My special chuck-wrench design, incorporating a spring-loaded ejector pin, prevents accidents caused by leaving the wrench in lathe chucks. To accommodate the ejector pin and spring, I drill through and counter bore the center of the wrench. The wrench handle keeps the spring in place, but I install a safety collar secured by a setscrew to keep both spring and ejector pin in place if the handle is removed.
Noshir Kapadia
Thane, India
Drilling table for milling machines
A steel plate measurin 3 /8 X 18 X 18 in. with a 1 1 /4-in. square bar 8-in. long welded to its back and held in a vise works well as a drill table. For any vertical milling machine, this setup provides drilling with more reach and eliminates having to clear mill tables of fixtures before drilling.
Carlos Hinojosa
Corpus Christi, Tex.
Pick the winning Practical Idea!Select the best Practical Idea in this issue by circling the associated number on the reader service card. Winners receive an award of $100. An honorarium is paid for each item published in this column. Submitted ideas are subject to editing, and sketches will be drawn to conform to AM's style and format. Submission of clear, close-up photos is encouraged. Send material to Practical Ideas, AMERICAN MACHINIST, Penton Media Inc., 1300 E. 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44114-1503. Please include your name, address, zip code, and Social Security number. Winner for March 2005: Al Chase,"Painting over part imperfections," |
