Hi
During the course of my small boiler project.(still unfinished) I had many occasions where the drilling of blind or flat bottomed holes was required. Constantly removing the drill to measure the depth of the hole became a bit of a chore so I decide at the earliest opportunity I would fit a DRO to the tail stock. Before getting down to design and cutting metal I jotted down a few requirements.
1. It must be easy to use. Some gadgets are very pretty to look at and are technically brilliant but are often not that easy to use. In that case when its difficult to use its more often than not left in its box
2. It must be quick and easy to install and remove. Once again if its difficult I would manage without it.
3. It must have plenty of clearance around it and not interfere with the use of the tailstock.
4. It must not interfere with any other function of the lathe.
5. No modification of the tailstock at all. No drilling or tapping.
With these requirements in mind I set about designing and building the DRO. I'm not going to show any plans (Cos there aint any) or show any measurements. The DRO is shown being fitted to my Myford ML7 but should be easily adaptable to most lathes. The DRO itself is a cheap set of digital calipres which can be removed from the tailstock very quickly when required elsewhere. The mounting for the DRO is mostly 3/8 thick ally bar 1 1/2 & 2 inch wide.
2 pieces of ally cut to rough size
Clamped together vertically and drilledx through.
Note how the long stud goes through the centre of the vice I made
Tap the holes in the large part and drill the small half with a clearance drill
Make 2 studs
The 2 parts bolted together
In the 4 jaw chuck to drill and then bore out to 1 1/2 inch
Boring out the front piece
Then a trial fit on the tailstock
Cut a slot
Then cut out a corner
Drill through
Then tap
Another trial fit
Drill 2 holes
Drill 2 corresponding holes and tap
The front piece has a slot milled in it to accept the calipres and the has some of the excess metal cut away
2 holes drilled and tapped for the clamp
The thumbscrew bracket being drilled
Turning the thumbscrew
All the parts
All the parts assembled
Heres a couple of videos
I need to make a thumbscrew for the front clamp and do away with the cap head bolt, no tools will then be needed to fit the calipres into the clamps.
Cheers
Rich
During the course of my small boiler project.(still unfinished) I had many occasions where the drilling of blind or flat bottomed holes was required. Constantly removing the drill to measure the depth of the hole became a bit of a chore so I decide at the earliest opportunity I would fit a DRO to the tail stock. Before getting down to design and cutting metal I jotted down a few requirements.
1. It must be easy to use. Some gadgets are very pretty to look at and are technically brilliant but are often not that easy to use. In that case when its difficult to use its more often than not left in its box
2. It must be quick and easy to install and remove. Once again if its difficult I would manage without it.
3. It must have plenty of clearance around it and not interfere with the use of the tailstock.
4. It must not interfere with any other function of the lathe.
5. No modification of the tailstock at all. No drilling or tapping.
With these requirements in mind I set about designing and building the DRO. I'm not going to show any plans (Cos there aint any) or show any measurements. The DRO is shown being fitted to my Myford ML7 but should be easily adaptable to most lathes. The DRO itself is a cheap set of digital calipres which can be removed from the tailstock very quickly when required elsewhere. The mounting for the DRO is mostly 3/8 thick ally bar 1 1/2 & 2 inch wide.
2 pieces of ally cut to rough size
Clamped together vertically and drilledx through.
Note how the long stud goes through the centre of the vice I made
Tap the holes in the large part and drill the small half with a clearance drill
Make 2 studs
The 2 parts bolted together
In the 4 jaw chuck to drill and then bore out to 1 1/2 inch
Boring out the front piece
Then a trial fit on the tailstock
Cut a slot
Then cut out a corner
Drill through
Then tap
Another trial fit
Drill 2 holes
Drill 2 corresponding holes and tap
The front piece has a slot milled in it to accept the calipres and the has some of the excess metal cut away
2 holes drilled and tapped for the clamp
The thumbscrew bracket being drilled
Turning the thumbscrew
All the parts
All the parts assembled
Heres a couple of videos
I need to make a thumbscrew for the front clamp and do away with the cap head bolt, no tools will then be needed to fit the calipres into the clamps.
Cheers
Rich
