AlaskaBill Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Newly joined. I have a DIY Case Feeder for the Dillon 550B press. If there is any interest I can share the details. Not sure if this would be the proper place to do that. Please advise. Sure is lots of good information on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Sounds interesting. Any photos to follow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 DIY Case Feeder 550B Dillon A custom casefeeder. This one is specific for the 357 magnum although could be adapted to most any pistol cartridge. Haven’t given any thought to rifle cartridges. This is the Engineering Development Model; have thought of a few minor improvements but likely will not do another as this one works quite well. Features include: · Low voltage DC and low power as it is powered by a wall wart · High and low passive limit switches so the motor doesn’t start with each casing drop. · Quiet worm gear and motor to drive the collator · Collator will slip if a jam rather than stalling the motor · Shuttle moves in and out on recirculating ball bearings · Rare earth magnet provides the motive force to move the shuttle · Drop tube does not move · Small with low overall height as it doesn’t extend beyond the powder follower rod · Everything mounts on reloader/strong mount so it can be moved as a unit · No machine shop work · Relatively inexpensive (about $40) if your time is worth little Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 Collator – see picture. Wooden base with the gear motor mounted under. Shaft extension goes through the base and has a soldered on large drive washer. Next is a large rubber washer and then the collator plate. On top of the collator plate is a washer, spring and bolt to squeeze the plate to the rubber washer. If there is a jam, the plate slips relative to the rubber washer. Tried collator plates with large slots for case to be laying down vs narrow slots for cases standing up. No real advantage one way or the other so went with standing up. Hard to epoxy ribs on the collator plate (Delrin material) so inserted some roll pins to “stir the pot” and move the cases around. Motor speed is adjustable by changing the DC voltage and it is running about 3 RPM. Basket is made from formica sheet scrap heated to 350F and then formed. Motor purchased from ebay for $7.98 DC 12V 3.5RPM Metal 370 Turbo Worm Gear Motor Slow Speed Large Torque. Blue drop tube is a portion of a funnel. Inside guide is made from sprinkler fittings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 Guess I reached the limits on pictures. Have more describing the shuttle and the drop tube etc. Will have to wait? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Are the collator plates homemade? Don't know about limits on pictures. Possibly because you are a new member? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 Before I go further, I want to be clear that this was a one off build for myself. Thus I won't be building any for others. Just posting the details for your personal use and/or enjoyment. It is not for commercialization. Will do posts on the different components and attach the relevant pictures if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 Shuttle– see pictures. Original diecast loading platform and primer catcher removed. Fabricated steel support plate and primer catcher. Tried just Delrin shuttle sliding on Delrin and although quite slippery, could not get long term consistency. There is a Delrin chute to guide the case. The ram is steel and runs on ball bearings. The ram was bought from auction site for $11.49 MR9MN CNC Router Miniature Linear Guide Support Rail W/ MGN9 Bearing Slide Block. The shiny mounting plate on top is aluminum (not magnetic) and mounts the rod follower bearing and magnet. Magnet is encased in copper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 23, 2019 Author Share Posted April 23, 2019 Drop tube and case release– see pictures. Drop tube is brass tubing from Ace that just passes a 357 case. At the bottom, there is a hole that will not allow the ball bearing to fully pass through but does allow it to extend into the tube to prevent the rim of the case from passing (roll the ball bearing out of the way and the case will pass). The collar (tubing coupling) is a sliding fit over the brass and has a hole drilled that will allow the ball bearing to pass. This collar is the bearing carrier and moves up slightly, when contacted by the Delrin shuttle at the top of the stroke, to roll the bearing out of the brass to allow the case to drop to the shuttle. Spring steel wrapped around the collar, like a “C”, with a small hole for the bearing to locate on pushes the ball bearing back into the brass tubing to keep the other cases in the tube from dropping. Brass drop tube is supported by the primer tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 23, 2019 Author Share Posted April 23, 2019 Electronics – see pictures. The wall wart was from a thrift store and puts out about 14 v DC. Auction site for the following: · $0.74 ea LM2596 DC-DC Adjustable Step Down Power Module 7V-35V to 1.25V-30V 3A DC-DC. There are two of these one set for 12v and the other 5v. · $2.11 ea 5V Photoswitch Light Sensor Switch LDR Photoresistor Relay Module Detect Board. There are two of these, one for high limit and one for low limit. · $2.42 Relay LY2NJ Small relay 10A 8PIN Coil DPDT 12V DC YG. This is the “Power Relay” that turns the collator motor on and off. There are through holes drilled at the low limit and high limit positions in the brass tube. On one side is mounted an LED and opposite it is a photoresistor. When a case blocks the LED light from shining on the photoresistor, it causes the appropriate relay (high or low) to cycle. When cases block both the high and low positions, the collator motor stops. When the high limit is uncovered, nothing happens with the Power Relay until the low limit is also uncovered, at which time the power relay cycles and the motor starts and fills the tube. The motor shuts off when both low and high positions are blocked by cases. A capacitor is added for time delay to the photoresistor circuit for the high limit to prevent its relay from cycling as a case drops past it. LED’s on the high and low relays show its status. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 23, 2019 Author Share Posted April 23, 2019 Thats about it. Hope you enjoy it. Have a short video of it cycling but haven't figured out how to upload/attach it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 Very clever build. Even though it can be built in your garage with hand tools, its way above my skill level. Thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George16 Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 Wow! I’m amazed at your ingenuity and patience. I don’t have patience in building stuff like this. Great job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 23, 2019 Author Share Posted April 23, 2019 Thanks for the kind words. Being retired, means I have time. Was a fun project, keeping the skills from eroding and grey matter stimulated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George16 Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 51 minutes ago, AlaskaBill said: Thanks for the kind words. Being retired, means I have time. Was a fun project, keeping the skills from eroding and grey matter stimulated. I can relate to that . I tore down and remodeled our kitchen after I retired 8 years ago since I have a lot of time in my hands. Learned how to build kitchen cabinets from scratch using hardwood plywood instead of the cheap particle board cabinets they sell at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhgtyre Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 16 hours ago, AlaskaBill said: Thanks for the kind words. Being retired, means I have time. Was a fun project, keeping the skills from eroding and grey matter stimulated. Well now we know what happens when a mad scientist retires! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaBill Posted April 25, 2019 Author Share Posted April 25, 2019 (edited) Tool head removed for clarity in the video. Short video of the press cycling. No spoken audio Edited April 25, 2019 by AlaskaBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocV Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 That is a very impressive DIY case feeder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www226 Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 On 4/25/2019 at 1:12 AM, AlaskaBill said: Tool head removed for clarity in the video. Short video of the press cycling. No spoken audio Hi AlaskaBill!! Just joined to say thank you for sharing. I have done some thing similar using 3d printer. looking at your design, it will most suitable for the rifle cases, which Double Alfa is about to release..... using your upper (no sensing) and my type of lower. I will try to modify mine to use your upper design. I don't have tons of time, but I enjoy debugging and overcome problems by tinkering here there. it took me 10mins to figure out your collar case release mechanism. not that you did not explain it, but I had to "see it" (like in X ray) how it works.... My design is posted in youtube hopefully, it won't take me another 6 month to do the design modification... lol Again, really glad to see an awesome work and design for RL550. Thank you for sharing!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacklion62 Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 They both look great! WWW226, Could you upload your 3d print files, please? Thank you, BlackLion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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