DIY Mill Head Installation Tool

MyLilMule · Jun 11, 2021

The BP mill I just bought as a project needs to be reassembled. The previous owner had taken the motor and head off the machine when the motor shaft failed when the key came loose. I'll do a full rebuild at some point, but right now, I just want to get it back together so I can get an inventory of parts I need. Parts that were probably scavenged off this unit over the 10-15 years it sat.

Taking cues from Mr. Pete, H&W and others, I set off to make my version of a head installation tool post.

Superbowl · Jun 11, 2021

No need to build a fancy tool. Just grip a piece of round stock in your vise.It is better if you weld a same diameter piece of flat to the round stock, mill two flats on the round stock, or just drill a hole in a fatter piece of stock and insert the round stock. Any of those will give extra support to the vise's grip.

CalG · Jun 11, 2021

MyLilMule said:
The BP mill I just bought as a project needs to be reassembled.

I just want to get it back together so I can get an inventory of parts I need.

Taking cues from Mr. Pete, H&W and others, I set off to make my version of a head installation tool post.

Sometimes a bit of compliance can be used to advantage when fitting assemblies. That bit of tooling appears to gusseted well beyond the requirement.

MyLilMule · Jun 11, 2021

CalG said:
Sometimes a bit of compliance can be used to advantage when fitting assemblies. That bit of tooling appears to gusseted well beyond the requirement.

I don't mind overdoing it. I enjoyed making it.

MyLilMule · Jun 11, 2021

Superbowl said:
mill two flats on the round stock

You see the irony in this suggestion, don't you? LOL!

CalG · Jun 11, 2021

MyLilMule said:
I don't mind overdoing it. I enjoyed making it.

My thinking was that sometimes. overdoing it, makes the required task less enjoyable.

CalG · Jun 11, 2021

MyLilMule said:
You see the irony in this suggestion, don't you? LOL!

What" you don't have a bank of other milling machines waiting for the call? ;-)

Mark Rand · Jun 12, 2021

I used a slitting saw arbor held in the jaws of the 4 jaw chuck that was on the rotary table a few weeks ago. To be fair, the rotab and chuck were already on the mill so it was a trivial excercise when I needed to get the head off for some work.

CarbideBob · Jun 12, 2021

I do not understand the why of this or need for it.
What is the purpose? Most certainly the tram will not be correct and just something close so why?
What am I missing as to use? I have never seen such.
Bob

Mark Rand · Jun 13, 2021

If you need to get the head off a mill for some purpose (replacing the spindle spline driving bush in my case) and don't have a crane or, like me have a crane but the height is marginal, then this is a controlled way to get the head on and off the ram. Once the head is down at a lower level, the motor can be lifted off safely and the head can be disassembled to do whatever service work was needed.

I can lift the entire ram + head + slotting head off my mill with the crane, even got an eyebolt at the balance point. Getting just the head off is more awkward since I fitted an 8" riser block.

MyLilMule · Jun 13, 2021

CarbideBob said:
I do not understand the why of this or need for it.
What is the purpose? Most certainly the tram will not be correct and just something close so why?
What am I missing as to use? I have never seen such.
Bob

Perhaps it will become clear in a follow up video I am still editing. I needed to put the head back on the ram. It holds the head in a rough position while I line up the bolts in the ram adapter with the holes in the head so it can be bolted back into place. It's an INSTALLATION tool, not an ALIGNMENT tool.

And yes, there is more than one way to skin a cat. I chose this method.

Superbowl · Jun 13, 2021

MyLilMule said:
You see the irony in this suggestion, don't you? LOL!

Clearly you don't understand. You use something like a six inch long piece of round but only mill flats on the two inches a vise can grip.

Mark Rand · Jun 13, 2021

Hey, they're all means to an end. The significant thing is using the knee and table to save yourself from broken arms and/or hernias,

MyLilMule · Jun 13, 2021

Superbowl said:
Clearly you don't understand. You use something like a six inch long piece of round but only mill flats on the two inches a vise can grip.

I'll just use the mill that's in my other pants. :willy_nilly:

DDoug · Jun 13, 2021

Superbowl said:
Clearly you don't understand. You use something like a six inch long piece of round but only mill flats on the two inches a vise can grip.

Yabutt, you would miss out on qty (2) hours of welding....

DDoug · Jun 13, 2021

MyLilMule said:
Perhaps it will become clear in a follow up video I am still editing. I needed to put the head back on the ram. It holds the head in a rough position while I line up the bolts in the ram adapter with the holes in the head so it can be bolted back into place. It's an INSTALLATION tool, not an ALIGNMENT tool.

And yes, there is more than one way to skin a cat. I chose this method.

You think we need another Video ?

MyLilMule · Jun 13, 2021

digger doug said:
You think we need another Video ?

How else will I be able to solicit all of this constructive criticism?

MyLilMule · Jun 15, 2021

DDoug · Jun 15, 2021

MyLilMule said:
How else will I be able to solicit all of this constructive criticism?

Rather
"I need to post here, to get people to watch my videos, to make money"

MyLilMule · Jun 15, 2021

digger doug said:
Rather
"I need to post here, to get people to watch my videos, to make money"

If I added up all the money I made from making videos, I'd have exactly 0 dollars and 0 cents. My channel is not monetized. Nor do I have plans to do such. The only people making money is Google, unless you use an ad blocker like I do.

But, hey, I do appreciate your honest, misguided, ill-informed, and all around ignorant, commentary!

DIY Mill Head Installation Tool

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