- Joined
- Feb 11, 2015
- Messages
- 10
Recently I purchased a Grizzly G0619 Mill/Drill machine and found that a few things could be improved.
Cons:
1. The Z-Axis handwheel required a ton of turns to move head up or down for a tool change. Very tiring.
2. Moving the head upward was harder than moving it down, due to its weight.
3. The tiny DRO for the quill was hard to read unless the room lighting was just right.
4. Locking the spindle with the supplied pin spanner was awkward.
Attached are photos of the modifications I made to improve the operation.
Mod notes:
1. I extensively modified and adapted a Grizzly #H8178 Table Power Feed unit to directly drive the Z-Axis handwheel. Now a simple button push moves the head up or down, at variable speed. The manual handwheel can still be used for more precise calibrated movements. Sweet! A safety belt guard has been removed in the photo for better visibility.
2. As suggested in an excellent photo-tutorial by Ned Seith of home-machine-shop.com, I added two 50 lb. gas struts to balance the weight of the head. Struts: McMaster #9416K54.
3. I installed a small 110 VAC LED light to illuminate the quill DRO. Amazon: Magnetic Sewing Machine Gooseneck 10 LED Lamp.
4. I purchased a #T24342 Spindle Lock from Grizzly, then extended the tip of the lock pin and drilled a small hole in the side of the spindle cover so the cover could remain in place to protect the upper bearing.
Now I’m happy.
Hopefully, this info will be useful to other G0619 owners.
Dave
Modified mill with gas struts, Spindle Lock, Z-Axis powered handwheel and DRO illuminator
The belt guard has been removed for this photo
Modified controller, see schematic below
Adapted upper and lower limit stops from Grizzly H8178 Power Feed
Illuminator for Quill DRO
Cons:
1. The Z-Axis handwheel required a ton of turns to move head up or down for a tool change. Very tiring.
2. Moving the head upward was harder than moving it down, due to its weight.
3. The tiny DRO for the quill was hard to read unless the room lighting was just right.
4. Locking the spindle with the supplied pin spanner was awkward.
Attached are photos of the modifications I made to improve the operation.
Mod notes:
1. I extensively modified and adapted a Grizzly #H8178 Table Power Feed unit to directly drive the Z-Axis handwheel. Now a simple button push moves the head up or down, at variable speed. The manual handwheel can still be used for more precise calibrated movements. Sweet! A safety belt guard has been removed in the photo for better visibility.
2. As suggested in an excellent photo-tutorial by Ned Seith of home-machine-shop.com, I added two 50 lb. gas struts to balance the weight of the head. Struts: McMaster #9416K54.
3. I installed a small 110 VAC LED light to illuminate the quill DRO. Amazon: Magnetic Sewing Machine Gooseneck 10 LED Lamp.
4. I purchased a #T24342 Spindle Lock from Grizzly, then extended the tip of the lock pin and drilled a small hole in the side of the spindle cover so the cover could remain in place to protect the upper bearing.
Now I’m happy.
Hopefully, this info will be useful to other G0619 owners.
Dave
Modified mill with gas struts, Spindle Lock, Z-Axis powered handwheel and DRO illuminator
The belt guard has been removed for this photo
Modified controller, see schematic below
Adapted upper and lower limit stops from Grizzly H8178 Power Feed
Illuminator for Quill DRO