I purchased a HK 6 in 1 machine tool, a year ago from another member of this forum.
But found it was only suitable for amateur hobby work and was no match for my SIEG mini lathe or mill.
Anyway the HK machine can be used for jobs that do not require strict tolerances.
Unfortunately the machine specially the lathe/milling machine does not have direction controls, neither does it have speed control which is essential when machining different materials. The machine operates at 14.5V DC giving it a fixed 12500 rpm in the clockwise direction.

I added a small speed & directional throttle to give a varied o/p 0 through 14.5v DC at a 5A rating using a LM338K voltage regulator.
Attached below is the circuit diagram & some photos of the modified machine.
I have mounted the machine on a 18" X 12" X 1/4" thick hardwood board with 4 nylon pedestals for table top use.
Thought this might give other owners of this machine some ideas.
Regards
Nilanjan Paul

 

Final setup

 

 

Made a few more mods over the week end!
Added a new all metal tool post from a sheet of 25X50mm X 3mm thk MS plate.
Drilled and tapped M4 X 7 holes and attached 6 M4 X 15mm allen screws on the outer holes, and a M4 X20mm cheese head in the center hole for mounting the tool post to the saddle.
Turned a 10mm dia X 6mm long spacer from bright stock and drilled it 4mm dia through.
Used lock-nuts on the allens so that they can be tightened into position once a tool bit has been fixed.
Photos attached.
Regards
Nilanjan paul

@pline,
Sir,
Can the HK 6 in 1 be actually used to make anything?
I have a few basic problems
1. Poor centering. When you tighten the chuck on say a 1/4" wood or aluminium dowel, unable to get it to hold a true center on the tailstock
2. Supplied tool does not cut even wood, let alone aluminium
3. Units mounted on bed move despite tightening as much as i dare
4. Adjusting belt tension changes the motor shaft alignment, making the belt slip sideways and dismount after a few seconds run.

Failed so far to make a simple thing like two cones for a prop balancer. (Been some 45 years since last working with a lathe - at a Kharaati's workshop! Can't remember whether the tool needs any sharpening/hardening before use...)
Grateful for any help.
Regards

Quote from: K K Iyer on October 20, 2014, 11:06:01 AM
@pline,
Sir,
Can the HK 6 in 1 be actually used to make anything?
I have a few basic problems
1. Poor centering. When you tighten the chuck on say a 1/4" wood or aluminium dowel, unable to get it to hold a true center on the tailstock
2. Supplied tool does not cut even wood, let alone aluminium
3. Units mounted on bed move despite tightening as much as i dare
4. Adjusting belt tension changes the motor shaft alignment, making the belt slip sideways and dismount after a few seconds run.

Failed so far to make a simple thing like two cones for a prop balancer. (Been some 45 years since last working with a lathe - at a Kharaati's workshop! Can't remember whether the tool needs any sharpening/hardening before use...)
Grateful for any help.
Regards

Sir like i had mentioned in my earlier post, the HK 6 in 1 is more a toy and a copy of the Playmat from the cool tool Austria.
Even then I tried some improvements on it as mentioned in the thread, but it lacks rigidity and nothing serious can be done on it. Finally I researched online for a copy of the Unimat metal line, and came across the Zhouyu brand of machines which are exact copies of the Unimat Metal line and are all metal machines and i have been pretty satisfied with this all metal machine from Zhouyu's performance.
Finally I spoke with the manufacturer in China and thought of re-selling their complete metal line both Cnc & machines, and they have an affordable price range suited for us Indian model engineers. (You can visit my website http://menco.in for details on their machines.)

Coming back to the HK 6 in 1 here are a few things that I have tried:
1. built a speed regulator and reverser using a LM338K (see thread)
2. bought some HSS 4mmX4mm cutting tool blanks from the local market, which i have ground myself on my standard bench grinder for facing, parting, grooving etc.
3. bought 4mm, 5mm & 6mm 4 flute endmills for the mill
4. built a modified tool post, the plastic tool holders often come loose and have absolutely no strength (see thread)
5. attached the machine to a 1/2" thick hardwood base with nylon pedestals
Will try and keep modifying it until i run out of patience and money! Will keep posting.
Regards
Nilanjan Paul