High Speed 3 way Brass Trimmer Build

Shooter1971

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Started this yesterday after receiving some parts. Will keep updating as it progresses.

Bought a Hornady 3 way head. I'm a little unsure if it will be suitable for the application but it was available in Canada and about the cheapest option. I may change to a giraud type in the future.

The critical parts are all metal mounted in a 3 printed chasis. I am proto-typing in pla but may use petg for the final version.

The head will be driven with a high speed 110v blower motor via xl timing belt and pulleys.

I 3d printed some pilots and they seem to work fine. Long term I'll make some steel or aluminum ones using the chamber reamer for each pilot. Also thought of the pilots used on the the Lee press mounted brass trimming system. Might work with a little dremmel touch up on the length.

Metal pulleys are on a slow boat from China. About 10$ each but i needed something to try right now so the printed ones will have to do


Cost and material list
Bearing -3/8th bore 5$
Bearing - 9/16th bore 5$
Cutter head 60$
Shaft - my labour at 0$/hr lol
Threaded insert collar from a Lee DIe 5$
Pulleys 2× xl 30t 3d printed
Belt xl150 10$
Cutter chasis my labour/5$ in material
3d printed mounting plate 5$
Motor 60$
Electrical cord and wiring bits 20$??

175$ into project to complete so far. Finding a free or cheaper motor would help.






I'll update as I receive parts

Cutter Head with .308 mandrel installed

20210207-061754.jpg


Shaft, bearings and pulleys.

20210207-061745.jpg



.308 pilot and threaded insert

20210207-064147.jpg


Assembled cutter

20210207-062241.jpg


Chasis assembled with bearings and threaded insert

20210207-065316.jpg


20210207-065327.jpg


Complete cutter unit

20210207-065754.jpg


Trial trim with drill driving unit.

20210207-070241.jpg
 
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Trimmed few pieces and seems like a success. Need to make guards and wire up a proper switch. I believe I will make a mounting plate much like a router plate, that drops into my reloading bench to allow me to quickly remove.


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Looking for ideas to mount cutter and motor. Thinking of a project case then use internal for storage of bits.

https://www.amazon.ca/BUD-Industrie...&keywords=project+box&qid=1612706950&sr=8-17#

Needs to be cheap or free lol.

Also a cheap source for a motor. Possibly a drill press motor, blower for furnace, polisher or bench grinder etc. Like to stay under 50$. This motor is close to specs I want...but too pricey.

https://www.grainger.ca/en/product/HVAC MOTOR,3000 RPM,115V,1/10 HP/p/GGE6NZP8

Please post any ideas or sources for cheap supplies to finish the project.

Just did a material list and cost projection...need to save on the motor and project box, maybe I'll use a drill to drive it?

Cheers
 
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Well this is certainly an interesting project :). While I don't have anything helpful to add at the moment, I'd be happy to help test if needed.
 
Thanks Josh, I'm wanting to get Giraud speed and quality at Lee prices but its just not gonna happen lol.

Paying retail for parts kills the project from a "cheap" perspective. That's the problem with a one off, unless I bide my time and scrounge for a motor and a suitable base to mount everything.

So far I'm only out of pocket for the cutter head. Had bearings from another project as well other bits and pieces.

Just drew a base up and sent the file to my local fab shop that has a plasma table to see what it would cost. Problem is again for a one off the setup cost will kill me. Guess I need to buy a cnc router table lol. Could make a nice lexan base for everything.
 
Well if your going to be cheap finding a motor you should go for a drive and find an old washer on the roadside and take the motor out. When is scrap metal day in your area? I knocked my compressor over one time and busted the switch and gauges. Coming home from work I seen a compressor beside the road.I stopped and took it home. Had all the parts I wanted. I decided to plug it in. It worked for 8 years before the motor wore out.
 
A small drill press off of some classifieds might be a good option. There are some very cheap little hobby drill presses around the $100 mark that should be dirt cheap used. I have a crappy Job Mate turd with a small car alternator sized motor and v belt pulleys mounted on it's structure that could be converted into a power drive very easily. I think I paid $60 on sale at crappy tire some years ago. 120v with contained power supply, on/off switch, power cord etc. I'd look into something like that.
 
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Updated...picked up where I left last year. Decided to go all 3d printed for the base. Test print to mock up below. Should have a working model by tommorow
 
Trimmed few pieces and seems like a success. Need to make guards and wire up a proper switch. I believe I will make a mounting plate much like a router plate, that drops into my reloading bench to allow me to quickly remove.


20220109-041408.jpg



20220109-052536.jpg


20220109-041243.jpg
 
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