Nova Voyager Drill Press

[Mario Turcot]

[member=69479]Jiggy Joiner[/member] Question about the Laser you installed. When you move the table up/down do you have to calibrate the laser again?

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Hi Mario, No it’s all good, it was a concern of mine when considering one but, it’s fine.
I mounted mine quite tight to the underside of the head of the machine so it’s always out of the way, and higher than anything mounted to the machine.

I’ll get some photos up over the weekend. A nice addition in my opinion. [wink]

 

[Cheese]

I also added a Wixey laser, this has been a great addition, not only for quick line up but, also quick alignment of the table.
Once I’d lined my table up, I marked two reference points at the rear of the table. So whenever I move the table sideways, it takes seconds to return to dead centre.

Like this [member=69479]Jiggy Joiner[/member] ...?

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

The Wixey is a nice addition. I had a different laser originally and it literally fell apart after about 9 months.  [mad]  Worse yet, if you changed the height of the table by more than 6-8" the centering would be off...Good Riddance. The Wixey works well.  [big grin]

 

[rvieceli]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] is there any way to mount the laser on the head instead of the column? My head can rotate on the column and I assume that would throw off the laser. Correct?

Thanks

Ron

 

[Cheese]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] is there any way to mount the laser on the head instead of the column? My head can rotate on the column and I assume that would throw off the laser. Correct?

Hey Ron, [member=3192]rvieceli[/member] the drill press head is usually secured to the drill press column through the use of cup point set screws. You really want the table to rotate and not the head.

Yes, the laser could be mounted directly to the head, but I'm not sure what benefit that would be. The Wixey laser has a very robust method of mounting the laser to the column...me likeeee.

[attachimg=1]

 

[rvieceli]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] glad you said usually in that sentence.  [wink]

Cause mine is an industrial bench press where the column is bolted to a t slotted cast base with a coolant trough around the edge that weighs about 250 to 275 pounds. The column passes through the head and the head goes up and down the column

.[attachimg=1]

That’s a pic when I first got it before it was cleaned up and I put the Mic6 table and fence on it.

Ron

 

[Cheese]

That's a keeper Ron  [thumbs up] I'm not familiar with that drill press, who makes it?  It's pretty impressive in that it's only 36" tall, and it weighs 250#. The coolant "production" table makes all the difference.

The other thing I like about production tables are the "T" slots that are machined into them to retain T-bolts that secure clamps and fixtures. Clamping down items with a 3/8" bolt is a lot more satisfying and reassuring than clamping down with a 1/4" bolt through a funky aluminum channel. Convenient it is...secure it is not.

I really think that there's a market here to configure a drill press table that will accommodate the metal working and wood working needs. The two venues are not that far separated from each other, they just lack a common language.  [smile]

To put things into perspective, my 20" Delta is over 72" tall and weighs 400#.  A 20" Clausing (a real drill press) on the other hand weighs over 1500#.

 

[rvieceli]

It is an Electro- Mechano 601J made in Milwaukee WI. Mine is from about 1963. It's a 16 inch press.

Gear driven on the low end and direct drive on the high end. 150 rpm to 1000 rpm gear driven, on the high side direct drive it's 400 to 4000 rpm continuously variable over both ranges. It's got a Reeves drive that's controlled by that handle at the top.

Company is still in business, they just don't make this model any more. I really like it. They don't come up for sale very often. E-M also made a 20 inch model as well. takes an MT2 taper and I've got an Albrecht on it now.

Ron

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

I also added a Wixey laser, this has been a great addition, not only for quick line up but, also quick alignment of the table.
Once I’d lined my table up, I marked two reference points at the rear of the table. So whenever I move the table sideways, it takes seconds to return to dead centre.

Like this [member=69479]Jiggy Joiner[/member] ...?

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

The Wixey is a nice addition. I had a different laser originally and it literally fell apart after about 9 months.  [mad]  Worse yet, if you changed the height of the table by more than 6-8" the centering would be off...Good Riddance. The Wixey works well.  [big grin]

Exactly like that Cheese, great aren’t they?
The lines could be a little finer but, I’m not complaining and am very happy with it.  [thumbs up]

 

[Michael Kellough]

When setting up my Wixey lasers maybe I didn’t have time or patience to get them perfect but my work height range was about 16” and the laser’s X wasn’t the same from top of range to bottom.

 

[Mario Turcot]

When setting up my Wixey lasers maybe I didn’t have time or patience to get them perfect but my work height range was about 16” and the laser’s X wasn’t the same from top of range to bottom.

[member=297]Michael Kellough[/member]  Micheal, do you mean in reference with the table? The table is not a good reference, cause it will shift left or right when raising/lowering it. The quill can also affect accuracy as it may not be parallel with the column. Also some columns are taper and again can also affect accuracy.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

My mobile base, it now has braces screwed down to further secure the machine. So I might build a cabinet to sit on the braces.

I made one side removable, to help get the machine mounted, and also easier removal. I stole the idea, I’m pretty sure from Sir Peter Parfitt  [not worthy]

My table:
It’s worked out quite nice, I didn’t wrap it around the pillar, as It’s plenty big enough already, and it makes getting to the lock bolt, and hand wheel easier:

The hand wheel:

Handle folded:

It’s only cheap alloy, I will get a steel version soon.

Dust extraction port was made of mainly 6mm ply, and some plumbing fittings, it works very well:

Chuck guard, I couldn’t get on with it, and have since removed it.

This is the cable that goes to the guard sensor:

The Wixey laser:

Laser lines, to line up the table quickly:

Ply wall clamp, just under the laser body, this really holds the machine solid and safe, on the mobile base. Also somewhere for the chuck key, until the Albrecht turns up.

The underside of the new table, has hardwood guide keys glued and screwed for easy line up, and stability:

A couple of toggle clamps firm everything up, it really is a solid set up.
I just need my new chuck now to complete it.



JJ

 

[rvieceli]

Looks good Jiggy

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Looks good Jiggy

Thanks.

 

[Mario Turcot]

Very nice [member=69479]Jiggy Joiner[/member]. From the pictures I can tell you didn't use the extra plate on the laser right?

I'm almost done with the Kapex butterfly and next project is the DP table

Side note: You have to update your avatar.  [big grin]

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Very nice [member=69479]Jiggy Joiner[/member]. From the pictures I can tell you didn't use the extra plate on the laser right?

I'm almost done with the Kapex butterfly and next project is the DP table

Side note: You have to update your avatar.  [big grin]

Thank you Mario, yes absolutely right, the extra plate wasn’t needed, it’s a very robust mounting system too.

You’re also right about the avatar too, I need an update, there’s new arrivals coming soon, so I’ll have options  [big grin]  [wink]

 

[Cheese]

Nice base...nice table Jiggy.  [smile]  Some storage would be nice on the base.

The blue tooth setup is convenient, I like that.

The chuck guard however, is the solution to a problem that never existed.  [crying]

 

[Michael Kellough]

[member=66597]Mario Turcot[/member]  I want intersection of the lasers to indicate the center axis of any bit I might put in the chuck regardless of where the table is (laterally). The benefit is drilling one off holes in big loose parts that aren’t suitable for a table with fences etc.

Once adjusted it works well, depending on your ability to interpolate which part of the fuzzy red lines is most indicative. Tip, it helps to put matte black tape over the target.

I did get it to work well at one table altitude but when I had to lower the table a foot the lasers were off and I could use fixtures for that operation so didn’t readjust.

 

[Mario Turcot]

[member=66597]Mario Turcot[/member]  I want intersection of the lasers to indicate the center axis of any bit I might put in the chuck regardless of where the table is (laterally). The benefit is drilling one off holes in big loose parts that aren’t suitable for a table with fences etc.

Once adjusted it works well, depending on your ability to interpolate which part of the fuzzy red lines is most indicative. Tip, it helps to put matte black tape over the target.

I did get it to work well at one table altitude but when I had to lower the table a foot the lasers were off and I could use fixtures for that operation so didn’t readjust.

Thank you for the explanation Micheal. I see what you mean and was wondering about having to readjust the laser over and over. It was on rebate at BusyBeeTools and I drove there yesterday afternoon. That thing is solid and take 2.5 minutes to install and 1 minute to adjust

To me a laser is handy when you have to make a few holes. When it comes to production mode you better with a fence/jig setup for fast work.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Nice base...nice table Jiggy.  [smile]  Some storage would be nice on the base.

The blue tooth setup is convenient, I like that.

The chuck guard however, is the solution to a problem that never existed.  [crying]

Thanks Cheese, yes, I think I’ll have to add storage to the base, as my drill bits and other drilling accessories are not to hand at the moment, and It’s frustrating already.
I also agree about the guard, I think it lasted all of five minutes!