Roller Tomassi-a quick build for the shop

Here's where we start. A cheap bead roller and stand procured from Amazon and loosely assembled to see what I've got to work with.

At the feet of this fearful machine, I have assembled the following: a wheel (Samurai, I believe), a windshield wiper motor from an Altima, a crank pulley from a 7AFE-if I remember correctly, and a Miata alternator destined to donate its pulley.

First off, increased stability.

Next, a mount for the motor.

I then cut up the hand crank for various other uses.

then, cut up the arm that attached to the motor.

Now, I need a way to mount that to the lathe with a good center, so I cut up the Altima wiper mechanism, and I've got the same tapered and splined bit plus threads for the nut.

So yeah. I turned the motor's arm mount down to fit the alternator pulley.This created the problem that the nut was too deeply recessed in the pulley, so I welded a nut at either end of a small piece of tubing, and turned the one down so it would fit inside the pulley. I know, clear as mud. Here's a picture:

A similar operation was performed on the base of the handle and the crank pulley, along with some unexpected trimming and whatnot to get at least a reasonably centered drive pulley.

Also, I took the original hand crank and welded it to the tension bolt, adding a spring to pull the top mandrell up, so material is easier to get between the dies.

And around back, added a bit of round bar so the cinching bolt could be operated sans tools.

Cool!

  I swear that thing is looking at me....

I want a bunch of tools like a bead roller despite not actually needing them. I like this

I haven't owned one, but many of the inexpensive bead rollers I've read about in magazines and online have been reinforced to make the jaws stronger since they tend to flex under load.  Like this (the pinstriping would be extra):

stuart in mn said:

I haven't owned one, but many of the inexpensive bead rollers I've read about in magazines and online have been reinforced to make the jaws stronger since they tend to flex under load.  

That is in the works, but I'm doing what I can with materials on-hand. My understanding is that more than up and down, the top mandrel flexes left to right in relation to the lower one (note, I'm copying ideas from youtube, so who knows how sound they are).

I spent the day working on the motor mount and a means of tensioning the belt. Bonus: this is the real first project I've used my mini-mill for. I bored a 3/4" hole in some plates before.

Turned out okay, but stuff that seems really simple (like which way to crank which handle) is tougher than it looks.

Here's the tensioner/motor mount.

All M5, because that's what I had a tap for and a bucket of bolts on hand.

Yeah, that tensioner may need a longer bolt. 

I put in an order for some switches, double pole/double throw relays and some bundled trailer wire. More to come.

Today, I got the motor mount...mounted???

The belt is a Miata alternator belt, again, because that's what I had on hand. 

The installation could have been neater with a shorter belt, but this should work fine. 

Yes, I screwed up clocking the motor, but meh, good enough.

Also, Hammeringman, now that you point it out, I see it. Sad Centipede wants a hug.

Parts are still trickling in. It seems I forgot to actually order those relays, so I've been chipping away at...a foot switch.

I may have gotten a bit carried away with the step drill and hole saw.

Finished the pedal.

And put a panel on the stand to hold it and the electronics.

wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) (Forum Supporter) said:

I may have gotten a bit carried away with the step drill and hole saw.

Nah, no such thing!

wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) (Forum Supporter) said:

Also, Hammeringman, now that you point it out, I see it. Sad Centipede wants a hug.

I did not see it till he mentioned it, but its def. looking at the camera!

wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) (Forum Supporter) said:

stuart in mn said:

I haven't owned one, but many of the inexpensive bead rollers I've read about in magazines and online have been reinforced to make the jaws stronger since they tend to flex under load.  

That is in the works, but I'm doing what I can with materials on-hand. My understanding is that more than up and down, the top mandrel flexes left to right in relation to the lower one (note, I'm copying ideas from youtube, so who knows how sound they are).

Makes sense to me.  As it is feeding material through the reaction force will cause the rollers to try and move fore and aft.

How did I miss this?  Sad Centipede is cool.

I've seen lots of different ways to stiffen the jaws, so I plagiarized a bit from all of them, but put my own spin on it.

That's 1-1/2" angle 3/16" thick. Should help some.