Re: Motorized rack and pinion on Drill Press

I have used automobile electric seat motors with success when a
flexible shaft is called for. They often have a flex shaft attached
and are about the right speed, although some speed control would
probably be good. Another very high torque motor I have used is a
windshield wiper motor out of a pickup truck. Despite the application,
the motor has been capable of several hundred foot-lbs of torque, which
is not surprising given the size of the motor (about 5 pounds, ~6x6x4")
As for connecting, you would need a sleeve whith the correct coupling
that would be able to interface with the flex shaft. On the flex shaft
motors and drill press I have (ryobi 12" benchtop simiar to the Delta)
the flex shaft has about a 3/16" square end and the DP has a ~1/2"
round with a flat on it. You would need a sleeve with the square hole
(Broached or milled [two pieces]) and a setscrew to engage the flat.

Hope this info is useful
ww88

kcleere wrote:
Greetings,

I'm interested to see if anyone has come up with a retrofit that will
motorize the the rack and pinion crack on a drill press. My specific
drill press is the Delta DP-350 which is a benchtop. It has the R&P
and I know some floor models do as well.

I'm interested in this as I have low hand and upper body strength and I
try and motorize and automate everything I can. I've not figured out
how to do this yet although I do have an idea.

My idea would be to use a DC geared reversible motor mounted either on
the head of the drill press or to the base that had a heavy duty
flexible drive shaft with appropriate couplings from the motor shaft to
the keyed shaft that the R&P handle fits on. That, and a switch
mounted up on the head.

Seems simple in my head but I don't know what sort of motor and DC
control to look for (it would need to be high torque VERY low RPM). And
I'm don't know where to look for the coupling shaft.

I'd appreciate any ideas you have on this. Please post or email
"traderman04@xxxxxxxxx" if so,

.

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