Shopsmith Forums

Being as mechanically adept as most trout, I'm humbly asking for some help.
I want to convert my headstock to DP use only. Due to space considerations, I'd like to use just the tubes and mount them on a bench. I cannot mount the tubes to a wall. Is this feasible? safe? A waste of time?

Gene Howe wrote:Being as mechanically adept as most trout, I'm humbly asking for some help.
I want to convert my headstock to DP use only. Due to space considerations, I'd like to use just the tubes and mount them on a bench. I cannot mount the tubes to a wall. Is this feasible? safe? A waste of time?

Like This???]http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpos ... tcount=113[/URL]

Notice the headstock and table carriage are 'reversed' on the way tubes.

The table is from a clone.

Bill can tell ya more!

Gene, I think the question is "Can you mount the tubes so that they are stable. To do this, I would think that the tubes need to be secured in no less than four locations (two on each tube).

Where they pass through a bench top would be one and the other would be below bench top level at least 2' and maybe more. The bench would have to be real stout.

In my opinion, there is no reason why this cannot be done and done safely. Stability and the ability to get everything plumb and level are the challenges. Doing this would probably be easiest if done while building a bench rather than by modifying an existing bench.

SDSSmith wrote:What is the benefit of reversing them? Space? Certainly not the direction of the moments on the swing arm.

I have used this unique setup mostly for milling/cutting (1/2" router chuck & mill ends) aluminum and some cast iron parts (X/Y vise). I had the headstock mounted the normal way but was having table vibration problems even with the table supported by 2X & 4X lumber.

The clone carriage (way tube holes enlarged to 1 3/4"), table top and table extension is cast iron and is very heavy (4 times the weight of the SS items). I also switched to the 10ER way tubes at this time.

I reversed the headstock and placed a custom cut board between the base arm and table trunnions and then several 4X4s under the location of the X/Y vise which eliminated my vibration problems. I believe the reversed headstock setup took less counter top room. I have the unit mounted on the bottom half of a cabinet from a RAS I sold so it is quite steady and on lock down casters.

I have exchanged the headstock shown with a converted Gilmer headstock (no Gilmer belt) that I have mounted my "Poor Man"s Speed Reducer/Increaser" setup. I used this setup for a few years with the Shopsmith bandsaw (225 RPM) to saw aluminum and cast iron metal until I acquired several metal cutting bandsaws. This setup uses the similar size pulleys as the "aux motor for SS" post without the DC motor and controller but can also be used as a speed increaser by reversing the pulleys. See http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... 453&page=3 Post 24

I used a very small V pulley (2 set screws & bored to 5/8" ID with a short 5/8" shaft and 4 spline hub) with the largest V pulley (4 set screws & sleeved to 5/8" with a short 5/8" shaft and 4 spline hub) that I mount on the drive sleeve shaft and idler shaft. This is depending on if I want to increase the maximum (10,000-12,000 RPM) or decrease the minimum (200-225 RPM) quill speed. I have not made a belt guard for this setup at this time but one is needed if this setup is left mounted on the headstock. I use a link belt for these pulleys. The quill and drive sleeve bearings do not last very long above 10,000 RPM so I have been testing higher quality bearings (not too expensive) without much success so far.