Meddings MF4 Manual

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

I’m interested that the lever is plastic and wonder how well it will work when hot ? I’m surprised that a machine of the quality of Meddings would use plastic – is this what the original was made of ? If it were to soften and leave the gears partially meshed it could do a lot of damage. I think I would have made a welded steel fabrication or use the plastic version as a pattern for an aluminium or bronze casting.  Noel.

PS the bronze shoes could do to be much shorter.

[Richard Kirkman 1Participant @richardkirkman1]

Hi Noel

With the original Meddings part being plastic, I cannot see a 3d printed part being an issue. Even using bronze shoes is an upgrade on the original design (at least for my model of drill, I’m sure the older ones were more likely metal).

A welded steel or aluminium/bronze casting would definitely be preferable, but it is outside of my capacity.

The shoes are fine at their current length – It does not affect their function.

 

I will be using PETG-CF for the final print, which softens between 75 and 80 degrees Celsius.

I cannot foresee the print being exposed to that kind of temperature. At least once the shoes are properly worn in, they should only really be contacting when I change the speed. Additionally, it will not receive much use, as it’s a hobby machine and overkill for anything I will do, but it’s nice to have.

Meanwhile, I am conducting some test prints in PLA to determine the required angle.

 

[Richard Kirkman 1Participant @richardkirkman1]

After a few prototypes, I have a functional drill.

Once the part was finalised, assembly was nice and simple.

I cleaned the drill column thoroughly, using methods that I will not repeat…

The drill is a pretty big lump, but I was able to get it back together, stand it up, and move across the room by myself.

If we can exclude the cost of the 3d printer and the amount of time it has taken, it will have cost about £180 in total (petrol excluded as I was traveling past the place anyway).

Meddings new owners did get back to me with the offer of parts, but it was silly money.

The drill has an mt2 taper, so the largest standard drill is 22mm. I managed to drill a hole through 20mm thick mild steel with it, and it didn’t break a sweat. No pilot hole either. Coming from a woodworking drill that struggled to drill 8mm holes, I am very impressed

Fully assembled with 22mm MT2 Drill

25mm forstner bit drilling some wood

Drilling 22mm hole in Mild Steel

 

 

 

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

Good job, nice to see it all worked out.

Rob

[renardiere7Participant @renardiere7]

Yes, agreed. Nice job and definitely a machine worth repairing.

[Author]

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