Thread: RF45 Clone Z Axis Power Feed? Left hand crank

After a long weekend of using the mill I have found that my carpal tunnel has flared up in my left arm again from all the Z axis cranking. So I have been trying to figure out a way of being able to move the head without having to crank it all the time.

Google shows tons of home brew setups for powering the Z-axis on the RF45 as it is often used for CNCing. But these ones https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Power-Fe...b/273910557695 caught my eye. Seem to be the same thing as H&F sell (https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/M2295) but actually in 240v.

However, they seem to be designed for a right handed crank that lots of these RF45 clones come with. Mine being a left handed crank would require a bit more work (although not insurmountable).

The question i have, before lashing out on the motor) is whether anyone has used one before, or adapted it to the RF45?

RF45 has both left and right wheel so can be fitted to either end

Originally Posted by China

RF45 has both left and right wheel so can be fitted to either end

Not on the Z axis... unless you mean changing over the entire column?

I have an RF45 and have been looking at the same issue.
I looked at those power feeds you linked and established they are for the larger mills that move the table up and down.

If it is of any help, my short term solution was to make a really primitive adapter by welding a large nut to a mating shaft made the same as the handle and driving it with a battery drill on low speed.

You can just install it 45 degree from horizontal (bottom facing rearwards and upwards) so you can see the controls.
It won't matter what angle you mount it at as there is only grease in them.

Every few months eBay gets flooded with $200 odd dollar powerfeeds from various sellers, I haven't heard any bad feedback and there have been a lot sold

Originally Posted by Dave J

You can just install it 45 degree from horizontal (bottom facing rearwards and upwards) so you can see the controls.
It won't matter what angle you mount it at as there is only grease in them.

Every few months eBay gets flooded with $200 odd dollar powerfeeds from various sellers, I haven't heard any bad feedback and there have been a lot sold

Yeah, the controls at the back issue i was planning on resolving by inverting the unit. But was more about having to build a long extension to run the gear off. You can see here how the bevel gear is offset to the left of the unit:


Guess its doable though.


I was planning on getting one of the $200ish X power feeds from eBay or MagPro when they come up too.

That's interesting, I had a sales rep at GT tell me they were for larger machines.
Thanks, I might have to revisit the idea again.

I had to make up extensions for both my Y and Z on my HM52 mill, along with larger collars to bolt the powerfeed body to.

If you have a lathe and a roll pin it's quite easily to make the shart from a bit of 20mm mild steel round bar.
The collar/mount could easily be made from a peice or 2 of thick flat bar, if you can't find a cheap peice of round bar that size.

If you need pictures of anything let me know, it only takes minutes to disassemble mine.

Originally Posted by takai

Yeah, the controls at the back issue i was planning on resolving by inverting the unit. But was more about having to build a long extension to run the gear off. You can see here how the bevel gear is offset to the left of the unit:


Guess its doable though.


I was planning on getting one of the $200ish X power feeds from eBay or MagPro when they come up too.

Not sure what you mean about the bevel is gear to the left, the bevel gear goes to the right in your picture and is shimmed for backlash between gears, as that's where there designed to go.

The peice on the left is just a bracket to mount it to the column.

Originally Posted by Dave J

I had to make up extensions for both my Y and Z on my HM52 mill, along with larger collars to bolt the powerfeed body to.

If you have a lathe and a roll pin it's quite easily to make the shart from a bit of 20mm mild steel round bar.
The collar/mount could easily be made from a peice or 2 of thick flat bar, if you can't find a cheap peice of round bar that size.

If you need pictures of anything let me know, it only takes minutes to disassemble mine.

Yeah, im thinking that it will all be relatively easy overall. Not sure if i want to make any sharts though...

As for the bevel gear being offset i meant the casting overall. so i was initally just thinking of extending the mounting out. But with the inversion so it sits upwards that will correct the orientation of the bevel gears. So no issue there.

I also see that MagPro have one much the same: http://www.mag-pro.com.au/goods.php?id=277 Except it has bugger all details, and is 'rated' to 150lbs whatever that means. Most of the other ALSGS ones i see are in the 450-650 in/lbs range instead.

Also looking around on the CNC forums it seems that using a gas strut or two (like car boot strut) to assist in lifting operations is pretty common, which would probably resolve the issue i was foreseeing with unknown motor rating chinesium.

Originally Posted by takai

Yeah, im thinking that it will all be relatively easy overall. Not sure if i want to make any sharts though...

As for the bevel gear being offset i meant the casting overall. so i was initally just thinking of extending the mounting out. But with the inversion so it sits upwards that will correct the orientation of the bevel gears. So no issue there.

I also see that MagPro have one much the same: http://www.mag-pro.com.au/goods.php?id=277 Except it has bugger all details, and is 'rated' to 150lbs whatever that means. Most of the other ALSGS ones i see are in the 450-650 in/lbs range instead.

Also looking around on the CNC forums it seems that using a gas strut or two (like car boot strut) to assist in lifting operations is pretty common, which would probably resolve the issue i was foreseeing with unknown motor rating chinesium.

It's been years since I shopped power feeds, I remember something about maximum torque etc which some sellers use to make it look better.
There are only 2 sizes in these, one is meant for x and y, the other for z on a larger knee mill.
I went with the larger, I think it is a 510 from memory, will look tomorrow for you.

I have an older version of this mill and the Z axis lift on the column has a motor on top to raise and lower. A toggle switch you have to hold up or down to raise or lower it. There is a removable hand crank on the left side of the column to manually do it. I don't know what they would charge for the motor and mounting plate etc or even if they would sell it to you at all. The parts manual under documents has the numbers and rudimentary diagram. Rolling your own should be possible. What would be nice would be to have the potentiometer of the power feeds you are looking at. If it was sensitive enough it might be possible to use it as a fine feed for boring etc. If I get to using mine more I might look into adding one.

Pete

Originally Posted by Dave J

It's been years since I shopped power feeds, I remember something about maximum torque etc which some sellers use to make it look better.
There are only 2 sizes in these, one is meant for x and y, the other for z on a larger knee mill.
I went with the larger, I think it is a 510 from memory, will look tomorrow for you.

Some pictures would be great, just to visualise how it works.

I’ve got an HM-48 that came with a 240v gearhead motor mounted to the top of the column. It connected to the Z screw via a spring-loaded dog clutch & keyway. It worked pretty well for raising and lowering the head even without gas struts, but since converting the machine to CNC and replacing it with a stepper it’s now surplus to requirements, so I could sell it to you. It shouldn’t be too hard to fit if your Z screw has the keyway and shoulder at the top, and extends far enough towards the top of the column.
Z-motor.jpg

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