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| Self made aluminum radius block http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=52019 |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Fri Jun 07, 2019 11:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Self made aluminum radius block |
So I did some googling on how to make a radius block. Turns out a large rotating cutter traces a radius when tilted. It's not 100% accurate but for some wood item, it's plenty accurate (it may be off by a couple of microns, that's all). There is a formula out there that tells you how much to tilt the spindle vs. the radius of the cutter and the radius you're trying to achieve.  This is my setup   This is the end result:   
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| Author: | Chris Pile [ Fri Jun 07, 2019 11:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Well done, Tai - this old tool and die maker approves! |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Fri Jun 07, 2019 11:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Chris Pile wrote: Well done, Tai - this old tool and die maker approves! I wish my neighbor does... he kinda dislikes manual machinists and thinks they're all inefficient and useless... he has this:   I showed him what I made and he doesn't seem impressed at all and thinks his machines can make it in seconds... (I guess not counting all the time to CAD and CAM all the various radii |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Sat Jun 08, 2019 12:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Clever! |
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| Author: | Joe Beaver [ Sat Jun 08, 2019 12:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Well Done Tai. Don't worry about the neighbor, he is just jealous |
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| Author: | Ruby50 [ Sat Jun 08, 2019 8:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
You can do the same thing on your table saw in wood, and maybe even aluminum (I'm not sure). Just google "table saw cove" Ed |
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| Author: | Ken Nagy [ Sat Jun 08, 2019 8:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Tai Fu wrote: Chris Pile wrote: Well done, Tai - this old tool and die maker approves! I wish my neighbor does... he kinda dislikes manual machinists and thinks they're all inefficient and useless... he has this: I showed him what I made and he doesn't seem impressed at all and thinks his machines can make it in seconds... (I guess not counting all the time to CAD and CAM all the various radii I've been a machinist for over 40 years, starting before CNC on lathes making replacement parts for presses. Making large adjusting screws, re-threading the pitmans they fit into, backshafts, crankshafts, all on conventional lathes. Not even digital readouts. I did that all with 0-5 years experience. Changed to CNC 30 years ago. Sometimes conventional is by far the easiest and fastest way to do things. Many times I'll use a CNC mill like a Bridgeport, and do some simple task in far less time than programming it. The kids won't do it though. They know more than I'll ever forget. They have a 4 year program, and school. Times have changed. I think that the shape that you got would properly be called an ellipse because of the tilt of the head, but it is close enough to a radius until you get wider. Well done. I like the way you just get in and do it. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Sat Jun 08, 2019 8:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Yea, I don't have a table saw... I'm not even sure if I have space for one. I like to have one though since I can just make my own kerfed lining from construction wood rather than buy it. The only thing a table saw won't do is if I want to make a radius block out of a piece of chrome moly steel, I don't think table saw will do it. I would absolutely not do this with aluminum on a table saw either... a table saw isn't made to cut aluminum in the first place and it's dangerous to try to cut it across. On the other hand, I can cut chrome moly steel or even hardened steel if I want to... not sure why I want to however. That carbide insert can cut almost anything. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Sat Jun 08, 2019 8:53 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Ken Nagy wrote: Tai Fu wrote: Chris Pile wrote: Well done, Tai - this old tool and die maker approves! I wish my neighbor does... he kinda dislikes manual machinists and thinks they're all inefficient and useless... he has this: I showed him what I made and he doesn't seem impressed at all and thinks his machines can make it in seconds... (I guess not counting all the time to CAD and CAM all the various radii I've been a machinist for over 40 years, starting before CNC on lathes making replacement parts for presses. Making large adjusting screws, re-threading the pitmans they fit into, backshafts, crankshafts, all on conventional lathes. Not even digital readouts. I did that all with 0-5 years experience. Changed to CNC 30 years ago. Sometimes conventional is by far the easiest and fastest way to do things. Many times I'll use a CNC mill like a Bridgeport, and do some simple task in far less time than programming it. The kids won't do it though. They know more than I'll ever forget. They have a 4 year program, and school. Times have changed. I think that the shape that you got would properly be called an ellipse because of the tilt of the head, but it is close enough to a radius until you get wider. Well done. I like the way you just get in and do it. Except a CNC mill doesn't like being used like a bridgeport, at least according to my neighbor. He says you don't really have the same feel and it's very easy to make mistakes. You also don't want to manual power tap on a CNC either without a specific program for that thread and pitch (though you could just enter the right G code on the computer and hit the green button) By the way I also need to make some coves to use as a neck rest out of some construction wood. I could buy it but then I'd have to pay shipping for it. |
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| Author: | Ken Nagy [ Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Yes, they have no feel, but they have the same sound. I run the machines by the way that they sound, especially lathes, the machines I have the most experience with. I couldn't tap manually on a CNC, but milling off stock, bringing to length, and drilling holes you can do all day long. If you need .200" off a plate, you can take .180 off quickly on a mill by hand, and grind the last .02 off. By the way; I DO cut hardened steel. M2, and many kinds of die steel from 45-65 Rc. Sometimes with carbide, especially long small bore that are prone to chatter, (but you have to go slow, and it wears quickly) but mostly with ceramic inserts, or CBN if it is an interrupted cut, or has a very hard coating on it. |
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| Author: | Ruby50 [ Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Tia I have cut aluminum on a table saw and a band saw no problem - I am unfamiliar with cutting from the side of the blade as you would in making a cove. Even Home Cheapo and Blowes have aluminum cutting blades for your table saw and hand-held circular saw. I think the kerf width of a tables saw is too wide for kerfed lining - a bandsaw blade's width seems to be about right. And jigs are very easy to make. ED |
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| Author: | jfmckenna [ Sat Jun 08, 2019 10:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self made aluminum radius block |
Very cool indeed. You may even find a market for such a thing. |
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