DavidScott
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2012
- Location
- Washington
I have been making my own for a few years now and just did two new fixtures where I made some more. I always change the design a bit to better suit the parts I need to hold so I have "prototyped" many new ideas. The latest "idea" works much better than I expected and I think it may be something others may want. The new "idea" is to make the shells out of steel with teeth to hold the parts for the first op to do a better job holding less part.
The main differences between my parts and what is currently available:
1) When clamped to the designed width the wedge is even with the top of the shell.
2) The shell is screwed to the fixture so it doesn't get chips under it.
3) The corners have a .067" radius so the fit in a pocket with .062" radiused corners.
4) I like longer clamps so mine are 1" long.
5) All of my parts are machined from stock, with tight tolerances. The base of the shell is held to +/-.0005", probably guarantee +/-.001" if I go into production.
6) I like 10 degrees per side on the shells, vs 20 degrees which is what the competition uses.
7) My clamps don't like to expand more than .02" so I will offer different widths in .005" or .01" increments.
8) Steel shells with serrated edges. At the moment they are not hard enough for steel parts.
Just wondering if this would be a viable product? I have already changed the shell design to make it more general porpose and am designing the production fixtures. I think I could sell the aluminum shell version for around $14 without anodizing and the steel shell version for around $20, assuming I am only doing smaller volumes with my current machines. If you need to buy new shells later without the wedges then that would not be an issue and the price would be fair. I am doing this post to see if someone can shoot the idea down before I make myself a lifetime supply of the things. I am simply looking to add to my own products that I make. The design patented but it looks like it expired in 2009 so I don't think it has any protection.
Here are some photos of my last parts, the production version of the steel shell would have different serrations to make it more general porpose. The pictured version is to hold onto .04" of the part for the first op roughing. The pockets have .005" of end clearance and .01" of side clearance which still allowes them to work without being chip traps.
The main differences between my parts and what is currently available:
1) When clamped to the designed width the wedge is even with the top of the shell.
2) The shell is screwed to the fixture so it doesn't get chips under it.
3) The corners have a .067" radius so the fit in a pocket with .062" radiused corners.
4) I like longer clamps so mine are 1" long.
5) All of my parts are machined from stock, with tight tolerances. The base of the shell is held to +/-.0005", probably guarantee +/-.001" if I go into production.
6) I like 10 degrees per side on the shells, vs 20 degrees which is what the competition uses.
7) My clamps don't like to expand more than .02" so I will offer different widths in .005" or .01" increments.
8) Steel shells with serrated edges. At the moment they are not hard enough for steel parts.
Just wondering if this would be a viable product? I have already changed the shell design to make it more general porpose and am designing the production fixtures. I think I could sell the aluminum shell version for around $14 without anodizing and the steel shell version for around $20, assuming I am only doing smaller volumes with my current machines. If you need to buy new shells later without the wedges then that would not be an issue and the price would be fair. I am doing this post to see if someone can shoot the idea down before I make myself a lifetime supply of the things. I am simply looking to add to my own products that I make. The design patented but it looks like it expired in 2009 so I don't think it has any protection.
Here are some photos of my last parts, the production version of the steel shell would have different serrations to make it more general porpose. The pictured version is to hold onto .04" of the part for the first op roughing. The pockets have .005" of end clearance and .01" of side clearance which still allowes them to work without being chip traps.