Electric Grain Mill

[blisster]

Latest project... I plan on adding an on/off switch, a reverse, and a wheels on it eventually.

It's made from junk lawnmower and clothes dryer parts. I had to get a few parts from Ebay but only have about $80 into it. 

[Two Wheeler]

That's awesome! What rpm does it spin at?

[blisster]

The motor is a regular 1/2hp, 1725rpm.
Pulley ratio is 1:6.67
Grain mill is running at approx. 258rpm

[robcoombs]

Looks awesome Pierre!

[blisster]

Finally got around to installing an on/off switch on this thing and wheels to move it around.   Reverse isn't going to be an option though.

[Two Wheeler]

Looking good! That's too bad about reverse... a trick I've learned when my OBK mill stops pulling grain is to spin in reverse for a few seconds, then it will magically start working in forward. Can you spin the pulley in reverse by hand?

[Roger]

Finally got around to installing an on/off switch on this thing and wheels to move it around.   Reverse isn't going to be an option though.

Can you access the belt? If yes than if you put your belt on in a figure eight it'll rotate the opposite way.

[blisster]

Can you access the belt? If yes than if you put your belt on in a figure eight it'll rotate the opposite way.

Not really, the pillow blocks and motor are bolted down with the belt very tight so it wouldn't be easy.
When it starts to freeroll, I power off the motor and reverse the pulley manually then jam a paint stir stick in to wedge some grains in the rollers... It usually starts milling again.

If I had to make another one, I'd def start with a better mill that has a 1/2" shaft.

I'd probably use this motor instead since it's already wired and has the correct RPM:


GEARMOTOR - About 80 USD
HOLLOW OUTPUT SHAFT SO IT CAN BE USED FOR AN AXLE THROUGH
OUTPUT IS 190-200 RPM
0.2 HP APROX (150 WATTS)
Uses 12V DC

[Roger]

Yea DC motors are great because you can adjust the RPM's without loosing horse power and you can reverse the direction as well. But there much more expensive and you usually need a control panel to make them work properly. I used to use the figure eight trick on my lathe before I switched to a motor that would work either way with the use of a toggle switch. It's an AC motor but I got a little help from one of my old high school teachers who's a genius when it comes to motors and building machines. I wish I new exactly how he did it but he rewired it somehow. It works great now...