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Thread: MAKING V-BLOCKS

  1. #1
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    Default MAKING V-BLOCKS

    I am on making V-blocks the block is 55x65x140L I will cut into two.
    I have already marked out everything drilled at the bottom of both V's and milled out the clamp slots on the sides. The ML7 vertical mill is a great attachment as are my hold down clamps but limited.

    I am cutting two V's one large one small. Large will be approx 1" deep, small approx 1/2 deep.

    My dill-ema is in doing the V's.

    In all my web searches on making V-blocks each one I find has either another set of V-blocks to set the angles with for milling or an inclination/angled vice.

    To do this without using the above I have so far come up with.

    1 Hand cut rough the V then mill on the ML7 to finish

    2 Use the 4x6 BS in vertical mod again rough cut and mill

    I still need a way to mount and clamp the block on the lathe to mill it.

    Any suggestions

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    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Hi Wheelin,
    As you said i made mine by tilting the head of the mill and will be finishing them on the surface grinder once i have finished my sine plate. Can you hold them in a vice end on? That way you could carefully set the angle and mill the V in either on or 2 goes. Not sure if your vice you will open far enough for that though.
    If you wanted to rough them out and send them down i could grind them for you along with mine.

    Cheers,
    Ew
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

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    Ewan the small vice on the mill is just to small to hold them I had to use the clamps etc to do the sides slots which worked well. My drill press vice might work I have yet to check width etc of mill t-slots to vice mount.


    Thanks for that offer I will consider it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by wheelinround View Post
    I am on making V-blocks the block is 55x65x140L I will cut into two.
    I have already marked out everything drilled at the bottom of both V's and milled out the clamp slots on the sides. The ML7 vertical mill is a great attachment as are my hold down clamps but limited.

    I am cutting two V's one large one small. Large will be approx 1" deep, small approx 1/2 deep.

    My dill-ema is in doing the V's.

    In all my web searches on making V-blocks each one I find has either another set of V-blocks to set the angles with for milling or an inclination/angled vice.

    To do this without using the above I have so far come up with.

    1 Hand cut rough the V then mill on the ML7 to finish

    2 Use the 4x6 BS in vertical mod again rough cut and mill

    I still need a way to mount and clamp the block on the lathe to mill it.

    Any suggestions
    I don't know about your setup so I cannot offer any suggestions at this point in time. Is your attachment the vertical milling table or the vertical milling column?

    I have been meaning to make up some Vee Blocks as well. I have the cheap angled vice that came with my mill. I was planning on using that and going slowly. I only want something to securely hold round stock so accuracy is not super important. Maybe next time. If I had a surface grinder I could be tempted to do better. No that is not a hint Ueee!

    Dean

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    wheelinround, do you have a small angle block that has equal length sides ?
    If so you could turn it upside down, fix and clamp to that.

    shed

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    I just buy mine as I have a lot more money than time when it comes to this sort of thing despite the castings littering up underneath my shaper...

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vee-Block...item5d4c9df78e

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2Pce-A-Pa...item58b18d77fc

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    Hi Ray,

    Assuming you mill doesn't have head nodding capability, then the technique is to set up the angle is to use a sine plate, If you don't have a sine plate, you can still measure it. Set the vise holding the work up on an angle using whatever clamps and blocks you have. Measure the difference in height between the front and back edges of the part (x). You already know the width of the block. so x=65*sin(angle).

    Ray

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    Given that you're going to make them from one piece and cut in half, you're all over-thinking this.

    The exact angle isn't all that important unless you want the blocks interchangeable regardless of orientation.

    The easiest thing to do is get 4 pieces of angle iron of the appropriate size, put them together to form a double V then weld together on the ends. Dress protruding welds down. Presto, crude V block.

    Then place good angle block in the uppermost V, mill V groove in it. If you want to get a bit pickier, remove the chunk, rotate, replace and make another cut. Angle should be the same on both sides.

    Cut a relief groove afterwards then cut in half *after* stamping witness marks to preserve orientation in case it's ever important. Clean up the cut ends.

    Might not end up perfect but it's a damn sight quicker than mucking about with a sine plate, vise whatever which you likely don't have anyway, and the welded angle block is useful for all sorts of butcherous jobs you wouldn't use your good ones for anyway.

    PDW

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    What Peter said...
    Another thought. If you can find a really solid bit of angle that can be used as an inverted V, you could start at the other end - mill a 90 degree V in a piece of bar stock (which is basically a set of passes with a milling cutter) and then clamp that on the inverted V on your mill table. You can then machine off the face of the block opposite the V and then having a reference face, proceed to machine the other 3 square to that one.
    The only traps I can see are
    • if the legs on the angle aren't equal - they will need to be measured and may need to be machined
    • if the clamping distorts the angle so it is not 90 degrees - check after clamping


    (Actually, sounds an interesting method...)

    Michael

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    Quote Originally Posted by PDW View Post
    Given that you're going to make them from one piece and cut in half, you're all over-thinking this.

    The exact angle isn't all that important unless you want the blocks interchangeable regardless of orientation.

    The easiest thing to do is get 4 pieces of angle iron of the appropriate size, put them together to form a double V then weld together on the ends. Dress protruding welds down. Presto, crude V block.

    Then place good angle block in the uppermost V, mill V groove in it. If you want to get a bit pickier, remove the chunk, rotate, replace and make another cut. Angle should be the same on both sides.

    Cut a relief groove afterwards then cut in half *after* stamping witness marks to preserve orientation in case it's ever important. Clean up the cut ends.

    Might not end up perfect but it's a damn sight quicker than mucking about with a sine plate, vise whatever which you likely don't have anyway, and the welded angle block is useful for all sorts of butcherous jobs you wouldn't use your good ones for anyway.

    PDW


    Your not going to believe me I know but angle is now sitting with the block and has been for a week. I agree this is crude set up and was only a thought by me. I guess I was looking for verification of method.

    Yes I'd like the block inter changeable BUT with what I have this is limited in accuracy which includes what ever set up I use.

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    These are some photos of the block so far marked out and then mounted to mill the clamp slots. I double/triple checked all clearances before turning the lathe on.

    This is the milling attachment

    Although this is an amateur use and accuracy required is well below what many might use I strive for a better than just average finish in what ever I do.
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    Looking good... yes, PDW's welded angle iron is a good idea, I don't see why you couldn't get reasonably accurate ressults with a little care in setting up...

    .... But I'm not 100% sure your clamp usage is entirely kosher..

    BTW... I see a set of matched V blocks going at auction up your way..

    http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0181-...-4v-206144-181


    Ray

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    You could always scrape for alignment . now that would be fun.

    What Ray says about the clamp. at least turn the font one over so its like the back one................... but then it seems to have worked, so I'll shut up now.


    Stuart

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    Quote Originally Posted by RayG View Post
    Looking good... yes, PDW's welded angle iron is a good idea, I don't see why you couldn't get reasonably accurate ressults with a little care in setting up...

    .... But I'm not 100% sure your clamp usage is entirely kosher..

    BTW... I see a set of matched V blocks going at auction up your way..

    http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0181-...-4v-206144-181


    Ray
    Curse you, Ray, that's 10 minutes away from my house here and I'm *in* Sydney.......

    PDW

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    Quote Originally Posted by PDW View Post
    Curse you, Ray, that's 10 minutes away from my house here and I'm *in* Sydney.......

    PDW
    20 Mins away from me Peter I'll borrow them to finish the V-blocks when you've bought them LOL


    Ray and Stu regarding the clamping I assure you I tried the correct use as the angle of the holding one would pull down onto the other it would alter its angle and the damn thing wouldn't hold the block tight against the table the supporting block kept spitting out as I tightened down.

    I am not going to tell you where my youngest son works now or what he is selling.

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