Building a drum/disc sander #5: Table assembly

Still working on the drum sander table. Coming along well, though I’ve broken a few taps and bits requiring me to scrap a couple of parts.
So the table is two pieces of 3/4” MDF laminated together. I glued T-nuts into the sides to hold the side bars.

One end of the table has a mechanism to adjust the tension on the conveyor belt.

The side bars of the table are made from 3/8×1.5” aluminum bar stock. I machined the slot out using an end mill.

The tension is adjusted by a screw on the end that will pull the conveyor pulley backwards.

I also machined a plate to hold the conveyor motor on the other side.

Here is the motor hooked up to to the pulley. This is before I found the right sized bushing to fit on the motor shaft so it looks a little crooked. I bought a new bushing from McMaster Carr that fits much better.

Here is the table mostly complete. The motor is strong but it runs a little slow, about 1 FPM.

I punched out a couple brackets from some angle iron this afternoon. 4 of these pieces will be mounted to the side of the table and will raise the table with threaded rods.

I may work on the frame this weekend. I haven’t decided on the frame design yet. I’m trying to make sure that whatever I choose, it’s not too difficult to change the belt or make adjustments.

-- I wish wood grew on trees so that this was a cheaper hobby.