Cold Saw Roller Bench & DRO

[ASTRO_AL]

Hi guys, I need to build a saw bench for my Pedrazzoli cold saw, and I want to incorporate a DRO for the fence so I can move it, lock it off and make cuts quickly and accurately (to the nearest mm or half mm is fine).

It needs a max length of 6 metre, and I have a 10" x 10" x 8 metre I-beam sat outside my shop waiting for a home...

I figure on mounting the beam on some legs bolted to the concrete, in this orientation: I-I (sideways). I'll mount some rollers into the top 'gulley'.

I could use some inputs on how to make the carriage for the saw fence / material stop. I'm doing this on a budget, so no high end linear bearings etc. Can I use angle iron & rollers or similar to give me enough accuracy?

The current plan is a pneumatic cylinder operating a mechanical brake which locks the carriage to the beam when in use. So I just press a button on the handle and slide to the next required position, it'll lock in place when I take my thumb off the button. I'm not sure yet if the locking process will shift the carriage slightly.

Any ideas on the DRO would also be appreciated. I figure on a rotary encoder with a counter calibrated to give a reading in cm & m. What have others used over a length like this? It seems most other encoders are out on cost grounds (due to the range of motion)? Has anyone seen a decent homebuild DRO / counter in a similar application?

Thanks for any ideas.

Al.

[rowbare]

Check out what this guy is doing:

YouTube- Tragedy at the Shop! (Part 1) - Episode 5

YouTube- Tragedy at the Shop! (Part 1) - Episode 5

About 3 minutes in, he describes his cut-to-length system. Decidedly low tech but accurate to ~.1 mm (.005")... It looks like a bit of work to set up but it is rugged and all but foolproof.

bob

[ASTRO_AL]

Thanks, in fact it was that very video that started me thinking about how to sort mine out!

I decided I'd prefer a rolling stop, although I like his system. I think bolting down plates is pretty slow for a quick-set end stop, I also think on a Friday afternoon I'd be prone to putting the right plate on the wrong set of holes...

Cheers, Al.

[Teyber12]

that guy can pound brew