Cowells Milling/ Z axis design

[Steve Wan 1Participant @stevewan1]

Hi Folks

Greetings to all

I'm building a small table top mill with some thoughts from Cowells mill. I like the z axis feed screw vertically with a top handle rather the conventional position at the base with bevel gears. My mill has little room below the mill table. Hence, Cowells design is best to apply.

Wonder anyone here can share photos of the assembly drawing or explain type of bushing and attachment design to the mill body and the table?

Much appreciates ahead.

Steve Wan

[Steve Wan 1Participant @stevewan1]

Cowells Milling/ Z axis design

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Its the same design on my shoreline maybe a look at their site might. There is also Taig or Peatol

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

There are some useful-looking images here: **LINK**

http://www.lathes.co.uk/cowells-miller/

MichaelG.

[Steve Wan 1Participant @stevewan1]

Hi Bernard, could you share some light over the assembly of the z axis of your Shoreline? Much appreciated here.

[Steve Wan 1Participant @stevewan1]

Hi Michael, thanks for the link to Tony's http://www.lathes.co.uk. But I need to know parts here to join altogether.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Suggest you trawl the sherline website

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Steve Wan 1 on 15/05/2022 16:43:58:

… But I need to know parts here to join altogether.

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I’m afraid you’ve lost me, Steve … this photo seems to illustrate it all rather well:

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[Credit : http://www.lathes.co.uk/cowells-miller/ ]

Unless you actually want full drawings of the Cowells components, I would have thought there was plenty of information there ^^^ to show the design principle.

MichaelG.

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P.S. __ from the Cowells brochure:

Vertical Travel – 164mm – 6.5”  

Feedscrew Pitches – 1mm

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 15/05/2022 23:18:30

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Another useful detail photo: **LINK**

http://www.cowells.com/Gallery/Vm16.jpg

MichaelG.

[Steve Wan 1Participant @stevewan1]

Hi Michael

Thanks, all the parts here are crystal clear just that I'm figuring out where's the best place to put the compression bearings? Below the hand wheel or the plate joining the pillar?

Of course if anyone would scan me the assembly drawing would the great!

BTW Bernard I have mistaken your word for Shoreline with Sherline I have both Sherline mill and lathe for years, Yes, I could copy the design.

Steve W.

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

What are compression bearings? I will take a wild guess that you mean thrust race, and that would go under the assembly that rotates.

[Steve Wan 1Participant @stevewan1]

Hi Baz, Yes thrust bearing. Any thoughts where's the best place to put?

Below the handwheel or nearer the feed screws? You own a Cowells Mill?

Steve W.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Steve, the clue is in the name, thrust bearing. What direction do the forces act when you operate the screw?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Have a look at this, Steve : **LINK**

https://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/projects/MYF001/myford-cstb-mod.html

Now … use your imagination, and visualise it operating in the Z-axis

That would surely be a good basis for your design.

Note: I have never seen the actual Cowells unit dismantled.

MichaelG.

[Phil H1Participant @philh196021]

Is a ball race strictly necessary? I would have thought that a plain, bronze washer would have been adequate?

Phil H

[Steve Wan 1Participant @stevewan1]

Hi John, Michael and Phil, thanks for the feedbacks

Yes, I think the best spot for thrust bearing is next to the handle where the turning load is at most. Yes, also a bronze washer can be used. Infact, one of my washer is a thick PVC and has been in use for years.

Steve W.

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