Model Engine Maker

Supporting => Tooling & Machines => Topic started by: Bogstandard on February 23, 2013, 09:27:53 PM

Title: Milling Machine Guard
Post by: Bogstandard on February 23, 2013, 09:27:53 PM
Getting very short of ideas now, but the workshop is nearly ready for me to get back into.

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This is the interlocked guard that came with the machine. The interlock was disconnected soon after I installed the machine because you would be half way thru a cut, tap the guard and the machine would stop.
It is also a pig to set up every time you raise or lower the table.
So it has now been removed.

(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Bogs%20pictures/Quikguard01.jpg)


Squared up a lump of nylon I had laying about.

(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Bogs%20pictures/Quikguard02.jpg)


Milled a 1/8" groove along the length

(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Bogs%20pictures/Quikguard03.jpg)


On the opposite side to the groove, I plunge milled a 12mm cutter to 6.5mm deep. I also drilled some 3mm holes thru from the other faces so that I could hold the perspex sheet to the nylon bar.

(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Bogs%20pictures/Quikguard04.jpg)


Using some fast acting Loctite, some neodindiuminumium magnets were stuck into the holes.

(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Bogs%20pictures/Quikguard05.jpg)


The lot was fixed along the bottom of some perspex that used to be a guard.
With this setup, I can use it as is, on the RT and the main table.
It is much more versatile than the old one.

(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Bogs%20pictures/Quikguard06.jpg)

The only problem is when cutting ferrous materials, the magnets get 'clogged' up, but it is soon cleaned off when the job is finished.


John
Title: Re: Milling Machine Guard
Post by: AussieJimG on February 23, 2013, 09:47:03 PM
Hi John,

Do the hot chips melt into the acrylic guard?

Jim
Title: Re: Milling Machine Guard
Post by: Bogstandard on February 23, 2013, 09:55:21 PM
Jim,

No, by the time they have been cut, flown through the air a bit, by the time they reach the guard, they just drop down onto the bed, not down the front of my shirt.

John
Title: Re: Milling Machine Guard
Post by: Arbalest on February 23, 2013, 10:04:48 PM
The best material for guards if you're sourcing the stuff is either polycarbonate or PETG. Acrylic breaks easily but is usable for the stuff we do. I did something similar a while back John except I used what I had to hand - welding clamps bolted to a piece o PETG. The clamps are far too strong making them a PITA to remove and attracts a lot of swarf!

 :Lol: that was a close one, my iPad didn't like "swarf" and tried to replace it with "dwarf"!  :ROFL:
Title: Re: Milling Machine Guard
Post by: Bogstandard on February 23, 2013, 10:18:48 PM
Thats the advantage of magnets Arb, you can just move it about to wherever you want, very easily.

With regards to the clear materials, almost anything will do for the environment we work in, but if you want to make it more scratch resistant and stronger, just give it a layer of cling film back and front

John
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