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  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Default Making Strap/Hold Down Clamps

    Another bit of kit that I saw in an email. For those that like to make their own bits of Kit, some strap clamps, plus in the background, there's an adjustable stop arrangement for the milling machine vise.

    https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/strap-clamps-t-nuts-79236?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=05-


    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
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    Revesby - Sydney Australia
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    Default

    I like the design (with the height-setting threaded bar on one side).


    As a refinement;

    1. I would use a larger threaded bar, and grind/mill 6 flats on the end instead of a screwdriver slot.
    2. Maybe have a finer thread on that bar, for better adjustment.




    P.S. Thinking about making T-slot nuts, a lot of the work time is milling the Ts.
    Does anyone know a source for T profile steel? Like pre-rolled from a mill.
    I'm assuming the factories that churn out stuff like this:

    https://www.nei.com.au/wp-content/up...nhanced-en.pdf

    have a source for precision cut profiles, and they just cut to nut length, thread, and blacken?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    Athelstone, SA 5076
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    4,255

    Default

    also a larger head for the bolt that sits in top of the table.....I recon you'd leave dents on the table when tightening down.?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    Cairns, Q
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    666

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by eskimo View Post
    also a larger head for the bolt that sits in top of the table.....I recon you'd leave dents on the table when tightening down.?
    FWIW I keep a couple of handfulls of the old 1c and 2c copper coins in the top channel of the press. Not only are they useful for preventing the press ram from marking delicate work, but I also use them under the heads of the adjusting bolts on the strap clamps to protect the mill table. The 2c coins are just the right size for this.

    Frank.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by nigelpearson View Post
    P.S. Thinking about making T-slot nuts, a lot of the work time is milling the Ts.
    Does anyone know a source for T profile steel? Like pre-rolled from a mill.
    I'm assuming the factories that churn out stuff like this:
    https://www.nei.com.au/wp-content/up...nhanced-en.pdf
    have a source for precision cut profiles, and they just cut to nut length, thread, and blacken?
    Nigel, I think you'll find that they are not a rolled section, probably just mill the steps on them, out of the bar size required. At least that's what mine look like. Would be easy to manufacture if you had a horizontal mill, 2 cutters side by side with a spacer of the right size.
    I did some small ones for an X2 mini mill I had, that was a pain as you couldn't take a decent cut. I just milled them out of some MS 16X8 flat bar, in about 300mm long length after I drilled the ends and bolted down with a bolt at each end. then drilled, tapped, and then cut to length.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    Default

    Hi Kryn, Guys,

    When I've made some, that is all I do, just mill the sides of some key steel of the right width and cut lengths off as required. Invert in the drill vise, move against a stop, clamp then and drill and thread.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
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    Geelong, Australia
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    57
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    By coincidence I actually made some tee nuts tonight for my rotary table. Turned out that the 19x19ish hot rolled bar I had was good for width and height so I just ran a roughing endmill down each side. Drilled and tapped then cut the strip up on the bandsaw.
    A tapping head would be nice though

    Steve

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    Default

    Hi Steve,

    For tapping through holes like that I bought some spiral taps. I've found that you can go all the way through at about 100 rpm and the chip comes out like it does when drilling. When China comes back to life I'm going to get a set of metric ones. Although I do have sets of M6 and M8. Unlike hand taps there is only one tap, not three. Useless for blind holes though.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
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    2,651

    Default Making Strap/Hold Down Clamps

    Yes, some spiral taps are on my list to buy, but haven’t got there yet.

    I actually managed to power tap the 8mm holes in the tee nuts, but just had the hand tap in the drill chuck on the mill. After about the third hole doing each hole in about 3 steps I hit the right combination of lube and quill pressure and the rest of the holes went through in one hit.

    Steve

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