A while back, I asked for opinions of a coil winder in this thread:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/opinions-on-this-coil-winder-please
In that thread I decided just to make my own from a cordless drill that was given to me years ago. Well, I finished it today.
Here are the donor parts I used from a 14v Black & Decker drill:
Note the flat spot in the white nylon on the gearbox. This allowed me to create a stock (or pillory if you prefer) out of MDF to act as a mount for the gearbox:
I attached a piece of 2x3 to act as a mount for the motor. There is a small piece of 1/8" hardboard to bring the motor level with the gearbox.The little metal bit you see is to take up some slop the gearbox had in the mount.
Now that I had a mount, I glued this to some 1/2" MDF to act as a foundation, added walls and a roof out of scrap MDF and 1/8" hardboard and then glued in little strips of cypress for "deadwood nailers" to grab screws.
I used a larger piece of 3/4" MDF to make a portable work station to mount the motor housing, the wind counter sensor and a wire guide. I painted this white so that I would have a good contrast to the dark wire. These old eyes need all the help they can get.
The parts I had to purchase were:
* 5 Digit LCD Digital Punch Counter from China on eBay for $9.39: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LCD-Punch-Counter-Digital-5-Digit-Including-Proximity-Switch-Strong-Magnetic/181770167673?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
* PWM Motor Speed Controller from a US eBay seller for $5.29: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-6V-28V-3A-PWM-Motor-Speed-Variable-Regulator-Controller-Switch/292157244044?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
* 10" long 1/4" dia. stainless steel rod from a US eBay seller for $5.77: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-4-Diameter-304-Stainless-Steel-Round-Rod-10-Length-Extruded-0-25-in-Dia/371988172942?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
* 2 1/4" stainless steel stop collars from a US eBay seller for $4.99: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-1-4-SHAFT-SOLID-STAINLESS-STEEL-SET-SCREW-COLLAR-STOP-SSC25/291904232285?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
I already had a DPDT ON-ON mini toggle switch that I had purchased from Tayda Electronics that go for $0.85: http://www.taydaelectronics.com/electromechanical/switches-key-pad/toggle-switch/mini-toggle-switch-dpdt-on-on.html
as well as a 2.1mm DC Power Jack for $0.13 from Tayda: http://www.taydaelectronics.com/dc-power-jack-2-1mm-enclosed-frame-with-switch.html
So, I have $26.42 into this minus the MDF, hardboard and screws.
I also made a pickup bobbin mount from a 2" screw and a 1/4" x 1-1/2" aluminum bar stock I had but that can be made from wood as the aluminum bar stock is fairly expensive.
The power supply I picked up at Goodwill. I don't remember what I payed but it was cheap. It is only 12v, 1 amp so the motor doesn't turn full speed but it turns plenty fast for me.
Here.s a shot after I finished soldering everything up:
After I buttoned it all up and tested it, I at first thought that the counter wasn't counting. But, it was counting just fine, it was just that the LCD display on the counter doesn't have a very large viewing angle. So, instead of making a new front panel that would raise the display up to a 10" height, I simply put a 2x3 "leg" on the front edge. This proved to be more ideal anyway as I have a better viewing angle while using the winder.
Comments
I'm getting there with my build of one of these.
I gave up trying to get a drill - tried one but it was geared up to the max with all sorts of things that meant it was impossible (for me at least) to get the motor shaft linked to the chuck.
Then I saw one of these on Ebay. It came this morning and I wired it up to the speed controller and the counter to check if out. Works well.
I'm actually going to revisit my pickup winder after I realized that I do indeed have an old drill (a very cheap one at that) how's battery pack no longer holds a charge. While those battery packs can be repaired, I opted to just pull out the motor and I'm going to use it for my pickup winder since it should provide me with a faster motor than the stepper motor I'm using now. Like last time, though, I'll be using an Arduino to control the speed of motor and I'm going to see if I can add a counter on it this time around.
Thanks Clark,
I love this. It meets all the right criteria, simple cheap and effective. I now regret throwing away my very old drill last month because I couldn't get any batteries for it.
Have you had time to try it out yet? Does it work for you as you'd hoped?
Denis
William, that was pretty clever using a thread spool for a bobbin and a pill case for a cover.
bigmcgiv, my phone is just a el cheapo LG Reble Tracfone so the video would be terrible. My nephew has an iPhone 7 but I only see him 2-3 times a week (and he lives here) but I would have to remember - which is a bigger problem...
Skeesix, I haven't started winding yet. I'm hoping the ergonomics will be OK, seems like it might be better, maybe...
need a video of this in action
Good job!
It took me awhile to realize you meant you propped up the entire platform with a board on the front edge to get a good viewing angle for the counter - a creative and simple solution, assuming it doesn't impact the ergonomics of holding the magnet wire.
I put my counter on a separate stand and angled that.
On second thought, changing out the switch would be a bad idea because the speed control needs the correct polarization. I would have to add a switch after the speed control and before the motor. There is already a spare hole on the face where I omitted an LED because it was blinding me.
Thanks Darryl, I did consider making it reversible but I didn't have the necessary DPDT ON-OFF-ON switch and that is all it would take -switching out the switch. I put that on my list for my next order from Tayda but I won't make an order until I have a considerable list going. Tayda has no minimum order but I like to make it worth their while.
Great job Clark, very tidy, the eyesight problem is real, any help in that is valuable and good for soldering in front of as well, did you consider making it reversable as well?