Ive been trying to figure out a good way to mount a center punch on my X. This way, for the smaller holes that wouldnt be practical to cut, it will leave me a perfect mark/start for drilling on my drill press. No need to use templates, measure, messup by a 1/16, etc......it would be IDEAL for me. Just imagine if you have to cut a large piece that has 40 or so 1/8" holes....wow, that punch would save major time!

At first i was thinking of making a simple pneumatic punch on the the lathe using some round stock...should be *Really* easy. Simple round inside a cylinder, with a spring return. Use a pneumatic solinoid to click it on to punch.

But then...i started thinking, why not just use one of those automatic center punches with that you press and it clicks and makes a mark. Somthing like this: Automatic Center Punch. Just need to figure out how to let the machine know when it clicks to stop pushing.....

Hummm....i know someone has had to have done something like this before....

--John