Cordless & Portable Industrial Sewing Machine

This is a work in progress of converting a Juki LU-563 Sewing machine head to run off a cordless drill motor.  I don’t have space for a dedicated table, so I wanted the sewing machine to be portable, even if it does weigh 90+ lbs.

The v-belt pulley of the Juki LU-563 industrial walking foot sewing machine is 3/8in wide by 3/8in deep.

I had to find a drive pulley that would fit on a shaft held by the drill chuck.

Form	Belts
Type	V-Belts
V-Belt Type	Standard
V-Belt Section	3L
Top Width	3/8″
Height	7/32″

Part Number: 6245K412 $3.96 Each

Pulley Type	Drive Pulleys
For Belt Type	V-Belt Pulleys
Pulley Design	Solid
Number of Grooves	1
System of Measurement	Inch
V-Belt Section and End Dimensions (Top Width x Height)	3L Section – 3/8″ x 7/32″
Outside Diameter	1″
Bore Type	Finished Bore
Finished Bore Pulley Style	Standard
Bore Size (ID)	3/8″
X-Dimension	1/2″
Y-Dimension	7/8″
V-Dimension (Pitch Dia.)	29/32″
Pulley Material	Zinc Die Cast
Specifications Met	Not Rated
Note	Includes a set screw. Does not include a keyway.

Not knowing exactly how long I would need the drive belt to be, I purchased the type of belt made up of short links that are connected together. The belt was surprisingly stiff when it arrived. I hope that it becomes less rigid with use, because it barely wraps around the 1in diameter motor pulley. The motor pulley has a 3/8in shaft, which fit perfectly on an old milling bit. The milling bit has a flat which is perfect for the setscrew. The business end of the milling bit is chucked into the drill.
A major issue is the backdrivability of the drill, or the lack thereof. Once the belt is tight, the sewing machine can no longer be turned by hand. A method to decouple power transmission from the sewing machine would be sweet.

Model of portable box: