| Gallery, Projects and General > How do I?? |
| Adapting indicators to round bar mounts |
| << < (2/3) > >> |
| Chuck in E. TN:
That's more like what I'm looking for. I spent the morning making 2 adaptors from 3/4" aluminum round. I assembled them with 3/8" mild steel bar to make a tramming jig for my mill. It's just not solid enough. I'm having a dickens of a time trying to get good measurements. Between the head moving when I lock it down to flex in the tram jig, I'm going nuts. Here is my setup: http://s571.photobucket.com/albums/ss157/chucketn/Machining/tram%20tool/ Any comments/suggestions welcome. Chuck in E. TN |
| ieezitin:
Chuck. I saw your set up. I have a feeling that your connections may have some play in them plus round stock is not the best for spreading weight over a distance. I have sent a little drawing for you to look at what I would make. I know you know this but everything has to be as tight as it can be, in the drawing the connections would be made so when clamped down they become one unit, screws holding round stock like you have it allows for some play if the tolerances are not tight. Another advantage of rectangular stock is strength, its like an I Beam in a building, the piece in essence has a back bone. One more thing to consider make sure there is no play in your spindle. Hope this helps. Anthony. |
| Chuck in E. TN:
I agree with your comments Anthony. I could flex my setup easily, even though I had turned the adaptors on my lathe, and fitted everything as tight as I know how. The column also flexes with hand pressure. I could change the indicator reading by tugging on the drill chuck. I tried swapping the drill chuck for a collet and it seemed better. I guess it’s back to the drawing board. Might as well install the gas lift strut and longer rack, disassemble the table for cleanup, and other ancillary tasks until I can build a better tramming jig. Thanks for your help. Chuck in E. TN |
| andyf:
Hi Chuck, Your Photobucket pictures show a DTI with a flipper arm on the end being used for tramming. Rather than being held vertically, the DTI needs to be as horizontal as you can get it before its body fouls the mill table, to get the flipper to turn the dial needle a reasonable amount. A dial indicator with a plunger would be better, because you will get maximum dial movement when the DI is held vertically. Andy |
| Chuck in E. TN:
My buddy Joe came over to help. He talked me into stripping the mill down to clean it and install the gas strut lift kit. We reassembled the mill and adjusted the gibs. Much tighter now, and I'll have another go at tramming tomorrow. I will start by making an all steel, flat stock adaptor for the DI and start again. Thanks to all that responded. Chuck in E. TN |
| Navigation |
| Message Index |
| Next page |
| Previous page |