Maintenance on the Drill Press

[wander]

So VHS has a good drill press right beside the laser cutter. Unfortunately, the adjusting rack which raises and lowers the platform was badly bent. So I spent a few hours carefully bending it straight and reattaching it. Here’s what it looks like now:

Although the handle is missing, it does not take a great deal of force to raise and lower the platform.

1. Loosen the bolt (#1) on the back of the platform
2. Lift the platform (#2)with your hand
3. Turn the knob (#3) in the desired direction of travel with your other hand
4. Tighten the bolt (#1) to hold the platform in position.

Do not put a Vice Grip on the knob (#3) as a handle; you will destroy the shaft!

Also, the table should not be shifted left to right; move the work on the plate instead!

I also noticed that the drive pulleys were misaligned, and the belt is pretty chewed up. Note how much higher the rightmost pulley is:

After consulting with more experienced machinists, the belt is unusable and should be removed immediately. As a result, the drill press is out of order until a replacement belt is acquired.

The belt required is:

M-24 0503 46

I have put an Out of Order sign on the drill press.

[miststlkr]

Willing to chip in if the belt is expensive

[wander]

Ok, belt was cheap, it’s on there now.

Drill press should be good to go.

[miststlkr]

thanks for taking care of that!

[Janet]

You rawk. Thanks for doing that.

[Dmo]

Awesome, thank you!

[mike]

Thank you! Keeping our tools in peak condition is a noble endeavour; thank you!