How to make a router from a drill with your own hands? Many people ask this question. This device is very convenient and will help to solve many technological problems. However, not every owner can purchase such a device, since the cost is quite high. That is why many resort to the manufacture of home-made equipment.
General description of the milling cutter
It is worth mentioning that a milling cutter from a drill will be an indispensable assistant in performing tasks such as, for example, construction or repair work, manufacturing a wide variety of wood products and other operations. Such a device will be an indispensable assistant, if necessary, to apply a complex pattern to an already finished structure from the same tree.
Using a milling cutter, which has the necessary working tools, it is possible not only to successfully carry out the operation of milling wood products, but also to successfully process finished goods. The tool will be a great helper if you need to form the edges on the structure.
Manual device
It so happens that there is no way to find a place for a large-sized machine. In such situations, a manual router from a drill comes to the rescue. Almost everyone can make it, who is willing to spend several hours studying the drawing and getting acquainted with the materials, and then allocate time for assembly. However, it is necessary to understand here that a home-made model is not able to replace the serial one by 100%. There is one significant difference. A milling cutter from a drill involves the use of a conventional electrical device, the cartridge of which can reach a maximum speed of up to 3000 rpm. Factory models of machines are capable of gaining speed up to 30,000 rpm, the difference is obvious. It is also worth considering that the gearbox of a conventional drill is quite weak and it is not designed for long and intensive work. It can be operated in this way, but this will lead to its rapid wear.
Vertical device
The simplest model in terms of assembly is a vertical milling cutter for wood from a drill. With your own hands it is possible to make it. Its use will help to solve most everyday problems. In order to successfully assemble a milling machine from such equipment as an electric drill, it is necessary that such tools and materials are at hand, such as:
- pieces of thick plywood or chipboard;
- as a fixing part, a clamp is used that holds the drill in an upright position;
- as fasteners, bolts, screws, nails are needed;
- a core drill or a drill bit 40 mm in diameter is needed;
- from the tools you need a regular set of locksmith type.
Product assembly
Do-it-yourself manual router from a drill is made according to the following plan:
- Prepared sheets of chipboard or plywood are used to assemble the base. It is necessary to assemble a horizontal frame on which the vertical parts will be successfully mounted. They will serve as clamps for the electric drill. As for all sizes of plywood sheets or chipboard, they are individual. To calculate their dimensions is based on the size of the drill itself, which will be used as a working tool.
- In a horizontal frame, a hole with a diameter of 40 mm must be made. It will provide tool access to the workpiece.
- A clamp must be attached to the upright with bolts. An electric drill will be fixed in it, and therefore it must be fixed very firmly. The drill itself should be located so that the lower end of its chuck is only a few millimeters from the horizontal base of the router.
- In order to improve the quality of fixation of the drill in a vertical position, it is necessary to add a block of wood at the top of the rack. He will play the role of a stop for the drill.
In order to change the cutting depth during operation of such a model of a router from a drill, it is necessary to adjust its position in the clamp.
Additions to the device
There are several devices, adding which you can make this device more convenient to use, as well as slightly expand its functionality. For example, you can add a device such as a micro-lift, which will move the drill in the vertical direction. If everything became clear with how to make a milling cutter from a drill, then few know how to make a micro-lift, and therefore here is a brief instruction:
- Guides are required. Two metal rods can be used as them.
- To fix an electric drill, it is necessary to use a platform that will be made of the same plywood or chipboard.
- An element such as a threaded axis and nut will be responsible for moving the electrical device in the vertical direction.
- You must use suitable tools that can hold the drill in the selected position.
Device operation
It is not difficult to make a milling cutter from a drill, but you should still know the principle of operation of such equipment. It is worth noting that it is quite simple. The main element is a motor that rotates and transfers this rotation to a spindle made of durable material. The nozzle - a mill is put on this detail. It can be designed to work not only with wood, but also with metal. The cutter processes the workpieces that are laid on the frame of the device. It is worth paying attention to the fact that when it comes to manual milling, the processing element will not be attached to the spindle, but to the chuck. Depending on the material being processed, the type of cutter itself also changes. As for working with wood, here the simplest models are suitable. Strength requirements are not too high, and the speed can be low. For metal, you will have to use already reinforced models, especially if you need to process brass. To work with glass, you will have to purchase a part from high-quality and hard alloy.
Features of using a manual model
Naturally, it’s not enough to simply assemble a milling cutter from a drill, it is necessary to properly care for it so that it serves for a long time. Experts give several of the following tips:
- All wooden surfaces must not only be sanded well, but also coated with protective equipment to increase resistance to any negative influences from the outside.
- It’s worth it to work out the device control system to make it as convenient as possible.
- You can make some additions, such as a system for cleaning the working area from small chips, for example. You can make a small pipe, which can be connected to a hose from a conventional vacuum cleaner, for example.
Positive and negative qualities
A home-made device has several undeniable positive qualities. The first is, of course, the minimum amount of material costs for assembly, especially in comparison with the purchase of a finished model. Naturally, ease of assembly is also one of the biggest pluses. There is always the opportunity to easily turn an already assembled manual router into a complete machine, if necessary. You can process not only wood, but also other materials, if you choose the right milling cutter.
However, homemade products have some disadvantages that are also worth considering. The processing speed of such a mill will be much lower than that of the factory. The margin of safety of such a tool will also be much lower than that of an industrial unit.
We can say with confidence that if there is no need to perform complex operations, then a milling cutter from a drill is an excellent solution.