Post by Roger on Apr 2, 2015 13:59:14 GMT -5
My main cab machine is a BMT-7. I really like that it holds up to (8) 6" wheels. I use 15 different wheels on a regular basis and have a few specialty wheels I swap around as needed. The BMT is a decent enough machine. New, I don't think they are worth the cost. They are rugged, but if mine is a typical example of the construction and design, it leaves a lot to be desired.
One of the biggest complaints I have with it is the very poor visibility of the stones when working them on the wheels. The stainless construction of the front lid blocks overhead light. I typically have to use two flexible head floor lights to adequately light everything.
In another post someone put up a picture of a cab machine made with a light inside of the housing. I thought that was a brilliant idea and decided to try and light mine. I did a little research and decided that waterproof LED strip lights would be the best choice. Strip lights can be mounted along the entire length of my cab machine and provide shadow-less, even, lighting. I selected some IP68 rated lights. They are waterproof and mostly crushproof. They should easily handle the occasional flying piece of stone.
Because working with stones is wet, I also picked up an IP67 rated power supply and wire splice connector.
I didn't want to drill any holes on my machine for this. I am going to rebuild the entire housing this summer. This was really just a test run to see how well it might work and how difficult it would be to setup.
The lighting actually works very well. I was amazed at the difference it makes. Setting it up was even more surprising and is one reason why I am sharing it. Anyone here can do this and it is very inexpensive. Once I figured out in my head what I wanted to do, the entire process took 20minutes.
Parts & tools:
Wire stripper/crimper
Razorblade to cut the LED to size
Waterproof quick-set epoxy ($5.00 for gorilla glue)
Cheap detailing paint brush($1.50)
IP68 White LED lights ($10.00 for a 5meter roll)
UL rated IP67 transformer ($12.00)
Waterproof splice connector($0.50)
Waterproof electrical tape ($2.50)
Industrial Velcro, optional($1.00)
"C" clamps, optional
Measure and cut the LED strip to size, being sure to cut only the points the LED manufacture allows. Make sure the power wires are outside of the housing. Though it wasn't needed, I put a few wraps of electrical tape over the end I cut to help ensure no water would leak into it.
Attach the splice connector to the LED's wires and to the transformer. I also fully wrapped the connectors in electrical tape, except where the connector is designed to open.
Clean the surface where you are placing the lights. When it is dry, mix the epoxy and with the paint brush, apply a thin coat along the entire length of the surface. If your LED's have an adhesive backing, take off the paper and stick the lights into position, smoothing and straightening the lights before the epoxy sets. The gorilla glue sets very quickly and though I didn't really need to, I carefully clamped the strips until the epoxy was dry.
I used Velcro to stick the transformer to the top of my machine.
I already had everything except the LED lights, transformer and waterproof connectors. Lighting this cost me under $25.00. The connectors I purchased are designed to disconnect from each other, which makes the transformer something I can move around if I want to. The LED lights have wires on both ends of the roll. Working from the other end of the roll, you can light something else as well. I plan to light the interior of my slab-saw too.
I only took a few quick photos last night.
After cutting, splicing, gluing, and velcroing..
Front open and lights on (They are BRIGHT)
With Overhead lights on.
Overhead lights off.
It was a fun project to do..now all I need to do is sync it to my music lol
One of the biggest complaints I have with it is the very poor visibility of the stones when working them on the wheels. The stainless construction of the front lid blocks overhead light. I typically have to use two flexible head floor lights to adequately light everything.
In another post someone put up a picture of a cab machine made with a light inside of the housing. I thought that was a brilliant idea and decided to try and light mine. I did a little research and decided that waterproof LED strip lights would be the best choice. Strip lights can be mounted along the entire length of my cab machine and provide shadow-less, even, lighting. I selected some IP68 rated lights. They are waterproof and mostly crushproof. They should easily handle the occasional flying piece of stone.
Because working with stones is wet, I also picked up an IP67 rated power supply and wire splice connector.
I didn't want to drill any holes on my machine for this. I am going to rebuild the entire housing this summer. This was really just a test run to see how well it might work and how difficult it would be to setup.
The lighting actually works very well. I was amazed at the difference it makes. Setting it up was even more surprising and is one reason why I am sharing it. Anyone here can do this and it is very inexpensive. Once I figured out in my head what I wanted to do, the entire process took 20minutes.
Parts & tools:
Wire stripper/crimper
Razorblade to cut the LED to size
Waterproof quick-set epoxy ($5.00 for gorilla glue)
Cheap detailing paint brush($1.50)
IP68 White LED lights ($10.00 for a 5meter roll)
UL rated IP67 transformer ($12.00)
Waterproof splice connector($0.50)
Waterproof electrical tape ($2.50)
Industrial Velcro, optional($1.00)
"C" clamps, optional
Measure and cut the LED strip to size, being sure to cut only the points the LED manufacture allows. Make sure the power wires are outside of the housing. Though it wasn't needed, I put a few wraps of electrical tape over the end I cut to help ensure no water would leak into it.
Attach the splice connector to the LED's wires and to the transformer. I also fully wrapped the connectors in electrical tape, except where the connector is designed to open.
Clean the surface where you are placing the lights. When it is dry, mix the epoxy and with the paint brush, apply a thin coat along the entire length of the surface. If your LED's have an adhesive backing, take off the paper and stick the lights into position, smoothing and straightening the lights before the epoxy sets. The gorilla glue sets very quickly and though I didn't really need to, I carefully clamped the strips until the epoxy was dry.
I used Velcro to stick the transformer to the top of my machine.
I already had everything except the LED lights, transformer and waterproof connectors. Lighting this cost me under $25.00. The connectors I purchased are designed to disconnect from each other, which makes the transformer something I can move around if I want to. The LED lights have wires on both ends of the roll. Working from the other end of the roll, you can light something else as well. I plan to light the interior of my slab-saw too.
I only took a few quick photos last night.
After cutting, splicing, gluing, and velcroing..
Front open and lights on (They are BRIGHT)
With Overhead lights on.
Overhead lights off.
It was a fun project to do..now all I need to do is sync it to my music lol