Mini drill

[alfclp]

Was drilling some very hard steel, 1% carbon, to make a tool holder for the lathe when the belt started to slip because it had heated up due to friction. Tried re-
tensioning the belt then found that the rear cone pulley was rubbing on the belt cover.
Decided to lift the cover to see what was going on and found that the makers, Chinese has inserted a micro switch under the cover , apparently to stop the motor from working when the cover was open.
The drill was being used at slowest speed available which meant that the belt was closest to the base under the cover. The clowns in their wisdom!!!! had brought the electric cable up into the belt chamber in such a manner that the belt was abrading on the cable. At the stage I found it one of the wires had partially abraded through with the potential to have live wires loose in the chamber.
I would recommend that anyone having such drills take a close look in the belt chamber in case yours may be at risk.

My solution is to remove the micro switch and bridge the connections on the main switch assembly.

[BobL]

I don't think removing the micro switch is a good idea.
Re-routing the cable is probably more appropriate.

[malb]

Like BobL, I am not keen on bypassing safety interlocks etc. So many things could go wrong if the motor continues to run with the belt cover open, including the old finger jambed in the belt, the belt breaking and able to fly across the room possibly taking out an eye, something dropping down onto the belt and getting flung out with similar effect etc.
While having the belt chewing the cable is not good, ideally the solution would be to adjust the cable routing to clear the belt, and lock the cable in position, (clamp, or glue) or even armour the cable with something tougher than the PVC insulation on it.
On another front, does the drill motor operate at 240VAC, or at a lower voltage because I am wondering what voltage the interlock switch and cable operate with and suspect that there might not be a low voltage system dedicated to belt cover interlock system. On the other hand, if the motor operates at say 24V, exposure to the cable and switch might be a much lower risk.

[rwbuild]

By law any pedestal drill sold in Australia must have a safety switch on the belt cover.
Re-route the cable to the motor, its a no brainer or better still, if you can afford it, get a better quality drill press.

[BamBam53]

By law any pedestal drill sold in Australia must have a safety switch on the belt cover.

That's interesting. I have a Jacob brand drill press, made in Taiwan. I bought it in Australia in 1988 and it has no safety interlocks on the cover.

Michael

[BobL]

That's interesting. I have a Jacob brand drill press, made in Taiwan. I bought it in Australia in 1988 and it has no safety interlocks on the cover. Michael

Although interlocks were installed on many machines before this time they were mandated following major OHS legislation changes some time during in the 1990's.