Swivel restriction on JMD-18?

[imagineer]

I recently picked up a well used Jet JMD-18 Mill/Drill and got to use it for the 1st time this past weekend.

The 1st project was to modify a collection of random hand wheels such that they would fit the Jet mill (as it didn't have any handwheels when purchased). Long story shortened, my ideas worked and now I have handwheels on the mill.

One thing I discovered about the Mill/Drill was that when I need to raise or lower the head, it can also easily swivel. In the case of my project last weekend, I was using a rotary table and needed to keep it centered under the spindle. However when I needed to raise the head, I lost the orientation of the spindle to the rotary table.

Can anyone suggest what I might add to the mill that would keep the head angle fixed (or relatively so), but still allow the head to be raised or lowered?

[Samcord]

I’ve heard that it is a simple swap that you can do to fix this problem. Just lift the mill and put one in its place that does not have a round column.

[greywynd]

Cutter had a solution for the same issue, there was a thread here about how he dealt with it on mildred.


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[imagineer]

Actually, I think I might have a solution. A laser pointer...

I'll mount the laser pointer to a small bubble level and a magnetic base, taking the time to ensure the laser and bubble level are aligned horizontally.

I'd also need to create a "target" with vertical line and a bubble level to ensure the line is vertical.

Any time I need to raise or lower the mill head, I put the laser pointer on the casting on the head, make sure the bubble is level, then place the target on the laser dot.

After raising or lowering the mill head, I will swivel it to re-align the laser dot back on the vertical line on the target.

Whereas it's not an elegant solution, it's one I can implement quickly.

[greywynd]

If I remember correctly, I think that’s what he did.

It would be worth taking a read through the thread, because he ran into a couple hiccups as I recall.


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[greywynd]

I just found and posted to the thread, it’s rongfu drill head guide. He ended up making brackets and a guide rod.


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[Lew Hartswick]

Don't forget you get twice the sensitivity if the laser is on the wall and a mirror on the head. (incidence and reflection )
...lew...