3-ton Dake press $400 Victoria

[Susquatch]

I'd be interested in a small Atlas or Southbend shaper

The gang was right. The sound of a shaper is definitely mesmerizing..... Suddenly everything I do also needs shaping.

 

[quitereal]

Just out of curiosity here, could a guy take a 1/4" endmill, chuck it in a cordless drill, walk over to the bench grinder, grind the tooth profile in it and use it like that to cut rack teeth?

 

[David]

Here's the tooth profile on the ram.
It's involute'ish.
I'm thinking that I could use my D-bit grinder to make a single flute cutter.
After all, it only needs to cut five slots.

 

[BenoitL]

I'd be interested in a small Atlas or Southbend shaper

I met a local in saanich who has a elliot 10m he wanted to sell. Nice little machine. I could pass on the info if you like.

 

[David]

I met a local in saanich who has a elliot 10m he wanted to sell. Nice little machine. I could pass on the info if you like.

Definitely!
That's the size that works for me.

 

[tesko]

Just out of curiosity here, could a guy take a 1/4" endmill, chuck it in a cordless drill, walk over to the bench grinder, grind the tooth profile in it and use it like that to cut rack teeth?

No. Tool and cutter grinding requires much more precision.

 

[Tom O]

No. Tool and cutter grinding requires much more precision.

Mind you the pinion is probably worn some too giving some extra clearance

 

[whydontu]

Luddite again. As you say, it's five teeth. By the time you make a d-bit, and figure out how to set up to cut this in a mill, or buy and renovate a shaper (even at the speed David works), it's still going to take longer than using a file.

Make a brass tooth template, cut out the centre slot with a hacksaw, file to rough profile, riffler file to complete to match the template. It's five teeth, the rack moves in inches per hour, not very often, and not very far. First tooth will take you an hour, second and subsequent teeth will be five minutes each.

 

[David]

Luddite again. As you say, it's five teeth. By the time you make a d-bit, and figure out how to set up to cut this in a mill, or buy and renovate a shaper (even at the speed David works), it's still going to take longer than using a file.

Make a brass tooth template, cut out the centre slot with a hacksaw, file to rough profile, riffler file to complete to match the template. It's five teeth, the rack moves in inches per hour, not very often, and not very far. First tooth will take you an hour, second and subsequent teeth will be five minutes each.

Inches per hour...ok that made me laugh out loud
And yes you have a point... but don't I need another project to slow me down?

 

[jcdammeyer]

They won't ship to Canada unless I do the shipping. I can easily do that but I'm waiting for them to give me weight and dimensions.

Have them ship it to Seawings.

 

[David]

Have them ship it to Seawings.

Oh good point!

 

[Susquatch]

Just out of curiosity here, could a guy take a 1/4" endmill, chuck it in a cordless drill, walk over to the bench grinder, grind the tooth profile in it and use it like that to cut rack teeth?

From my point of view, it's worth trying. Precision may not be that important for this job. I'd be making the whole thing out of a steel billet though.

By the time you make a d-bit, and figure out how to set up to cut this in a mill, or buy and renovate a shaper (even at the speed David works), it's still going to take longer than using a file.

What is your point? That's EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED HERE. We have to slow that guy down! Him buying that broken arbour press is the best thing that has happened to the rest of us slackers in a very long time!