Show Me Your Hold Downs

[Mr.Chips]

Getting ever closer to cutting so now I would like to see some examples of hold down methds, tips and tricks.
Maybe even your sacrifical (sp?) board also.
Thanks.

[IQChallenged]

Originally Posted by Mr.Chips Getting ever closer to cutting so now I would like to see some examples of hold down methds, tips and tricks. Maybe even your sacrifical (sp?) board also. Thanks.

http://projectcnc.wordpress.com/page...d-downsclamps/

[Mr.Chips]

Well, Well, I finally have an answer after two years, LOL.

And your design is somewhat like what I came up with as a quick and dirty setup, but has proved so well that I havent looked further.

Thanks for your reply and suggestion for clamps.

Hager

[MrWild]

Lord, I am used to the Chinese. I'd have gladly laid down $20 for a set of four, but $50 for five? They're plastic not gold. I don't mean that snottily either. Somethings have a price point and I'd end up making a set out of scrap wood before I parted with $50. $20 for four on the other hand saves the effort of doing it. Others probably aren't as penny pinching cheap as Ii am though.

One thing you should not have done is posted a preview of an idea. There is some Chinese dude already whittling away at a chunk of aluminum to steal your idea. When people have an idea, mass produce it, flood the market then get out. First goes a long way to market share.

[FandZ]

In fairness, it did say under 50. That said, I do have some plastic stock laying around. May have to cnc something similar to use on my next machine. I'm getting tired of the glue gun. Besides, I need to use cut 2d's tab feature somehow.

[FandZ]

IQchallanged, That's a great site you put together with a ton of good info. Sweet cnc machine and dust collection system too.

[IQChallenged]

I'd have gladly laid down $20 for a set of four, but $50 for five? They're plastic not gold.

I understand your response. All my life I've undersold myself and went belly-up secondary to a lack of profit. As FandZ said I did say under $50. The price I have in mind is much closer to what you suggested. But I don't want to lock myself in without further analysis. If a small profit makes them unmarketable then so be it.

One thing you should not have done is posted a preview of an idea.

I don't know of a better way of testing the waters.

There is some Chinese dude already whittling away at a chunk of aluminum

According to my premise-- he's using the wrong material for this product. The plastic is easier on the bits, does an adequate job, cheaper (no matter who makes them).

By the way-- if you're serious about the $20-- look here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=200419772881

[MrWild]

Done. If anyone bids more than 20.01 they will win them. I figure $5 for shipping is actually $25 for five. LOL

The aluminum I mentioned was for a mold for castable plastic. Injection molding will be more expensive of course. Don't be surprised if you see Chinese knock offs going for $10-12 for a set of four with reasonable shipping within six months. They don't sit on their hands over there. I try to keep my money here in the states though and have bought from Widgetmaster and others to try to do so.

[morphious69]

just so you know this is not really a totally new idea. so I would not worry about anyone stealing it. I have made custom units like this from steel ages ago all with my manual vertical mill. you will definetely find a market though as it is an incredibly useful idea. only thing you are lacking is repeatability of set up like a jig will allow. add some sort of blocking system that does not move and is not clamping just something to slide the parts up against before you clamp down and then you have production. each new piece of material in the same place, within tolerances, that are exceptable hopefully, of course .

[morphious69]

oh one thing I forgot to mention. you really do not need the height to be those two you specified as you can always but up the clamp on another piece of material or some washers to get greater height to accommodate a thicker piece of stock.

[morphious69]

oh and by the way I buy the cheap chinese stuff so I can save my money to buy stuff like this that the creator actually get the money. I hope one day almost everything we want is capable of being produced in garages and personally ran small shops here in the US. and the same goes for other countries. get it locally. and every street has at least 2 or 3 people with automated equipment in the garage.

[morphious69]

let me correct myself. I buy Chinese direct when I know full well what I buy anywhere else is just being imported from china and then sold to me by a middle man.