Ya I'm probably overthinking it (its thing with me). It wouldnt take much of a bracket or maybe even a ball joint on the side of my column. I should be able to get a lamp like that around the column & point at most any angle illuminating the work. When I had a LED cnverted lamp like that on my RF-45 mill, part of it was lighting of course. The other other aspect is getting it out of the way when doing setups or whatever. I did an LED ceiling light upgrade replacing from flourescents a while back & that was a huge improvement. But I think my eyesight degraded about the same amount 🙄
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Machine/Mill Light
- Thread starter PeterT
- Start date
BaronJ
Ultra Member
Hi Peter, Guys,
I have a Halogen bulb one of them, 12 volts, I never use it it works but the light isn't as directed as you might think. I can close the workshop door, turn it on and see around the work shop relatively easily.
I've been trying to sell it for over a year now, no takers, not even an offer !
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skippyelwell
Ultra Member
Put it in our classified section, who knows.
BaronJ
Ultra Member
Thanks for that suggestion. It would cost more than its worth to post out to Canada even if I gave it away !
However its been pointed out that there is an Auction House not too far away from me, and they also do machinery.
slow-poke
Ultra Member
Hmmmm…
Details on the auction house?
BaronJ
Ultra Member
I made my own ring light with left over LEDs from the Lions Gate Bridge project.
The problem is it's too far above the edge of the spindle nose. That results in a shadow that's even worse when a tool is in the spindle.
So I can see around it but can't exactly where the tip is.
The original bulb in the lamp that came with the mill corroded and stopped working. I replaced the bulb with an LED assembly in the same housing.
I end up using both.
Golem Pens
Michael
I've been eyeing one of these (I really need task light at the grinder) https://www.kmstools.com/magnum-5-watt-led-flexible-worklight-magnetic-base.html
I like that idea. I could put one on either side of the mill column & that would be the end of the story. I actually had an old student study lamp I intended to reporpose over my scroll saw. When I tried mounting vertically like your red one, it very quickly drooped out pf position. It really wanted to stand up from its base. Now maybe it was old & needed Viagra but I see yours is mounted vertically to the DRO arm, which if anything woul dsee some machine vibration to boot. Does it stay put pretty good?
It reminds me of another idea I had with my 3DP lamp head idea. Rather than straght arm & ball socket joints, that blue (whats it called?) segmented pipe stuff you see on air blowers & such. But a) its expensive b) I dont think it can support much weight other than its own?
Is there actually a difference between an old school work light and the new LED's? I like the magnetic led but I find the light is very focused
The old man swore by incandescent bulbs
The old man swore by incandescent bulbs
Golem Pens
Michael
Probably yes but depends on vintage. Old school trouble lights were incandescent & had some sort of anti-shatter gel coating on them. You had to be careful about any kind of fluid spray or they would shatter from the temp. The kind mechanics used were just an exposed bulb but Ive seen them on a machine light behind a plastic lens diffuser / protector. Then machine lights lights that went through the halogen phase as did household/whatever. They were bright but also very hot. Popular on sewing machines & similar industrial stuff but I really dont know if they were on metal machinery lights for that reason, the fluids & swarf would be a killer on them. If they were used maybe that explains the special housing shroud. Along came LEDs & they really are a great step forward. Cheap, run dead cool, very bright, dimmable, range of temp/deg-K values, low power consumption, lend themselves to arranging in arrays... For my old school study lamps that used smaller format regular incandescent bulbs, just buy the same form factor re-engineered LED bulb & you are good to go. And of course better for the enviornment, because if you've ever seen a dolphin with a incandescent bulb stuck in its blow hole, well thats just cruel isnt it?
BaronJ
Ultra Member
Hi Michael, Guys,
I have two, no actually three lights with magnifying lens in them, two very similar to yours, the third one is a LED desk magnifier lamp. It came from Lidl quite a few years ago it been on the computer desk since then. The switch mode power supply blew its guts out a couple of years ago, that got replaced by a 12 volt hard disc drive one. The five volt connection is left unused.
I have two, no actually three lights with magnifying lens in them, two very similar to yours, the third one is a LED desk magnifier lamp. It came from Lidl quite a few years ago it been on the computer desk since then. The switch mode power supply blew its guts out a couple of years ago, that got replaced by a 12 volt hard disc drive one. The five volt connection is left unused.
Loc-line. Is the brand name. I’ve successfully 3D printed that stuff and the bigger size 1/2” 3/4”? would easily hold up lamps and stay in place.
Doggggboy
Ultra Member
I really like companies like Loc Line and Mcmaster thar freely share the 3d files.
Turns out you can buy the same spiral metal lamp gooseneck segment in various diameters & M/F thread ends. So I guess if I decide to try a 3DP lamp head with my own LED's this could be a better way to connect it to a base of choice. Another thing I've noticed is some (most) work lamps are not dimmable & they list watts but rarely lumens.
Attachments
I made a round light similar to johns and same issue with the tool bit in the shadow. The 3d printed line loc stuff does work I printed some for helping hands. They work pretty good. Led light is pretty light unless it needs a big heat sink. 3d printed line loc all the way up to I think 2-1/2 or even 3 inch people use it for vacuum hose ends. I might revisit this, currently using an old suspension light with led bulb. Be nice to have a more focused light, also one or two off the mill head. Lots of ideas.
LOCLINE models for 3D printer | Printables.com
Explore collection of locline designs that are perfect for your 3D printer. Download and 3D print STL models tagged with locline.
www.printables.com
After much handwringing & procrastination, I decided to order this model. I guess we will see in a couple weeks. May the AliExpress Gods look favourably upon me. If its a fail for the mill I have other spots to put one. None (or very few I've seen) of these are LED grid style are dimmable. I'm more concerned it might be too bright refelecting off the metal table etc. But I have some diffuser plastic if thats the only issue.
