Brian Jackson
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2004
- Messages
- 3,524
- Location
- Hamburg, New Jersey USA
- Aircraft
- GyroBee Variant - Under Construction
Learned a cool trick during this weekend's gyro build. In the process of turning a 6 lb. billet into a 4 ounce part, the conical cuts proved difficult to measure for setup. So I borrowed heavily from my pencil and T-square days as a mechanical draftsman . The part is modeled in CAD so I was able to print a full scale paper template with reference lines to align the part directly over. The shaded area on the template is the finished part.
A tilting vise rotated vertically is clamped to a piece of angle that slides against the side of the band saw table. Works like a T-square. Clamping the workpiece at the designed angle was made easy by placing a small square on the template at points along the profile line and nudging the part until it contacts the square.
Pictured below is a test cut an inch or so away from the designed cut. Final surfacing will be on milling machine so this step doesn't have to be accurate to the degree, but it is. Buying an expensive angle finder was an option but this method turned out to be both accurate and free.
The link above is for the tilting vise which is proving indispensable in the shop. It was $50, operates smoothly, rock solid and very well made.
Haven't posted on this thread in a while but have been busy building a gyro. Even if it's only 30 minutes on some evenings. I try to make tangible progress every day.
A tilting vise rotated vertically is clamped to a piece of angle that slides against the side of the band saw table. Works like a T-square. Clamping the workpiece at the designed angle was made easy by placing a small square on the template at points along the profile line and nudging the part until it contacts the square.
Pictured below is a test cut an inch or so away from the designed cut. Final surfacing will be on milling machine so this step doesn't have to be accurate to the degree, but it is. Buying an expensive angle finder was an option but this method turned out to be both accurate and free.
Vise, 3.5" Tilting, 0-90 Degree 3643
Vises 3643 Full 90° horizontal to vertical adjustment; Multiple bolt slots in base for easy mounting; Angle dial on one side and locking knob on oppo...
littlemachineshop.com
The link above is for the tilting vise which is proving indispensable in the shop. It was $50, operates smoothly, rock solid and very well made.
Haven't posted on this thread in a while but have been busy building a gyro. Even if it's only 30 minutes on some evenings. I try to make tangible progress every day.