Tim's Miniature Drill Press

Some times when making small project, you need small tools make them.

This is my Miniature Drill Press I designed and made using my 3D Printer.

I use it for drilling tiny holes in projects I make.

This Instructable is just for the Miniature Pedestal Drill, I assume you will have an adequate DC power supply for it.

A 3D Printer is required to make this project.

• The whole thing is 3D Printed apart from the bought-out Items.

Bought-Out Items

• One DC Motor: The one I have with 12 volts it spins 28000 RPM. the speed and voltage is not critical, but it's physical size matters as the 3D printed Parts are designed for a certain type.
• One Speed controller: The speed controller I got from eBay. There are many DC Motor Speed Controllers, the one I have can handle 3 Amps, and is like the one shown.
• One Collet Chuk: Make sure the Collet Chuck you get has the correct hole size to fit the motor you have. Be carful there are Metric and Imperial Sizes.
• Collets: You may not have to get these separately, sometimes you can get a good deal when buying the Chuck. Remember there is Imperial and Metric versions of these. Not just the Chuck they fit, but also the drill bits they hold.
• Twenty Seven Self Tapping Screws: M3 X 10 mm long.
• Some cable and a Connector for the Power Supply. Ideally the Connector needs to match the DC Power supply you have.
• Two 3mm diameter linear bars 93mm long.

Attached is the STL files for the printed parts:

The motor needs to be the size shown.

• It is a common size, so it should not be hard to find one similar.
• I have marked crucial dimensions with red letters.

A: This dimension is the diameter of the spindle. It is critical that the arbour of the Collet chuck matches this diameter.

B and C: These are the diameters of the bearing mounts, 10mm is what my Drill Press is deigned for.

D: This is the overall length of the motor body. 37.8mm is what my Drill Press is deigned for.

E: This is the overall Diameter of the motor body. 27.7mm is what my Drill Press is deigned for.

F: This is the hole centres for the Motor mounting screws. 16mm is what my Drill Press is deigned for.

The electrical parameters do not need to be exact.

• Mine with 12 Volts runs at 28000 RPM. (Half this speed should be sufficient)

Note!

When getting a Collet set, a drill size that should be a must is 1/8 inch (3.175mm).

• There are many drill bit sets with a 1/8 inch shank.
• Its a standard size for PCB Drill bits and they cam be acquired quite cheep.

When you have your Motor and Collet Chuck assemble them if needed and attach a reasonable length of cable to the Motor Terminals.

Using two M2.6x0.45 Screws Fit the Motor to the Motor Bracket as shown.

Using four M3 Self Tapping Screws, attach the Slide to the Motor Bracket.

Using two M3 Self Tapping Screws, attach the Rack to the Slide.

Using four M3 Self Tapping Screws, attach the Support Frame to the Base.

Using six M3 Self Tapping Screws (3 in each), attach the two Side Braces to the Base and the Support Frame.

• There is a Right and Left Side Brace.
• Be sure to put the them on the correct sides, as shown.

Slide the M8 Washer onto the Pinion Shaft.

• From the side shown, slide the Pinion Shaft into the holes shown.
• Using one M3 Self Tapping Screw, secure the Shaft Cap to the end of the Pinion Shaft.

Slide the Pinion Wheel (gear) onto the Pinion Shaft.

Slide the Wheel (Three spoke lever) onto the Pinion Shaft.

• Note that the square shape of the Pinion Shaft and the square hole of the wheel have two corners removed for screws.
• The corners need to be aligned together to form two holes for the fixing screws.

Using two M3 Self Tapping Screws and M3 Washers, secure the wheel in place.

• The washers are needed to reduce the length of the screw going into the connection.
• If the screws go in too far the shaft will not turn.

Using four M3 Self Tapping Screws, secure the two Speed Controller Brackets in place.

• Both Speed Controller Brackets are the same.
• The Speed Controller Brackets will only fit one way.

Using four M3 Self Tapping Screws, secure the Speed Controller in place.

• I am using four M3 Washers to pack off the the PCB from the Speed Controller Brackets, as I have soldered my cables direct to the circuit board underneath.
• Packing off the PCB also gives room for any terminals that are pocking through the PCB.

Using two 3mm diameter smooth rods, 93mm long. Attach the motor and slide to the Support Frame.

• I find it best to attach the side that does not have the Rack first.
• The Motor and Slide assembly will swing into place for the second rod.

Once the two rods are in place, keep them there by placing a Bar Cap on each.

• These just clip into place.

I have made some "V" blocks to aid drilling of round objects.

Also I have made a large block with various shaped sides to aid drilling.

The circuit is straight forward.

The Speed Controller has:

• Power In. To this I connected a Connector to match my power supply.
• Power Out. The Motor connects to the Output.

The speed is controlled by the Potentiometer.

• Mine came with a knob, but I found better control without the knob on.