Meddings MF4 Mk2 Pillar Drill

[slim_boy_fat]

We have a forging hydraulic press. I should build one really. The price of 60T rams is putting me off lol.

Ahhhh, you're planning a 'proper' capacity one, mine's a puny 10-ton job.

 

[Seadog]

The grooves don't necessarily have O-rings. If the quill is a close fit they serve as a rudimentary labyrinth seal.

 

[Brad93]

The grooves don't necessarily have O-rings. If the quill is a close fit they serve as a rudimentary labyrinth seal.

Yes it is actually a close fit.

I’ve reassembled now so won’t bother stripping. It doesn’t say on the parts list that there were any o-rings so we will leave it as is.

Once I get some hylomar or some three bond I’ll start reassembly. I’ve got to repair the shaft next which I will start on Monday.

 

[Mark Davison]

Someone had been at the quill/spindle before looking at the state of the quill seal and missing I presume two o rings that sit in the grooves.

View attachment 289074 View attachment 289075 View attachment 289076 View attachment 289077

No, o rings don't sit in the grooves. The grooves are the seal. The muck collects in there with the idea being it doesn't progress past both of them.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Could you fit some felt to the grooves?

 

[Seadog]

The Boxford uses the same idea for the main bearing end caps. A little grease will collect and form a seal. Whenever people see a groove they automatically think "O-ring," but remember that they weren't widely used, despite being invented in 1896.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

The grooves don't necessarily have O-rings. If the quill is a close fit they serve as a rudimentary labyrinth seal.

I've learned something new today, and it's not even 10 o'clock yet! Thanks.

 

[Brad93]

Not much I can get done today but I’ve quickly blasted the rusty forward/reverse lever and managed to find a nos maroon ball that was M8 thread and manages to fit on the BSF threads. A dab of loctite should make sure it never comes loose.

I’ll give it a coat of paragon ZP then order a small tin of proper meddings paint.

 

[Brad93]

I've had an email from a new member who I can only imagine has found my details due to this thread.

For anyone that is unaware, Meddings are still going in the UK, Under the name "Meddings Thermalec"

They can be contacted via their website, or email, or phone.

They will email full parts lists and marketing information to aid you in finding your spare parts. They have many bits in stock, but some are unavailable. On the parts lists if there is not part number then it is discontinued.

Email: sales@meddings.co.uk
Telephone: +44 1752 313323

 

[Brad93]

Again here are screenshots of the parts lists I have. PDFs are available from meddings.

 

[jgr2015]

Bit of a thread revival here! A question for @Brad93 - could you tell me how the bearing fits were on the spindle and quill ?

It seems from the thread that the bearings are press fit into the quill ? And then does the spindle slip into the inner races or are one or both of those tight also ?

I'm interested because I'm looking at the bearing setup on another drill press (a Kerry/Qualters and Smith) and I'm trying to compare.

Thanks !
J.

 

[Brad93]

Bit of a thread revival here! A question for @Brad93 - could you tell me how the bearing fits were on the spindle and quill ?

It seems from the thread that the bearings are press fit into the quill ? And then does the spindle slip into the inner races or are one or both of those tight also ?

I'm interested because I'm looking at the bearing setup on another drill press (a Kerry/Qualters and Smith) and I'm trying to compare.

Thanks !
J.

It's an absolute nightmare to fit the angular contact bearing to be honest. Very tight fit in quill housing and spindle.

you need a few shop made drift/bearing fitting tools and ideally a hot plate to first heat the bearing onto the spindle then heat the quill whilst the spindle is cooling so that the spindle assembly then drops into the quill.

Otherwise you risk the angular contact bearing splitting apart.

 

[winchboy]

The thinner outer race side is the thrust side, so the right hand picture.

I was reminded by this when the bearings were £380 each, getting complacent when changing 4 pairs of them nearly cost me

 

[jgr2015]

It's an absolute nightmare to fit the angular contact bearing to be honest. Very tight fit in quill housing and spindle.

Duly noted. It seems hard to get solid info on the best order of assembly.

Is the top (deep groove bearing) also tight onto the spindle ? I'm trying to figure out how the preload is set on the bearings and where the retaining ring over the top bearing comes into the picture.

 

[Mark Davison]

The preload is set by the retaining ring as far as I can see. Very poor design as the retaining ring is for ever coming loose. I replaced it with a split collar one that I made myself. It would benefit from the addition of a spring washed between the collar and top bearing. Otherwise its a cracking drill

 

[Brad93]

Duly noted. It seems hard to get solid info on the best order of assembly.

Is the top (deep groove bearing) also tight onto the spindle ? I'm trying to figure out how the preload is set on the bearings and where the retaining ring over the top bearing comes into the picture.

Preload on the meddings isn't adjustable as far as I know.

When you assemble all of it, the bearing cap is a press fit, there's a retaining ring, and the deep groove bearing at the top of the spindle is held in position by a retaining ring I think, or a collar with a grub screw actually I think.

 

[Brad93]

Yeah the top bearing I heated the bearing and the quill housing but not the spindle shaft. There was no easy way of pressing the bearing in (before I had the hydraulic press) so I made a aluminium round with the right dimensions and used that to knock the bearing into the quill.

 

[jgr2015]

Thanks for the info @Brad93, @Mark Davison .

The Kerry/Q&S drill press has similar size bearings, but with the top bearing being the angular contact one. I'd love to know the rationale in each case as to how the bearings are designed to carry the loads, axial and radial.

 

[Brad93]

Thanks for the info @Brad93, @Mark Davison .

The Kerry/Q&S drill press has similar size bearings, but with the top bearing being the angular contact one. I'd love to know the rationale in each case as to how the bearings are designed to carry the loads, axial and radial.

If the top is angular contact too then there will be a thread and jam nut on top of the spindle To set the preload between the two opposing bearings at the top and bottom

 

[North Star]

Hi new here looking for the size of the oil seal for my meddings f14 and any Manual
Thanks