Need Help!- Is anyone willing to make me a spring loaded tool holder?

[meisje08]

Is anyone willing to make me a spring loaded engraving tool holder? I've seen the one for $300-400 and that seems a bit pricey for me. I will be engraving text on 3" x .75" brass plates with a rotozip or similar, so it needs to be accurate. I have paypal and would like to get one soon if possible.

thanks

[socalcnc]

HEY, I need one also. email me if someone is making them. wirewerks@verizon.net Thanks

[fatal-exception]

I have made 3 of them now, but they are used for shallow engraving with the spindle off. ( drag engraver) got the idea from the machinists bedside reader. They work perfectly with 0 backlash. Nice tool to have.

I could share my autocad drawing, or just make you one. I'll post pics later.

Paul

[djh82uk]

Ha ha thats wierd timing, ive just this very minute almost finished my prototype for a spring loaded engraving tool, it's going to need some refinement and I have no idea on what springs to use.

Below is my example, im not too happy with the design at the moment, it was more a proof of concept, the nuts are to be replaced later with nylon lock nuts and threadlock, I also would rather it if the bit holder was of a collet type design, but im still learning with my lathe.

If anyone has any design advice it would be welcome.

Once the design is improved and proven I may sell them.

Ive been thinking of using dremel style collets, but making the bit holder myself, still struggling a bit with threading on the lathe.

I ran it for over an hour at 30,000rpm (with me out of the workshop due to those nuts) and it was fine, as for accuracy I was really quite impressed, could see no blurring and it left a pin prick indentation from where it was running, the in prick was the same size as the end of the bit.

I am however still learning and probably have a long way to go.

My main use will be for pcb's where this is very little lateral force, would'nt like to say how it would cope with aluminium etc.

If I can get a 6mm and 3.175mm barrel lap I think it will be better, I also think the collet system is a must, aswell as a better design for the bar that runs up the slots, perhaps split pins or circlips, but I have not found any small enough.

The pcb was done before I made the tool. just so you can see they type of work i will be doing with it

DJH

[Oldmanandhistoy]

Hi DJH,

PCB looks good and so does your spring loaded tool. Did you try that centring devise I posted a link for and if so what did you think?

John

[djh82uk]

Thanks

I most certainly did, it's still a little bit of a struggle and the line you align it with is a little bit thick, but it definatley helps, still not dead on but the end slides up fairly smoothly, probably better if I could find an 8mm chucking reamer/barrel lap

DJH

[Oldmanandhistoy]

Originally Posted by djh82uk Thanks I most certainly did, it's still a little bit of a struggle and the line you align it with is a little bit thick, but it definatley helps, still not dead on but the end slides up fairly smoothly, probably better if I could find an 8mm chucking reamer/barrel lap DJH

Cheers

[LeeWay]

What is the purpose of a spring loaded cutter. Is it kinda like THC on a plasma cutter? It will allow you to etch PCB's that aren't perfectly flat?
Just curious. Thanks.

[djh82uk]

Yep thats it LeeWay

Ive found it near impossible to get pcb flat with various different methods, it only needs to be out by a little bit to mess it up.

DJH

[Oldmanandhistoy]

DJH,

How do you plan to regulate the depth of cut with the pictured design?

John

[djh82uk]

well, it's the same principal as the ones sold by 2linc.com for a lot of money, once the correct spring is selected, although the force is not linear, it seems linear enough in that regardless of height, there is just enough force to go the required depth.

Im going to fit a tensioner in the top so I don't have to keep swapping springs.

Ive never used one before, but i have seen one that was engraving a 22mm copper pipe over about 100 degrees of it's surface, and the depth was the same as far as i could tell, we opened his tool up and it was just a spring and a form of collet.

Hope that makes sense, theres no harm in me trying it anyway

DJH

[Oldmanandhistoy]

Thanks, you will have to let us know how it performs.