/73/7A/EE/i737AEEBD-F0F3-4F6E-B0AE-FAFB4BC3A64B.jpg

http://www.dotphoto.com/SAN1/97/29/B6/i9729B631-11F4-4C86-9667-3572A60E3A49.jpg
I devised a simple way to control the lift on my Hitachi M12V table mounted router.

I used a cannibalized powered screw driver motor for the drive. It was wired with a variable transformer that gave control over the voltage and speed of the motor.

I have a toggle switch that reverses the motor, and a contact switch that activates the lift. There's a second contact switch wired in that will eventually become a foot pedal activator.

I've posted some pictures of the components here:
http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=johnwnixon&P=&AID=3196950&T=1 (http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=johnwnixon&P=&AID=3196950&T=1)

The action on this motorized lift is great. I can pulse the switch and move the router in very small increments. Having this lift makes changing bits a lot easier.

Thanks,
John Nixon - Buffalo, NY

[MICKYG]

John, A great idea with scope to use this idea on a number of workshop ideas.

Good one. Enjoy 2006.

Regards Mike.;) ;) ;)

[doug the slug]

Nice work John

[Just George]

I worked in a cabinetmaking workshop where there was a spindle moulder that had an electric adjustment. Try that...

[BuffaloJohn]

My mind is moving onto the next step for this modification, which would be to mount a digital readout for height. There's a company that makes a retrofit that consists of basically a digital cailper mount on the side of the router:

http://www.digi-kit.com/digirouter.htm

HarborFreight sells some cheap digital calipers. I can get a six inch one for about $15. I was thinking of buying two. Mounting the first one in a similar manner to the Digi Router. The second one, I'd take the display off of it and mount that above the table. The thought would be that I'd be able to wire the display of the second one into the mechanics of the first one, so that I'd be able to have the readout above the table.

Any thoughts or suggestions on this concept?

Thanks,
John Nixon - Buffalo, NY