Making a Mill DIY Z Axis Power Feed Using a Treadmill Incline Motor for my PM-728

My new PM-728 mill NEEDS Z-axis power feed. Rather than buying a ready made kit I decided to take a treadmill incline motor and modify it to work in this application. If you have scrapped any treadmills you likely have a motor like this laying around and a treadmill incline motor is ideal for this purpose!!. Other than the incline motor there were a few other parts I needed which are in the parts list below.
Affiliate links to items in this video:
Parts List:
L075 Motor Coupler
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Plastic Project Box
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Cable Glands
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Illuminated AC Power Switch
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SPDT Momentary Toggle Switch
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[@stevemarschman3202]

Nicely done!

[@dazecars]

Thanks!

[@pdnetzer9561]

Nice job. I’m going to attempt that on my drill press.

[@dazecars]

Don’t hesitate to reach out if any questions come up.

[@FunctionalPrintFriday]

love this! definitely making one

[@dazecars]

Don’t hesitate to let me know if any questions come up.

[@dieselwelds8645]

Thank you sir. Always enjoy your content.

[@dazecars]

I appreciate that!

[@blueovalracing1582]

Splendid video

[@dazecars]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Follett2121]

Interesting stuff! Found your channel from a forum while researching TKO/TKX/T5 transmissions. Keep it up man!

[@dazecars]

Thanks, will do!

[@EdC-wb3jl]

Awesome! I have the same mill so I'll be using your idea to install a head lift.

[@dazecars]

let me know if any questions come up

[@paulshermet535]

Love the automotive "chassis ground" reference in your electrical drawing. Car guy by heart.

[@dazecars]

Cars are my roots!

[@paulshermet535]

@@dazecars Mine too.

[@dazecars]

👍

[@douglashank8480]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing.

[@dazecars]

My pleasure!

[@blueovalracing1582]

I just watched this video for a second time no idea why but it was even more interesting the second time. Thanks for the video.

[@dazecars]

I’m an acquired taste 😁

[@mapp0v0]

I've had my treadmill incline motor sitting on top of my mill for 6 months waiting to do this, thanks.

[@dazecars]

Let me know if any questions come up on your install

[@zjtr10since80]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@dazecars]

My pleasure!

[@chiefus3536]

I like this mod for your mill. I would have loved to see how you machined the coupler for the lead screw and how you fabricated the shroud for the incline motor. great video though. Thanks for sharing.

[@dazecars]

A coupler fabrication video has actually been a common enough request that I have shot some footage and will be hopefully dropping that video on Saturday. As to the shroud , the next time I so something similar I will shoot some video.

[@art58wong]

Genius idea for tightening around a threaded shaft. Any tips for making the key.

[@dazecars]

I inserted the unthreaded key and tightening assembly in the coupler and then ran a tap down it. There have been enough questions about how I threaded the key that I think I will make an upcoming video on the subject.

[@art58wong]

@@dazecars Another good idea. I imagined slicing a rounded threaded coupler.

[@dazecars]

sorry I didn't reply sooner, this comment was for some reason "held for review" by KZbin. Your questions along with others questions inspired me to make a video on the subject. If you are interested it dropped last Saturday kzbin.info/www/bejne/fl6adINqnKimjMU

[@1981haresh]

My pulley has groves on the motor. Trying find a pulley that matches the same groves. Where can I buy one?

[@dazecars]

Im not exactly sure what you are asking me. Can you email me with pix?

[@MarkATrombley]

A side question - What led you to chose the 728 over the 833? I am trying to decide which I want.

[@dazecars]

The biggest factor was cost especially since I spent an extra $900 on the factory installed DRO. The other factors was there is not a lot of difference size wise X Y Z travel and the 738 has excellent reviews. I am sure the reviews of the other machine are also good but this machine seams to be able to do everything I need it to for les money.

[@SHarris64]

FYI… INT duty means “intermittent”… not internal. Unfortunately, it doesn’t say what the time on/off is. Nice mod. I’m sure you’d be fine without the fan and shroud, but not a bad idea going the extra mile. 🙂

[@dazecars]

Thanks for the clarification in the definition of "int" similar motors I have are all 1 minute on and 5-8 minutes off. Typically I am not moving the head for more than about a minute. My purpose for the fan was to counteract multiple moves with not much time in between which could create a heat buildup. Glad you liked the mod

[@SHarris64]

@@dazecars Not a problem 🙂 It would be interesting to see the temperature of one of those motors under load and chart it over time… just for science lol. 😆

[@dazecars]

That is a disgusting thought..... that I have had my self and have though about breaking out the infrared thermometer for just such an experiment 😂😂😂

[@paulshermet535]

How did you thread the key?

[@dazecars]

I drilled and threaded the insert then milled out the groove. From there I inserted the unthreaded key and slid the entire assembly into a love joy coupler. I was then able to run my tap down the bore and cut the teeth in one end of the key. Next step was to take it all apart and move the key up about 1/4", align the threads with a bolt, slide it back in the love joy coupler and ran the tap down it again. Rinse and repeat until there were some threads on the entire key although not at full depth on the end where the tap tapered. To fix the issue of shallow threads on one end I flipped the key around end for end, realigned it with the bolt, inserted it back in the coupler and finished cutting the threads to full depth. Make sense?

[@paulshermet535]

@@dazecarsThanks.

[@dazecars]

My pleasure

[@NavinBetamax]

...but.....can you hand crank it ? the reduction gears to the reversible ac motor would constrain hand wheel cranking ( manually )....would need a disengage clutch !

[@dazecars]

good question, I addressed it towards the end of the video 19:48. Resistance increased but it is not hard to crank at all. It's really no different than any of the other kits out there as they all use gear reduction motors.