Elliott Model 181 Universal Milling Head

[Dean Anderton-GoughParticipant @deananderton-gough95897]

Hi everyone

I have an Elliott 181 with the Universal Milling Attachment and I want to give it a bit of a birthday with some new bearings. I don't have a manual for the head and the Elliott operators manual does not have any sort of exploded view of the unit.

Before I resort to brute force and ignorance, does anyone have experience with taking these apart? My main problem is there appears to be a couple of bearing end caps which are retained in place by grub-screws. I do not know if the caps themselves screw out or whether they must be pulled out.

Any help would be appreciated.

cheers

Dean

[Dean Anderton-GoughParticipant @deananderton-gough95897]

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I want to give it a bit of a birthday with some new bearings

Rather than ‘I want to’, does it actuallly need new bearings? What are the symptoms?

[Dean Anderton-GoughParticipant @deananderton-gough95897]

Mill has not been run since I have had it as it came with a 1-1/4HP 440V-3Ph motor.

As I don't have access to 3Ph power I will be installing a 220V-3Ph motor so I can run off a single phase inverter.

If the bearings are OK I'll probably not change them but I want to disassemble, clean, inspect and change or re-install and lubricate.

I would prefer to do this now while I have the rest of the mill apart.

Thanks for your reply.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Two Three things. 1) your choice, but 2) You are more likely to feck the bearings, than make them better, and 3) Is the current motor not able to be converted to delta?

[Dave WoottonParticipant @davewootton]

Hi Dean

I'd agree with NDIY regarding stripping the mill head unless you suspect something amiss I'd leave well alone, these are very tough old things designed for heavy constant use in industry.

If its not been used in a while a long run at slow speed in various orientations of the swivel head should warm it up a bit and loosen up the grease within. At one time I looked after the machine tools in a large production factory and bearing problems in assemblies such as this were very rare, from memory only caused by monumental smash ups that bent spindles and damaged gears.

I'm not trying to be negative but it is quite possible to do more harm than good dismantling something of this type.

Dave

[Dean Anderton-GoughParticipant @deananderton-gough95897]

1)

2) Yes I had considered that and after your prompting I may just wait until I can run it to ascertain the condition of the bearings.

3) No it cannot be connected in Delta. The original Elliotts were available up to 2HP from my understanding and I'll probably replace with a 1.5kW-4P. I already have a 2.2kW drive available.

Thanks for your advice.

[Philip DParticipant @philipd]

Hi Dean, find your local motor rewinder, they will easily be able to pull the star point out of the existing motor (I had all three on my omnimill done this way) then you can run with a VFD.

Cost was about an hours labour, they also replaced the bearings in one as they were past there best.

I agree with above don't go pulling anything bearing wise until you have had the chance to run it.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I’ve converted two motors which were wired star only. One was a simple job, the other needed a little more care as the windings were well lacquered/varnished.

1 1/4HP motors do not seem to be used often. One of my motors was a Brook Crompton (I think) in that size. That one was the simple/easy conversion.

As another alternative, although more expensive perhaps, would be a 230V single phase to 415V three phase VFD.

Further alternatives are three phase converters, although the variable speed and other programmable options would not be available. I don’t particularly like them. I intend to stick with VFDs whenever possible.

[Dean Anderton-GoughParticipant @deananderton-gough95897]

Thanks for all the replies and advice, what a great community.

I'll look into getting the motor rewired if that a possibility. I already have a 2.2kW single to 3Ph VSD so this is not a problem.

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