Warco Mini Mill Drive Belt

[gary wParticipant @garyw]

After reading so much about the benefits of converting a mini mill to a belt drive, I ordered a kit from the Little Machine Shop.  I would just like to say that this kit will not fit straight onto the mill due to lots of differences between the Sieg model of mill.  Has anybody else come across this problem?.

Edited By gary willcox on 04/02/2010 23:39:16

[gary wParticipant @garyw]

[John Wright 7Participant @johnwright7]

Gary

 

I have just fitted one to my Warco Mini Mill. Yes it needs mods

1) the motor pulley needs to be bored out to 10 mm

2) the spindle pulley needs to be fitted with a sleeve as the spindle

3) The bottom plate has to be remade to suit the bolt centres. I did this the hard way by hand

4) The top plate also does not fit the centres of the motor. Also the screws are 5mm not 6 mm diamter. I was able to reuse the top plate by carefully marking and drill new holes, otherwise you have to remake this part as well.

 

Worth doing though.

 

Have you checked the accuracy of the X Y axies to ensure they are at 90 degrees to each other. On my mill and another I know of they are not machined correctly on the Y axis and there is a considerable error. The only way to correct this is to have the dove tail remachined.

 

John

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Clive FarrarParticipant @clivefarrar90441]

Interesting .

 

I had a post relating to finding the materials to make a conversion as I was struggling to find them at a reasonable price.

I finally got through to M machine , who advertise on here, and picked up most of what I need on Friday for a very reasonable price.  They have loads of stuff and were very helpfull indeed.

I would reccomend them to anyone.

 

I now need to cross check the drawing I got from John Rudd and start on my conversion.

I persisted in trying to find the Ali stock because i had heard of this very problem.

 

I am so glad i resisted the USA option a large part of which was the potential duty and VAT that would be due on top of the purchase price and shipping charges.

 

however as you have gone that route most of the serious machining is done for you and I am sure you will be able to amke it fit particularly in light of JW ‘s comments.

 

Regards Clive

[John Wright 7Participant @johnwright7]

Clive

 

One thing I did not metion is that the yellow box with the controller and switchgear has to be dropped down so it is below the height of the top of the casting. Obvious when you look at it. I drilled and tapped on 2 extra holes in the casting.

 

When I took the head off I removed the lay shaft and the gears and vacuumed around to remove any swarf. I did not bother taking the spindle out as it was nice and free. The lay shaft was in pretty tight though.

 

John  

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Posted by gary w on 04/02/2010 23:34:15:

After reading so much about the benefits of converting a mini mill to a belt drive, I ordered a kit from the Little Machine Shop.  I would just like to say that this kit will not fit straight onto the mill due to lots of differences between the Sieg model of mill.  Has anybody else come across this problem?.

Edited By gary willcox on 04/02/2010 23:39:16

 

I had my own feelings about the Sterling Steele belt drive conversion which is the one sold by LMS…Hence my chosing the Jerry Rollet plans….even then I had to make adjustments and ‘turn on the fly ‘to ensure the parts were going to fit my Chester Conquest mini mill which outwardly looks the same as the Warco offering…
 
I also opted to remove the lay shaft assembly and other unrequired bits..I also changed the bearings out for taper roller items all for the better…..

 

Edited By John Rudd on 14/02/2010 15:26:27

[Clive FarrarParticipant @clivefarrar90441]

JW  than ks for that I was having a preliminary look last night and realised i would have to move the control box.

 

Not sure where to though yet as dropping it down will loose clearance.

I may look at repositioning the fixed pivot point for the motor so tha t it goes in the spare space between the back of the controler and the column.

 

Regards Clive

 

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