Mini Mill Question

B

bennett

Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
212
Good evening,ya'll.
I was using my HF MiniMill that I got last August, to slot a couple of brass guards earlier today (first time I got to do that because I just got all of the tooling a few weeks ago). First guard went fine. First cut on the second guard went fine. However, when I went to take a second cut on the slot, my mill just quit. The motor was running, and it just quit. Shut it off, changed the fuse (even though it looks fine), and the spindle still won't turn(turns by hand and sounds normal, though). The cooling fan runs, the green light is on, the yellow light has not come on, but the spindle won't turn when I turn the dial up on the control panel - just the sound of the fan on the back. Any ideas what might be causing this? For the record, the thing has worked great until now - have drilled lots of holes with it... Any input would be greatly appreciated!

PS: dammit:mad:
 
Can't help with your HF problem, sorry.

I hope you don't mind me adding this to your thread for those interested in a mini mill. I've been using one of these http://www.sherline.com/tools.htm for 10 years with no probs. Beats the hell out of the little imports and not that much more money.
 
I have heard of this problem before, but I can't remember what the cause was. go to www.yahoo.com go to the mini mill group, and post this question and you will get a good answer pretty quickly I think. Or from the group page look for Jim Rabidwolf or uncle rabid (I can't remember which name he is using these days) and email him directly he rebuilds controller boards for these mills, and knows the machine every which way. I am thinking that you have a controller board problem, but I don't remember for sure. Hope this helps a little.
 
This place is dedicated to thsese type of machine, lots of tips and some cool stuff. If you broke a plastic gear which is sounds to be the problem they should have your answer.

They also sell a conversion kit to change it over to a belt system which would be the way to go?

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/

spencer
 
There is a "sacrificial" gear on the main drive to spindle assembly. I have a similiar model that did the same thing. Mine had the metal gear set (available for purchase and change out) but there is still one nylon or plastic gear that is meant to break under load to save the motor from siezing. Hope this answers your question. Email me if you have any others.

Erik
 
Sounds like you might have broken a gear. Don't worry, just convert to a belt drive and it'll never break again. :thumbup:
 
i would think if the gear was broke the motor would still humm along tho
i have one but have not had this problem
to me sounds like a conection to the motor would be missing shorted or somethign
 
Those electronic speed controls are total garbage. I burned out three of them in less then six months on thier mini lathe. I had to fight HF to get my money back on the lathe but was able to get a JET.
 
I have the Grizzly version (very close to being the same in appearance at least) and I have worked it hard. If it were just a stripped gear the motor would still run, as stated in a previous post. Two things: the speed shift lever could have gotten knocked out of position (very simple to happen and you by now would have noticed that), if you can not hear the motor run there is a problem with the DC drive control (the power supply). As provided by a internet link above in a previous post, contact The Little Machine Shop. Very sorry for your down time. Wait til you go full time maker and have down time. That's when not just you get concerned. Oh, and they have put that useless little never used by anyone toggle switch on the front panel that cuts the motor off even if the DC drive is active. You might check that too.

rlinger
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Thanks for all of the feedback fellas! I checked the speed lever, and it was in the "low" position where I left it. Checked the brushes on the motor too - they look fine. I talked to "UncleRabid"(Jim). I'm going to send the control box and the board housing/board in for checkup/repair. That should get me up and running again. In the meantime, I'll just keep doing things "the old-school way" - after all, at least that way works good! Again, I really appreciate all of the suggestions. Proof once again that the BF is the best place for good information. Ya'll have a good day
 
See if u can find a cheap wall-plug power supply, @ 9V or so, and
attach it to the motor. If it tries to spin, it is the motor DC control.
If not, something wrong with the motor and Uncle Rabid won't be
able to help .

I've had my mini (HF) for years and never had a single problem with it.
Now, it sits unused ever since I bought an X3 (HF)
 
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