Bridgeport Sensitive Drill Feed Handle

These can be bought but they're expensive. I made one decades ago, before they were common, out of aluminum and this is a printed copy of it. This version fits onto the quill of a standard Bridgeport type milling machine or any similar clone.  My design fits most units; just change the length of the Link as needed. Several sizes are included for you to choose and print. All large joints are pinned together with 5mm rod; I  used brass but steel is fine too. Just press the rod in and secure the ends with shaft collars to keep them in place.  The quill clamp is fastened with an M5 x 25mm bolt and a nylock nut. 

I'm working on one that fits a drillpress with a 2" diameter quill. Let me know what the dimensions of your drillpress and I'll post clamps to match.

Printing:

--PLA is perfectly adequate and no support is needed. I print them with 50% fill for longevity and strength. 

After printing the parts you will need to buy:

--A Sensitive Drill Feed unit and chuck; I prefer the one made by Royal Products but there are plenty of others available. Here are a few on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sensitive+drill+feed+adapter&crid=1OEZPC7RLC77H&sprefix=sensitive+drill+feed+adapter%2Caps%2C175&ref=nb_sb_noss

--1: 100mm length of 5mm rod

--2:  25mm lengths of 5mm rod

--1: M5 x 25mm bolt and nut

--1: M3 x 5mm heatset insert

--1: M3 x 10mm grub screw

--4: M3 x 10mm SHCS

--2: M3 x 10mm SHCS 

Tools:

--Heat set rig or a soldering iron

--Small set of metric hex keys

--Hacksaw or mototool with a cutting disk

--Hand file to deburr ends of cut rods

--M3 tap

Assembly:

Tap the Disk Adapter M3 in the six holes

Insert an M3 x 5mm HeatSet insert into the boss on the top face of the Frame. Make sure there's clearance for the M3x10mm setscrew and for the 5mm shaft that it will secure in the cross hole.

Position the Disk Adapter open side down in the Frame with the setscrew boss hole up. Attach it with two: M3 x 10mm SHCS. Make sure that it's evenly located with a little space all around and leave the bolts just a little loose so the adapter pivots easily.

Slide this assembly over the shank of your Sensitive Drill Feed unit. Secure the drive disk in place by capping it with the Disk Capture Plate and four: M3 x 10mm SHCS

Press the knob onto a length of 5mm rod; 100mm is a good length. Press the other end of the rod into the Frame, making sure it doesn't interfere with the Disk Capture Plate, and secure it in place with an M3 x 10mm setscrew.

Secure the Quill Collar to the end of the quill on your milling machine with the M5 bolt and nut. Orient it for your ‘handedness’, right or left.

Attach the ½ in. shank to a chuck or to a collet adapter. Attach the chuck or collet adapter to the mill. Pick a Link and attach the link with two pieces of 5mm rod. Link length should be such that the feed handle is parallel to the floor when the unit is retracted.

Give a shout if you would like to fit the Quill Collar to a mill with a different quill diameter.

Good luck and have fun!

PS let me know if you come up with any novel applications! :-)

PPS remember I'm broke and Patrons get access  to .stp files and other perks! 

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