Precision Drill Sharpener

Mark_f

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Quite a while back I built my version of John Moran's ( aka: gadgetbuilder ) drill sharpener. While the machine I built works great , I got to thinking, since I built it , I have more and better equipment, much better and more tooling. I want to build another one with a more powerful motor to make sharpening larger drills easier and I want to hold tighter tolerances. The construction of my first machine was mostly aluminum, but I want to make the new one all steel. I was also considering making it an attachment for my newest T&C grinder but that is still up in the air. ( if I make it a stand alone machine I can use it on the bench sitting on my stool or in my wheel chair.)
So....... I started today.
image.jpeg I started with the trunion supports since they are most difficult. These pieces have to be exactly the same height for each pair.
image.jpeg The bearing holes have to be reamed as exact as possible to be in line. Any misalignment and they will bind. I milled them from cold finish steel.

image.jpeg They came out great. I made pins from .250 drill rod and put nylon washers and "e" clips to hold them together. ( the original had tapped holes and screws in the ends of the pins) , I like this better. This and mounting these is the most critical and difficult part. I have ordered some steel plate to finish the trunion assembly...... More to come.
 
another one of your projects for me to follow. And possibly some day get good enough to copy.
 
As this machine is the design of John Moran, I got his permission to do this build article. I will include photos and details of the build and prints for the changes I made that are not part of the original design. Anyone wishing to build this fantastic machine can contact John directly for details on those parts. The drill sharpener was featured in two issues of HSM magazine I believe , but Village Press has run out of back issues of the magazine.

With that said, I can get to building this project.
 
I managed to snag both issues of the magazine when I saw your original build. Just waiting to get a real milling machine before I attempt to make it though.
 
I managed to snag both issues of the magazine when I saw your original build. Just waiting to get a real milling machine before I attempt to make it though.
Yes, it is much easier with a milling machine. Although , there is only a small amount of milling to do. I did 90% on the lathe and drill press. If one has the means to mill the small parts on their lathe, a mill isn't even needed, especially if using mostly aluminum as I did.
 
I would need to get or make a milling attachment for my lathe.
 
I would need to get or make a milling attachment for my lathe.
I made a simple but good milling table for my south bend 9 before I had a mill. It was 8" X 8" X 3/4" thick.


Bill,
what kind of lathe do you have?
 
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I am making some of the small parts while waiting for the ordered materials to arrive. I ordered a ER 20 Collet Chuck, A set of linear bearings, bearing rods , a diamond grinding wheel, and rod support brackets. I also ordered some steel pieces to make the sharpener.

While waiting for materials, I have made the trunnion supports and today I made the infeed screw for the collet block. It is made from a piece of .375 diameter brass rod knurled on the end.
Infeed Screw.jpg This is the print for the infeed screw.
turning screw.jpg Turning the brass rod requires a center to keep it from bending.

finished screw.jpg This is the finished screw with 6-32 threads on the end. The spring will keep the screw from moving when using the sharpener.

screw and spring.jpg This screw is almost three inches long overall and 2" of it is only .138" diameter.

I also started making the indexing knob.
knob.jpg It is steel, knurled For .500". I have to wait for the collet chuck to arrive to finish this part. It must be bored to be a close sliding fit on the collet chuck.
 
Mark
As normal top shelf, with steel and the new changes are bound to be a much better sharpener.
Be well my friend
Nelson
 
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