Hi all.
Hope this is not off topic here.
I need to cut a rectangular alluminium piece to create a dovetail joint as explained in http://wapics.free.fr/machines/fraiseuse/pparonde02.gif but I dont own yet an angular vise to keep the piece and the mill I own is able to rotate the motor only toward the Y movement, which is too short to work a 20 cm piece.
Can you supply me some ideas to achieve this resultat without buying the vise, and using only 4t end mills ( if this is possible ?)

Pigi
P.s. Sorry for my bad english, and ask me if this is not clear

Pigi,

You could use either a tapered end mill or angle blocks.

Both are fairly cheap and easy to use.

I suggest ordering a dovetail mill. It already has the profile. Then I would make the dovetails out of single pieces instead of bolting together as shown at the link you provided.

Originally posted by pigifly
Hi all.
Hope this is not off topic here.
I need to cut a rectangular alluminium piece to create a dovetail joint as explained in http://wapics.free.fr/machines/fraiseuse/pparonde02.gif but I dont own yet an angular vise to keep the piece and the mill I own is able to rotate the motor only toward the Y movement, which is too short to work a 20 cm piece.
Can you supply me some ideas to achieve this resultat without buying the vise, and using only 4t end mills ( if this is possible ?)

Pigi
P.s. Sorry for my bad english, and ask me if this is not clear

Back before I had CNC or angle blocks, I made really quick angle setups by having a scrap plate bolted to the table, about 20mm thick. Just drill a hole for a dowel pin, zero the dials, and calculate the postion for the second dowel to create any needed angle.
Slide the stock against the dowels clamp, and cut in a straight cut in X or Y axis.
This method will allow you to make a really quick and simple jig to hold your parts to cut the angles. Especially if you do not have a dovetail. Improvise.
Pete

To DLMACHINE
I suggest ordering a dovetail mill. ...
It would be really better, but there are a couple of problem:
1) my mill ( actually ) can't handle a dovetail mill as the chuck is too little in dia form them ( max 6mm )
2) the dovetail mill has a too high cost, that I prefere to spend in cnc"fying" my mill
3) I don't think I would use it more the few times, so it's better to invest those money in ( eg ) an agular vise ;)

Thanks anyway.

To 3t3d
improvise ...

That's the idea :)

Thanks to all
Pigi

I built my T-slotted cross slide like this. You can either bolt the strips of steel to a Hex bar to set them at 60° for milling, or just file them like I did cause I couldn't swingt hat length on my lathe.

http://www.wrathall.com/Interests/machining/T-slot_cross_slide1.htm

There is a link to an old article by Martin Cleeve which shows a lathe setup to face the 60° angle with a hex bar on the faceplate.

This idea is very fine. I think I will definitelly use this to achieve my goal.
Obviously I can't do that on a lathe, But the idea can be used also on a mill ;)
Thank you very much.

Pigi

Even easier on a Mill. Hex bar is a pretty useful jig.