Homemade milling cutter from the engine from the washing machine

A milling machine helps home craftsmen to quickly and accurately perform many different woodwork, but not everyone can afford such a factory device. There is a solution - you can assemble a full-fledged stationary router from the engine from the washing machine and some improvised materials. What needs to be found and how to act is described in detail in the article.

We collect tools and materials

To make a machine with your own hands, you will have to find all the components, make calculations, assemble and securely fix the structure. We start the process with preparation. It is easy to guess that the engine of a washing machine will become the “heart” of a home-made milling cutter. A collector or asynchronous motor is suitable, which is carefully pulled out of the machine and cleaned. In addition to the engine you will need:

• thick plywood or chipboard;
• adapter to the motor shaft (it is better to order from a turner);
• two metal pipes;
• threaded rod;
• screwdriver;
• hacksaw for metal;
• self-tapping screws;
• swivel wheel;
• metal corners;
• foam rubber.

For more accurate operation, it is recommended to find a speed controller from an electric jackhammer with a connected Hall sensor. With its help it is easier to control the intensity of wood processing and gradually increase the power of the motor. A meter, electrical tape, screwdrivers and pliers are very useful. Once everything is ready, you can proceed with the assembly.

Make a machine

The dimensions of the future home-made milling machine for wood from the machine engine are determined by the size of the existing engine. Therefore, we measure the part from all sides and begin to assemble a three-walled table from plywood or chipboard. The height of the box should be 3-4 times greater than the length of the engine, the bottom should be raised 5-7 cm from the floor level, and a hole should be made in the cover for the engine backlash. The whole structure is firmly fastened with screws and corners. Getting to the assembly.

1. We install a collet for clamping cutters.
2. We fix it on the shaft with a special adapter.
3. We install a nut in the bottom of the box.
   
4. On the back wall we fix two pipe-racks.
5. We place the threaded rod so that one end “fits” into the nut on the bottom, and the other rests against the bottom of the engine (more precisely, to the T-shaped metal sheet screwed onto the base of the engine).
6. We supplement the device with a turning wheel and a pair of springs necessary for raising / lowering and damping the motor.
7. We connect the speed controller with the Hall sensor.
8. Isolate all the contacts.
9. We cover the engine with a piece of foam to protect it from wood dust.

Important! For more convenient use on the working surface, you can install special panels to adjust the thickness of the edges and grooves.

Next, we check the performance of the unit. We put on goggles and gloves, screw in a suitable cutter, adjust the height of the engine and test the machine. The main thing is that we do not forget about safety measures and are very careful.

How effective is homemade?

Despite the apparent fragility of the structure, the manufactured milling machine will give odds to industrial equipment. Due to the speed controller, the motor from the washing machine is kept at a given speed and allows you to accurately perform the intended amount of work. So, with the help of such a simple device, you can:

• carry out simple processing;
• create various grooves;
• cut technological notches;
• round off edge edges.

There are no restrictions for the processed wood. "Hardwoods, such as beech, oak, ash or walnut, lend themselves to a "homemade machine". So there is only one conclusion - it’s quite possible to make a multi-function milling cutter for domestic use with your own hands if you responsibly approach the assembly, not forgetting the calculations and safety.