Re: Deal on fixture plates
Originally Posted by
coffeetek
So question for you guys on these fixture plates. All videos I have seen on them show people putting another fixture plate on top of it or even worse in my opinion mounting vise on it. I can't see why is this useful since all it does is reduce the Z axis length which is on Tormach machines limited anyways. If I am going to mount another fixture plate on this fixture plate I might as well it directly to mill table and same goes for vise...
Educate me please.
So for me it started with getting a surface that would keep me from damaging my main tables surface. Ya see, some of us are true newbies and do stupid crap like drill holes into our table or plunge a Shear Hog in because they forgot to reset the Z height......
However, since then I've added to my collection of fixture plates. I have two that are 12x18 with 1/4-28 holes on 1" centers. I just got in today the full 12x34 table that will allow me to move my Rapid Turn further to the left freeing up space. I guess I'm someone who likes fixture plates for the simplicity the offer on changing from one thing to another. Similar to why welding fixture tables are so popular (Rhino Cart - Strong Hand Tools - getting ready to order one of these next month). I am also making custom hold-downs and quick swap fixture plates that use both dowel pins and 1/2-13 bolts. Swapping from one project to another is a snap. As for the loss of Z..... most of my work is less than 6" tall so this has not been an issue for me.
I'm hoping to start posting up more pictures of my clamps and such with the idea of starting a new post for folks to share their "solutions" to holding parts.
Later,
Awall
The Body Armor Dude - Andrew