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Gallery, Projects and General => Project Logs => Topic started by: bigmini on February 13, 2011, 01:35:15 AM

Title: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: bigmini on February 13, 2011, 01:35:15 AM
I got the idea for these from another blog. The original original is from Workholding in the Lathe by Tubal Caine. A highly recommended read that has stopped me from abusing my chucks :).

These faceplate dogs are designed to be used for attaching odd shaped objects to a faceplate where you want to have access to the entire surface. They bolt into the slot up against the work to be clamped and then the set screw is tightened to hold the work in place. Sort of like a primitive chuck.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1218.jpg)

The one on the left has an extra little hole there. That is the original set screw hole that was mis drilled, so I had to start again from another face.  :(

Here's how I made them:

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1194.jpg)

I started with a piece of 3/4" hex bar - note the marking to line it up with the stamping on the three jaw chuck. An attempt to get some repeatability. I should have marked it right along.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1198.jpg)

Here I have machined off the flats for the length of what will be the shank.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1199.jpg)

Roughing down the diameter to fit my faceplate

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1201.jpg)

Once the shank fits through the faceplate. I turned down the end to 10mm for long enough so that the fatter part doesn't project out of the back of the faceplate. You can see it being checked against my faceplate here.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1202.jpg)

Cutting the relief groove ready to turn the thread. There are lots of tutorials for cutting threads, and everyone seems to have a preferred way, so I'll skip ahead here except to show this.

(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1205.jpg)

I run most of this job with manual feeding, and only engaged the leadscrew for cutting the threads. I did this for two reasons:

The photo shows a piece of paper inserted between the gears to get the perfect clearance.

Finally - parting off. I don't know who said that parting off steel in a small Chinese lathe is impossible, but it isn't. Here's the proof:
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1206.jpg)
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1208.jpg)

Then facing off the end:
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1209.jpg)

Now to the drill press to make the hole for the set screw.
I set up the workpiece using a spirit level like this
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1211.jpg)

The hole was drilled for a 5mm tapped hole and counterbored to 8mm.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1212.jpg)

Tapping the hole
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1213.jpg)

The set screws I had had heads that were 8.2 mm diameter so I needed to turn them down to fit the 8mm counterbore. To protect the threads while I did this, I made a simple 5mm threaded mandrel out of 3/8" hex bar.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1214.jpg)

A finished piece
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1215.jpg)

..and how it fits into the faceplate.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd457/Ross_Wonderley/faceplate%20dogs/DSCN1217.jpg)

The motivation for making these was largely practice, but I also wanted to be able to make better use of the faceplate that came with my lathe. By using these, I can turn anything that will fit on the faceplate.

Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: Trion on February 13, 2011, 03:08:54 AM
It took me some time to realize how you were planning on using them, but now I see. It`s brilliant, need to make a few of those myself! Nice writeup! :thumbup:
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: Bogstandard on February 13, 2011, 03:42:56 AM
Very nice write up indeed BM, and a very good subject as well.

You can teach an old dog new tricks, and these will go onto my ever growing todo list.


Bogs


Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: Stilldrillin on February 13, 2011, 04:40:03 AM
Very well produced, and shown!  :clap: :clap:

I used that type of clamp many times, during my employed years, on milling machines. 

Never thought of applying to lathework.......  :thumbup:

David D
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: jim on February 13, 2011, 05:33:57 AM
excellent work, i too couldn't work out the cap screws, now it makes perfect sense!
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: Chuck in E. TN on February 13, 2011, 07:31:23 AM
I'm not sure I understand how these clamp dogs work. Is the set screw going all the way through the hex part?

Chuck in E. TN
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: ieezitin on February 13, 2011, 07:48:53 AM
Chuck

The bolts are fastened to the face plate and just act like an anchor, the set screw comes perpendicular from the lathe axis, to push the work against the other bolt opposite it. Instead of actually clamping the work to the face plate your squeezing the work in place with all these bolts around the plate.

Bm. Nice job here, I never in a million years would have come up with this simple yet effective practice, dam!!! I wish you would have written this last Tuesday, I tried everything including kicking the cat to hold a piece on my face plate which I needed 100% clearance on!.

Well done     Anthony.
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: HS93 on February 13, 2011, 08:22:14 AM
I'm not sure I understand how these clamp dogs work. Is the set screw going all the way through the hex part?

Chuck in E. TN

I'm glad you asked.

Peter
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: Chuck in E. TN on February 13, 2011, 08:42:03 AM
Not to be a smart ass, but...
quote "The hole was drilled for a 5mm tapped hole and counterbored to 8mm."
 I see how the dog bolts to the face plate, I'm asking if in the above quote, the hole is all the way through the hex part, as the pictures and the text don't indicate.

Chuck in E. TN

Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: HS93 on February 13, 2011, 09:39:29 AM
I'm not sure I understand how these clamp dogs work. Is the set screw going all the way through the hex part?

Chuck in E. TN

I'm glad you asked.

Peter

I did not notice it went right through that was my problem.. :bang:

Peter
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: andyf on February 13, 2011, 09:43:48 AM
Chuck,

I think bigmini's last photo reveals all. It shows how the threaded end sticks out of the hexagonal bolt head.

Andy  
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: Lew_Merrick_PE on February 13, 2011, 11:32:45 AM
Not to be a smart ass, but...
quote "The hole was drilled for a 5mm tapped hole and counterbored to 8mm."
 I see how the dog bolts to the face plate, I'm asking if in the above quote, the hole is all the way through the hex part, as the pictures and the text don't indicate.

Chuck,  The convention (since 1972) is for an un-depth-identified hole to be a "THRU" hole.  Since 1982(-ish) we have a little "down-arrow" type character used to identify a "depth" dimension.  Since 1994 we use it as:  ø1.23 ("depth" down-arrow symbol) .45 to mean, "Drill ø1.23 to a depth of .45" (in units appropriate to the drawing).  A hole identified as ø1.23 means, "Drill ø1.23 through the part."

These "conventions" are codified in both the ANSI and ISO engineering drawing specifications.  The funny part of all this is how many "major engineering companies" do not understand or follow them.  Those of us who use such things forget that it may not be clear to someone without our background.  (I spent 12 years as a member of one of the committees writing and reviewing the ANSI engineering drawing specifications.  Does it show?)
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: foozer on February 13, 2011, 12:54:41 PM

T  (I spent 12 years as a member of one of the committees writing and reviewing the ANSI engineering drawing specifications.  Does it show?)

So your the guy! 20 years in the 325 slot 46 section Boeing, bad enough the section is upside and backwards, but the drawings, one has to hold up to a light and look from the back side to figure out what's going on. And the powers that be wonder why we were confused.   :doh: 
heh heh heh

Robert
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: bigmini on February 13, 2011, 02:43:15 PM
Not to be a smart ass, but...
quote "The hole was drilled for a 5mm tapped hole and counterbored to 8mm."
 I see how the dog bolts to the face plate, I'm asking if in the above quote, the hole is all the way through the hex part, as the pictures and the text don't indicate.

Chuck in E. TN



Sorry about that Chuck. The 5mm tapped hole does indeed go right through. The end of the small bolt is what does the clamping when you tighten it up. It should only project a very small amount from the hexagon to ensure that the clamp is stable.

Thanks to all for the encouraging responses.
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: saw on February 13, 2011, 03:07:04 PM
This is a very good idea, thanks for showing us.  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: krv3000 on February 13, 2011, 06:23:00 PM
A nuther one for me to do    well posted  :nrocks:
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: AndyB on February 21, 2011, 03:12:04 PM
Bugger! :(

That's what I needed to hold the aluminium cylinder for my Rider Ericsson.

I had heard of them but couldn't figure out how to make them!!! :doh:

Thank you very much, right up there on the to-do list! :clap:

Andy
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: BK on February 22, 2011, 08:22:48 PM
Umm, looks like something else to make, they would come in very handy.  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: Andrew_D on February 22, 2011, 08:38:44 PM
Might I offer one piece of advice??

Before the ends of the set screws mushroom out and you can't remove them, turn the threads off or turn a point or something!

Been there before!!!

Andrew
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: bigmini on February 22, 2011, 09:22:17 PM
Might I offer one piece of advice??

Before the ends of the set screws mushroom out and you can't remove them, turn the threads off or turn a point or something!

Been there before!!!

Andrew

That's a good idea. I've thought about putting a point on them having already turned down the heads to make them fit in an 8mm hole. I'll probably do that next.

They're intended to be used up against the work with only a small amount of the set screw protruding for maximum stability.
Title: Re: Simple beginner project - faceplate dogs
Post by: j45on on February 24, 2011, 04:07:59 PM
These are great  :thumbup:
I could do with something similar to this for my rotary table slots