Thanks for the replies.
Thermite, thank you for this information and forgive my ignorance please. I've been under the assumption that sine plates were commonly used for light milling and grinding operations.
Devices that
resemble sine plate/bars can be, but... you noticed "gravity"?
The basic concept had one support atop precision references. Gravity is the "hold down". Plates usually have tapped holes. Not hard to attach to the upper surface.
But what is to secure the LOWER, load-bearing points and the reference bar - or the STACK of several of them
under the bearing points?
Pull-down on the entire assembly from above, but....
Let's look at addressing the challenge of workholding at an angle, rather than the challenge of accurately generating the angle itself that we seek to hold.
- inexpensive tilt table are tall
- low profile trunnions are dear.
In-between cost-wise and low as to profile is a plate with jackscrews to set and hold an angle. Not a stack of gage blocks.
"Screws?" Sized to the need. Fine enough pitch for the need. "Differential", even - if need be. Watchmakers use screws. So do main-battery gun turrets on warships. Screws "scale" to fit the need.
See alternatively cams - plus clamps for their position.
Not hard to quickly fab one or more general-purpose angled workholders that can be adjusted, each within a limited range. It will be a range chosen for YOUR needs, not mine, nor certainly not the needs of all of Western Civilization. As a sine bar or plate is.
See also TiG welder. We need not get screwed. Now we may own a bespoke fixture, NOT adjustable. NOT easily gotten wrong, either.
The materials are not dear. There can be more than one.
