06-30-2012, 09:50 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-30-2012, 09:58 AM by Sunset Machine.)
The first image is the "real" project I picked up last fall, the second image is my current sub-project - crossrail clamps. It's a close-up of the first image with the original clamp circled in red.
The problem was that the 4 original clamp bolts were all gone but one, and it was badly stretched, about to break. On the far side (not shown here) someone had replaced one with a big stove bolt. So I set out to replace them using 1144 bolts and new clamp plates.
I've often wondered how well a horizontal mill would take to milling curves on a rotary table without standing the table on end and hiding the work. Bit of a profile change in the way of a slight curve, but it worked fine! I followed up with a radius all 'round the top with a homemade form cutter (single point).
One concern was to attempt to remain authentic looking. I can do crude work, so this came naturally.. The two old bolts with a new bolt at the bottom are shown, along with the plates and the final installation. All parts were flame blackened to blend in better.
The problem was that the 4 original clamp bolts were all gone but one, and it was badly stretched, about to break. On the far side (not shown here) someone had replaced one with a big stove bolt. So I set out to replace them using 1144 bolts and new clamp plates.
I've often wondered how well a horizontal mill would take to milling curves on a rotary table without standing the table on end and hiding the work. Bit of a profile change in the way of a slight curve, but it worked fine! I followed up with a radius all 'round the top with a homemade form cutter (single point).
One concern was to attempt to remain authentic looking. I can do crude work, so this came naturally.. The two old bolts with a new bolt at the bottom are shown, along with the plates and the final installation. All parts were flame blackened to blend in better.