implmex
Diamond
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2002
- Location
- Vancouver BC Canada
Good morning All 5 Axis Wizards:
I'm building a dovetail block for a client to fit on a Haas TRT 100.
The load capacity of these tables is pretty small so I grabbed a chunk of scrap Ti6Al4V titanium and cut it out of that to save weight.
Here's what I originally planned:
So the dovetail end is planned to be square...equal access from all sides.
As you can see, I have 1.6" of dovetail length.
The dove itself will be wired with a coarse finish...about like a medium sandblast, so it'll be pretty grippy.
It's 1.0" wide, 0.100" deep and is relieved in the corners.
The clamp screw is 1/4:20.
The whole fixture is 1.300" tall.
The machine is a DT-2 the spindle is ISO 30, so cutters typically under 1/2" and no hogging.
This is all Alpha prototyping...the cost is in the fuckaround factor, not how quickly I can peel metal from the block.
I have it up on the wire and I've rough cut the first side.
Here's how it looks:
So the question is:
Is it in my interest to leave the dovetail as long as possible?
I can gain another 1/8" if I just catch the corners of the mounting counterbores.
I can gain almost double the length if I ignore the ugly holes.
The body is 3" diameter.
This thing will potentially run the largest blocks of aluminum the TRT100 can swing for 3+2 machining which is a 5" cube.
So do I cut it per the original plan?
Do I cut it to just clean up the bolt holes?
Do I leave it as is?
What say ye...all of you with 5 axis experience.
This thing will most likely get used for such a big block maybe once or twice in its lifespan...a more typical stock size is 1" x 1" x 2" long.
Do I go for the best access, or do I go for the best clamping security?
BTW, I do have other options for clamping smaller stock...a modified Sherline 4 jaw chuck, and an ER 20 collet chuck that's been modified for dead length stops and for home made aluminum emergency collets.
I have another fixture on the go too, for clamping 3" diameter plates of any thickness, so they can be run side 1 and side 2 as if the TRT 100 were a 4th axis, to eliminate fucking around with soft jaws all the time.
That's a whole 'nother project...I'll write that one up in another thread.
I'm also going to recommend they buy one of those little 5 axis vises mhajicek recently showed in another thread.
Cheers
Marcus
www.implant-mechanix.com
www.vancouverwireedm.com
I'm building a dovetail block for a client to fit on a Haas TRT 100.
The load capacity of these tables is pretty small so I grabbed a chunk of scrap Ti6Al4V titanium and cut it out of that to save weight.
Here's what I originally planned:
So the dovetail end is planned to be square...equal access from all sides.
As you can see, I have 1.6" of dovetail length.
The dove itself will be wired with a coarse finish...about like a medium sandblast, so it'll be pretty grippy.
It's 1.0" wide, 0.100" deep and is relieved in the corners.
The clamp screw is 1/4:20.
The whole fixture is 1.300" tall.
The machine is a DT-2 the spindle is ISO 30, so cutters typically under 1/2" and no hogging.
This is all Alpha prototyping...the cost is in the fuckaround factor, not how quickly I can peel metal from the block.
I have it up on the wire and I've rough cut the first side.
Here's how it looks:
So the question is:
Is it in my interest to leave the dovetail as long as possible?
I can gain another 1/8" if I just catch the corners of the mounting counterbores.
I can gain almost double the length if I ignore the ugly holes.
The body is 3" diameter.
This thing will potentially run the largest blocks of aluminum the TRT100 can swing for 3+2 machining which is a 5" cube.
So do I cut it per the original plan?
Do I cut it to just clean up the bolt holes?
Do I leave it as is?
What say ye...all of you with 5 axis experience.
This thing will most likely get used for such a big block maybe once or twice in its lifespan...a more typical stock size is 1" x 1" x 2" long.
Do I go for the best access, or do I go for the best clamping security?
BTW, I do have other options for clamping smaller stock...a modified Sherline 4 jaw chuck, and an ER 20 collet chuck that's been modified for dead length stops and for home made aluminum emergency collets.
I have another fixture on the go too, for clamping 3" diameter plates of any thickness, so they can be run side 1 and side 2 as if the TRT 100 were a 4th axis, to eliminate fucking around with soft jaws all the time.
That's a whole 'nother project...I'll write that one up in another thread.
I'm also going to recommend they buy one of those little 5 axis vises mhajicek recently showed in another thread.
Cheers
Marcus
www.implant-mechanix.com
www.vancouverwireedm.com
Last edited:
