Clamp kit - MaxNC et.al. ?
Posted by
Gail & Bryan Harries
on 2000-10-18 11:42:28 UTC
I have a MaxNC milling machine, which use ¼-20 studs and T-nuts.
Over the past year have been looking (un-successfully) to find a suitable
clamp kit or clamping components to use on this machine without damaging the
aluminium table. The items supplied by MaxNC are very basic and not very
versatile.
Therefore I have designed and made (for my own use) a step clamp kit and a
grid plate specifically to suit the MaxNC machine. The components are from
6061-T6 so as to not damage the MaxNC table, yet still strong enough to not
bucket like the MaxNC issue clamps.
The Clamp Kit contains 40 pieces. 4 of each; step blocks, two clamp lengths,
and four stud lengths, T -nuts, joiners and spherical flange nuts.
Each step block has a 2 total clamping capacity with a 12° clamping range
per step, and 3/16 between steps giving each step range an overlap.
The Grid Plate clamps to the milling table using all three T-slots for
security and repeatability. It has a 3/8 grid with #10-24 tapped holes at
each intersection, 208 in all. I use MiteeBite edge clamps with this to
give a usable clamping area of 6x5. I have a fence or stops on the left
and back edges to clamp against.
I am planning to expand the clamping options/methods of the Grid Plate by
adding vise components, angle plates, etc. at a later stage, but for now I
am curious if other machines use this T-slot size and if so, which ones.
MaxNC has 3 T-slots on 1¼ centers.
If anyone is interested in any the above components or has suggestions,
please send me an e-mail and we can talk off line.
Regards,
Bryan Harries
bj@...
Over the past year have been looking (un-successfully) to find a suitable
clamp kit or clamping components to use on this machine without damaging the
aluminium table. The items supplied by MaxNC are very basic and not very
versatile.
Therefore I have designed and made (for my own use) a step clamp kit and a
grid plate specifically to suit the MaxNC machine. The components are from
6061-T6 so as to not damage the MaxNC table, yet still strong enough to not
bucket like the MaxNC issue clamps.
The Clamp Kit contains 40 pieces. 4 of each; step blocks, two clamp lengths,
and four stud lengths, T -nuts, joiners and spherical flange nuts.
Each step block has a 2 total clamping capacity with a 12° clamping range
per step, and 3/16 between steps giving each step range an overlap.
The Grid Plate clamps to the milling table using all three T-slots for
security and repeatability. It has a 3/8 grid with #10-24 tapped holes at
each intersection, 208 in all. I use MiteeBite edge clamps with this to
give a usable clamping area of 6x5. I have a fence or stops on the left
and back edges to clamp against.
I am planning to expand the clamping options/methods of the Grid Plate by
adding vise components, angle plates, etc. at a later stage, but for now I
am curious if other machines use this T-slot size and if so, which ones.
MaxNC has 3 T-slots on 1¼ centers.
If anyone is interested in any the above components or has suggestions,
please send me an e-mail and we can talk off line.
Regards,
Bryan Harries
bj@...