angle plate???

[turbo TA]

I was searching the web looking for ideas on how to make a milling attatchment for my atlas lathe. One site, the guy used 'angle plate'...I looked it up and some larger ones (bigger than 3x3") are expensive. I've never heard of angle plate, but I have heard of 'angle iron' . What would the main advantage of using angle plate over angle iron be?? I could pick up angle iron free. thanks

[Gavin Newman]

An angle plate is a precision fixture, usually a casting with faces machined to be precisely aligned at 90 degrees to each other and square. It usually has stiffening ribs (or at least an thick enough section) to resist distortion under clamping and machining stresses. An example is at the following link https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products?stockCode=M243

To replicate this with a hunk of angle iron is a big ask, the sides would need to be machined on a mill to get the angles precise and you would still be left with a fixture that moves and distorts when work is clamped to it. It has been done but it's a big ask.

Look around for clearance sales, plates often come up for reasonable prices.

[matthew_g]

What Gavin said....
Angle plates regularly come up very well priced on ebay..

[turbo TA]

thanks,,I was thinking that an angle plate was just stronger. i didnt realize they were using it for accurate 90's. I guess I will try ebay for a small one....thanks

[Dave J]

Here are a couple that are over your way. I have bought a few things from them, and they have been good.
Open End Angle Plate 3-1/2x3x2-1/2 Slotted Plate Ground - eBay Inspection Measurement, Metalworking Tooling, Manufacturing Metalworking, Business Industrial. (end time 23-Apr-10 08:14:29 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Open-End-Angle-Plate-3-1-2x3x2-1-2-Slotted-Plate-Ground_W0QQitemZ360253286799QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item53e0c4e98f)

Open End Angle Plate 8x6x5 Slotted Plates Ground - eBay Inspection Measurement, Metalworking Tooling, Manufacturing Metalworking, Business Industrial. (end time 25-Apr-10 10:43:45 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Open-End-Angle-Plate-8x6x5-Slotted-Plates-Ground_W0QQitemZ390184327366QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5ad8cc58c6)

They have others as well.
Dave

[Woodlee]

I can recommend the seller that is linked in the post above ,I have purchased items from him on quite a few occasions .
Also lookfor a seller on Ebay called "discountmachine" on Ebay .I just bought some precision angle plates from him .He quoted $30.00 for postage which I thought was reasonable .The next day I got an e-mail from Paypal informing me that the seller had credited my Paypal account with a refund of 10.00 for an over charge on postage .
Most would just pocket the extra and say nothing.

I sent him an e-mail thanking him for his honest business practices ,he replied saying that its nice to get such e-mails ,most people don't reply .
I can highly recommend him for sure , and he will get more of my business.
He also has a website so you can buy direct with out the Ebay fees.
http://www.shars.com/product_categories/search/?search=angle%20plate&&page=4

Kev.