Power LED light for the mill

I made a custom light for my mill, based on a 10W power LED

These kinds of LEDs are really amazing, they provide a really bright and warm enough light, they, overall, have a low consumption, and they are really insensitive to vibrations.
The only difficulty you have to deal with is the heat they can generate and the power supply.
For the power supply, you must take care that LEDs are not driven by tension, but by current. You absolutely need a "LED driver", the only possibility to get the full light power from your LED. It is a common mistake to see on the Web this kind of Led driven using a voltage regulator, this will not give you the maximum light possible with your LED.

For the heat, I built a solid body aluminum case, and fixed the LED using heat grease, just like you can do with a microprocessor in a computer.
This is also the reason why in a previous post I showed how I cut a circular glass lens. If it was not the heat, I would probably have cut it out of acrylic, but here I needed glass.

Here are the separate pieces (I got the LED and driver on eBAY) :
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...aiseuse_01.jpg

The Led, with heat grease :
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...aiseuse_02.jpg


http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...aiseuse_03.jpg
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...aiseuse_04.jpg

The bracket to fix it under the mill head, in the cavity. Several holes to be able to set up the depth and orientation.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...aiseuse_05.jpg

Here it is in place :
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...aiseuse_06.jpg


I installed the driver and a switch in the command box of the mill.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...aiseuse_07.jpg

The new switch, top right.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...aiseuse_08.jpg

And here we go, plenty of light !
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...aiseuse_09.jpg

Hi Christophe,

The LED light design looks well designed and very useful beyond the machine shop. The lights would be a great addition in the kitchen for tiny spotlights under the kitchen cabinets for additional light to the kitchen counter tops.

Regards,

Paul

HI, Does the driver plug into normal 110 voltage? I could look into building one for my drill press, even though it has a built in light, I could reduce the amount of watts I use in my shop and have better utilized light!
skibo

Hi Skibo,
Look at ebay, I see they now sell the combo LED+driver for nothing from China (up to 100W !) :
10/20/30/50/ 100W LED SMD Puce Ampoule LED Chip Pour Lampe Outdoor Flood Lights | eBay

If you look at the Driver spec, it says :
10W
Input:AC 85V-240V 50/60Hz
Output:9-12V

Christophe

Thank you, Christophe finally I am starting to understand what and why LED driver. Not sure what a tension driver is but I understand current.

I just finished my Mill table light (Clausing 8520 Vertical Mill)

The LED ring I used does not require a heatsink, if it did I probable would just use the spindle.

Nice project.

Ralph

Professionally made project, with good understanding of problem, congratulation ...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ralphxyz

I am starting to understand what and why LED driver. Not sure what a tension driver is but I understand current.

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Hi Ralph,
Just to illustrate the LED power supply issue, here is a little sketch I quickly made :
Attachment 17268

You see that to get the maximum light power, it's easier to fix the current to what you want it to be than to fix the tension V. The zone of tension in order to get the desired current is not well defined, especially depending on the build process of the LED, so it's easier and safer to fix the current.
That's what the LED drivers are made for, deliver a fixed current, whatever the tension is (in certain limits of course)

Thanks everybody for the kind words !
Christophe

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Thanks Christophe Mineau! We've added your Mill Light to our Lighting category,
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Great idea I think I will have a crack at this, I look for lighting when filming for my little youtube channel.

Hi Chistophe,
I looked at those on the link and went on Ebay to look at the same ones selling in the US and the persons seller feedback wasn't that good. I know it's a cheap price and all, but I'm thinking on it while I'm doing a little more looking.
Thanks

How about adapting something like this? 5730 SMD 8W LED Panel Circle Annular Ceiling Light Fixtures Board Sale - Banggood.com

Quote:

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Originally Posted by obt@charter.net

How about adapting something like this? 5730 SMD 8W LED Panel Circle Annular Ceiling Light Fixtures Board Sale - Banggood.com

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Those would be great if they came in 120 mm ID or larger one might work on one of my drill presses. Both of my mills and jig bore have 4" or larger quills

this one is 115 mm oor 4 1/2" so it might be close
12W 5730 SMD LED Panel Circle Annular Ceiling Light Fixtures Board Sale - Banggood.com
the 18w would be overkill with its 180mm ID
18W 36 LED White/Warm White Panel Circle Annular Practical Efficient Ceiling Light Sale - Banggood.com
Price is good though

After I posted that and happened to be in the shop using my Bridgeport, I'm wondering if any of those are a great idea. My reasoning is that if the ring light is mounted up at the top of the quill, the quill/chuck/boring head/etc. would cast a shadow at the end of the drill bit/end mill just where you need the light. A light coming in at an angle like the original posted did may be a better idea. Banggood / Gearbest / Aliexpress all have the LEd / driver as found on E-bay in an earlier post.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by obt@charter.net

After I posted that and happened to be in the shop using my Bridgeport, I'm wondering if any of those are a great idea. My reasoning is that if the ring light is mounted up at the top of the quill, the quill/chuck/boring head/etc. would cast a shadow at the end of the drill bit/end mill just where you need the light. A light coming in at an angle like the original posted did may be a better idea. Banggood / Gearbest / Aliexpress all have the LEd / driver as found on E-bay in an earlier post.

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You might come up with a parabolic reflector which possibly would create a focusing region below the quill. My main problem with just about any light is the intensity, if a lamp is at or near eye level I unless there is a shield totally blocking the LED modules from my sight they blind me. I have 15 9W led bulb shaped lights in my machine shop van the 10 ft ceiling where they are mounted works out good for me as long as I don't have to look up. Actually if I would install another 10 or so I think I could achieve near daylight conditions throughout the work area 15 more to give me a total of 30 and I cold just about remove 80% of all shadowing and still only be drawing a little less than that of 3 75 watt incandescent bulbs.with the light output of 18 100 watt bulbs

Funny, I was checking out your post and then I got a notification that a guy I watch on Youtube posted this video.

Powerfull 200W Redneck LED Torch by Rulof Maker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SotvMhZqvSg

I doubt you would get enough light they are rated at 8 watt!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ralphxyz

I doubt you would get enough light they are rated at 8 watt!!

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You hav eto consider that is the amperage draw rating 8 watt LED assemblies will have any where from 500 to 750 lumins to put it another way from about the light output of a 50 to 70 watt incandescent bulb

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Frank S

if a lamp is at or near eye level I unless there is a shield totally blocking the LED modules from my sight they blind me.

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Right Franck, that's the reason why I chose to install it in the recess under my mill head so that I cannot have it in the eyes.

I think the LED ring is the solution adopted by Ralph in the other post :
http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/m...ight-led-59886
He doesn't seem to report any drawback about it.

It's clear that I already had the LED and driver, so I built my solution around it, the ring is also a good solution.
On the other hand, I think my lamp is better protected from hot metal chips flying away.
Electronic stuff doesn't like it very much.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mr95gst

Funny, I was checking out your post and then I got a notification that a guy I watch on Youtube posted this video.

Powerfull 200W Redneck LED Torch by Rulof Maker

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Yes, similar solution ! I like the reuse of the aluminum bottle.
I don't know what kind of driver he used in order to be powered by a 12V DC battery.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ralphxyz

I doubt you would get enough light they are rated at 8 watt!!

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8 watt for a single LED provides plenty of light ! (probably equivalent to a ~75 halogene bulb)
But I don't know in the above product if the 8 W is the overall consumption, including the driver or really the LED power.

What is the power of the ring you used on your mill ? Where did you purchase it?

Of course a major consideration is your Mill, my mill a Clausing 8520 has a moving Spindle (2 3/4") and a Movable Knee (15") so I could not have
a fixed light source or I would have to constantly be fixing the aim.

The ring is a COB LED Angel Eye Headlight Accent Light

I put all of the pictures on my website .

I could easily drive my LED with a 12 volt battery.

Ralph