Project by Grumpy | posted 06-06-2017 02:06 AM | 10967 views | 10 times favorited | 31 comments | ![]() |
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This all started after I made my router jig for doing burls and clock faces and I saw a ‘Woodsmith’ plan for a ‘Rotary Tool Milling Machine’ and thought that would be a great project and make life easier doing exact cuts.
The plans were well priced, reasonably easy to follow & comprehensive. (sorry can’t send you the plans copyrights involved)
The parts were a bit of a challenge but Ebay proved very helpful if you wanted to wait for the bits, like left hand threaded rod & nuts to fit.
The instructions were in inches which need to be followed even if you prefer metric, though I did use metric nuts, bolts & rods.
I only used half the thickness on the base, had part of a 3/4” mdf sheet with one white side that I scrounged from an old office partition.
The Jig comprised 3 moving platforms X, Y and Z, the Z being the vertical platform adjusting the height of the tool & the cutter. The X & Y platforms are on opposing horizontal planes.
This is the X Platform
A threaded rod with two coupling nuts and a hand wheel boxed in with Ways on either side provides the motion needed.
The Y platform is attached to the X Platform so that they move together.
Next came the rotation cutting base. Notice it is in two layers, the top layer being sacrificial.
I didn’t use the break mechanism on the plans, used a lever stop instead & marked each 1/4 of the circle with a reference point on the Y Platform. A threaded insert in the Y Platform was used to hold a bolt (head removed) to support the rotating base & so it had a pivot to rotate on.
The Z Platform supported the router. I had to depart from the Woodsmith plans a bit to fit my small router. I used left hand rod & nuts so the wind down & up movements made sense. Clockwise for down, anti for up.
Next I needed references to measure distances on, this was not covered by the plans. I tossed this over a few times in my sleep (not kidding). Finally came up with a simple solution which is always best. I embedded rare earth magnets along the XY&Z Platforms & could then place stainless rulers that could be moved to an reference point needed. Also cut markers on the platforms to reference off.
Next I needed somewhere to store the router tools and alan key (o remove it) & a reference table for rotation & distance. The rods & threads were at 1.25mm pitch, so 1 rotation= 1.25mm distance.
This was not covered by the plans.
Well the proof is in the test flight and it does work. Cut a nice ring in thin mdf (could have used a better cutter).
The next project will be on how to clamp the work piece to hold for cutting. Used double sided tape & brads on this one. I can also use it for cutting out recesses for clock mechanisms, my wife’s card making projects and anything else that comes along.
Thats all folks.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
31 comments so far
TomFran
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2964 posts in 5001 days
#1 posted 06-06-2017 02:22 AM
Wow! You have been very busy, Tony.
That’s great that you are able to manufacture something to make you a better woodworker.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
papadan
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#2 posted 06-06-2017 02:26 AM
Cool build Grumpy, you’ll get a lot of use out of that rig. Think about a vacuum chuck to hold pieces to the table.
WayneC
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#3 posted 06-06-2017 02:26 AM
Very cool. Looking forward to some videos. :)
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Grumpy
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#4 posted 06-06-2017 02:50 AM
Thanks Tom, Dan & Wayne.
Dan, will be looking into that. Might just use a portable shop vac.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
ZAGREB
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1276 posts in 2656 days
#5 posted 06-06-2017 02:55 AM
lot of efort budy
i hope it works like you wants
kiss the wife
have a nice day
-- bambi
Grumpy
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#6 posted 06-06-2017 03:03 AM
Thanks Bambi kiss you wife as well.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Woodknack
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#7 posted 06-06-2017 04:12 AM
Interesting.
-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/
steliart
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#8 posted 06-06-2017 04:31 AM
Very nice build Tony !!!!!!!!!!
-- Stelios L.A. Stavrinides: - I am not so rich to buy cheap tools, but... necessity is the mother of inventions !!!
Ivan
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16608 posts in 3874 days
#9 posted 06-06-2017 04:39 AM
The precise moving bottom table catched my eyes, nice work.
-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted
doubleDD
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#10 posted 06-06-2017 04:47 AM
Wow, great piece of work Tony. Looks like you made yourself a winner.
-- Dave, Downers Grove, Il. -------- When you run out of ideas, start building your dreams.
Grumpy
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#11 posted 06-06-2017 06:34 AM
Thanks for your comments Rick, Stelios, Ivan & Dave
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
crowie
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4314 posts in 2958 days
#12 posted 06-06-2017 06:59 AM
Tony, That is so very clever, well done sir…
-- Lifes good, Enjoy each new day...... Cheers from "On Top DownUnder" Crowie
Grumpy
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26811 posts in 4858 days
#13 posted 06-06-2017 07:25 AM
Thanks Peter, not so clever just followed the plans.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Jim Jakosh
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#14 posted 06-06-2017 11:11 AM
Great build, Tony. You’ll love having it because it makee some of those crazy set ups with a router so easy. I use mine all the time for woodworking. Teach Toby how to run it now!!!
The high school that I volunteer at bought a vertical mill for the robotics class and put it in the wood shop. Last week I had a student make a jewelry box and showed him how to mill out the inside of a solid block for the body. A lot of kids watched so it might get more use for woodworking now!!
Cheers, Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
Karson
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#15 posted 06-06-2017 12:54 PM
Tony:
I finally took the time to read the article. Great looking tool. I might have to give this item a go.
Looks like an easy build.
I’d give it a 9.5 a little ragged on the cut through to the sacrificial top
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Appomattox Virginia [email protected] †
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