KeithB
Resident Half Fast Machinist
A while back I bought a tilting machine table. It has T-slots that are 7/16" wide and require using a 3/8 stud. None of the other machines in the shop use this size and when I needed to use it I realized I had no clamping hardware. I could have bought a generic clamping kit from any number of vendors but I was long on time, short on money, and I decided to make a set from shop scrap.
The set I made has 32 3/8-16 studs (8 each 2", 3", 4", 5"), 4 couplers, 8 flange nuts, 8 T-slot nuts, 12 strap clamps (4 each 3", 4", 5"), a stack of washers, and a Brazilian Cherry base. I didn't bother making step blocks, I have plenty of those and they aren't stud size specific.
I used my new expanding die head to thread the studs, I don't think I would have made the them with a single point tool.
Finished clamping kit for 7/16" table slots in tilting table
Scrap Brazilian cherry flooring glued up for base. Having a threaded table top makes for easy clamping! Wood glue pops right off steel.
3/8-16 threaded studs made with expanding die head. Very clean, no burrs, no filing
Here is tilting table. Using T-slot nuts, 2" studs, and flange nuts to anchor strap clamps for beveling ends.
The studs were made from 1018 CRS, the couplers and nuts from 1144 steel, the T-slot nuts from 4140 prehard, and the strap clamps from A36 plate steel. The base was made from scrap Brazilian cherry flooring. All the materials were leftovers from previous jobs or the scrap bin.
The set I made has 32 3/8-16 studs (8 each 2", 3", 4", 5"), 4 couplers, 8 flange nuts, 8 T-slot nuts, 12 strap clamps (4 each 3", 4", 5"), a stack of washers, and a Brazilian Cherry base. I didn't bother making step blocks, I have plenty of those and they aren't stud size specific.
I used my new expanding die head to thread the studs, I don't think I would have made the them with a single point tool.
Finished clamping kit for 7/16" table slots in tilting table
Scrap Brazilian cherry flooring glued up for base. Having a threaded table top makes for easy clamping! Wood glue pops right off steel.
3/8-16 threaded studs made with expanding die head. Very clean, no burrs, no filing
Here is tilting table. Using T-slot nuts, 2" studs, and flange nuts to anchor strap clamps for beveling ends.
The studs were made from 1018 CRS, the couplers and nuts from 1144 steel, the T-slot nuts from 4140 prehard, and the strap clamps from A36 plate steel. The base was made from scrap Brazilian cherry flooring. All the materials were leftovers from previous jobs or the scrap bin.
