Home Made Vise Stop - For 6" Kurt Vise

[Mcgyver]

Eric, a very handy rig! I've been using a spare magnetic base as a stop for years waiting to make something proper, you idea looks like like the way to go.

[widgitmaster]

Originally Posted by BobWarfield Very nice! Solidly built and a nice integrated design. How well does it work and what will you change next time around? Are you using it to manufacture any of your products? I would think a nice little CNC lathe would be very helpful in your eBay business. Lathemaster 8x18's are solidly built and wouldn't take too much space in your shop. Convert the spindle to a servo by adding an encoder, and you can make the spindle index. Now add a little drill on your QCTP and you can drill the flange holes. Put the ACME tap in a powered tailstock, make your tool turret hold a cutoff, a turning/facing, and a boring bar, and you would be able to do a part without touching the machine. Last step would be a hydraulic/pneumatic chuck and a little bar puller for the Delrin rods and Voila, it works while you play! I suspect being so good at the manual machining you'll always want a manual lathe and mill, so maybe some smaller CNC adjuncts would be fun additions to your shop. Best, BW

Thanks Bob!
Actually, I couldn't improve it if I tried! But, I have added to its flexibility!
I made a 4ft long 1" dia bar, that when clamped to the milling table, lets me stop parts that are up to 4ft long! like leadscrews!

I have often thought about getting a CNC mill, about the size of the Tormac, but I just can't justify spending anothe 7k

I have more fun with the design challenges of building a CNC router or Mini Router, than actually using them! How's that for excentric!

For many years I worked in small production job shops, and few of them had automatic machines! However, when you see a 8-station Hardinge Chucker in action, a good opperator can produce like a CNC! So when I make stuff, I try to find easy and repetitive setups to kick the parts out fast! At least my boss liked it! CNC's did not enter my life until the mid 80's, so I was fortunate to learn how to be and think like a machinist first!

Eric

[widgitmaster]

Here are a few pictures of the stop being used while the 6" Kurt vise is mounted perpendicular to the mill table!

I have also used the stop to mill small blocks, notice how the stop reaches over the 1st block to stop the 2nd one! I did that to keep the vise jaws from closing un-evenly, and damaging my parts!

It is really handy to have a place to stop long plates, as I prefer to use the mill's power feed when I have several to do!

[BobWarfield]

Very nice. I get a lot of use out of my copy of your vise stop myself. Holes that are symmetrical about the midline are easy just by flipping the part if they don't have to be too precise.

I note you have your table covered in one of the photos. I came across a fellow that had made some sheet metal covers to fit on either side of his vise:



You can see the felt glued to the bottom of the right hand cover.

It's on my list of somedays. Sure would make cleaning up the table a lot easier! From the look of your chip piles, might be a nice project there too if you haven't already solved the problem.

Best,

BW

[widgitmaster]

The last shop I worked in had a fully equipt sheet metal department, so all the bridgeport mills had nice covers like that!

I use a piece of Lexan to cover my table, and with all the hot chips piling up on it, it has curled up like a corn chip! So If you ever get another set of metal covers, I'll gladly pay you for them! However, with all the flood coolant and oil I spray on my machines, I think the felt would be overkill!

Looks good Bob!
Eric

[ajl6549]

That looks as handy as a pocket on a shirt! As my Paw says!

[Rance]

Originally Posted by widgitmaster Look here Bob! http://kiersteadskis.com/cnc-router/cnc-router.htm

Eric,

I notice in the pic ( http://kiersteadskis.com/cnc-router/002_0115.jpg ) that there are two springs on the left that center a pin maybe. What is the purpose of this if you don't mind me asking? Thanks.

Rance

[widgitmaster]

Actually, that shaft has a little dent milled into it, and the limit switch sits in it.
So when the screw moves the slide block, and the end of the pin reaches the limits of travel, the spring lets the pin move, and the limit switch sends a signal to the controller!
The springs keep the pin centered, so the switch is always in the dent, except for limit sensing!

It was a sneaky way of using one switch for both directions of travel!

Eric

[N4NV]

I'm that fellow with the sheet metal cover. That was prior to me competing my mill to CNC conversion. Now I have a 16"x38"x1" aluminum plate with 128 1/2" tapped holes mounted to my table. I don't know how I got by without it.


Vince

Originally Posted by BobWarfield I note you have your table covered in one of the photos. I came across a fellow that had made some sheet metal covers to fit on either side of his vise: