Helix Clamps - A modification

[Anorak Bob]

I bought a pair of these clamps on German Ebay and after a 6 week wait they finally arrived. They suit 14mm wide tee slots. My mill has 12mm slots. The original M12 bolt is radiused on the underside of the head to match an internally radiused washer to facilitate pivoting. Not having a ball turner, I resorted to using a lathe file. The tee nut and washers are 4140. The M10 cap screws do not have long enough threads, something I will deal with tomorrow. Should be fun, it was forecast to be 42.

BT

[Stustoys]

Hi BT,
Looks good.
I made a couple of form tools to make pretty much the same thing for fixing the misalignment of the change gears on my lathe. I have them sitting in a draw, looks like I might get to use them again!.

Stuart

[Bryan]

Nice work Bob. Did you harden them? They look cooked.

Those staircase clamps are so cool. I don't really need them but I want to make some anyway.

[Anorak Bob]

Stu and Bryan,

Thank you.

They are not hardened. I chose to colour them up with my Mapp Gas torch and sump oil rather than fool around with the Blackfast kit.

BT

[Stustoys]

Hi BT,
Did you try a file on it?
After all you did heat it up red hot and drop it in oil. sure to wont be as good as it could be as you likely missed a few steps, but it might still be harder that it was.

Stuart

[Bryan]

Bob could I trouble you for a couple more pics please? I'd like the see the rear view of the whole assembly, and also the other components separately - the ones not already shown on their own. I've got to thinking about how I could machine them from solid but I don't have the full mental picture. Thanks. No rush.

[Anorak Bob]

Hi BT,
Did you try a file on it?
After all you did heat it up red hot and drop it in oil. sure to wont be as good as it could be as you likely missed a few steps, but it might still be harder that it was.

Stuart

No where near red Stu. I dropped it in the oil when the colour was blue - purple. The two components aren't doing enough to warrant heat treatment. ( Not that I know anything about it.:no:)

Bryan,

I will post more photos tomorrow.

BT

[Stustoys]

No where near red Stu. I dropped it in the oil when the colour was blue - purple. Thats what I do as well as thats as hot as the stove will get them lol, get some nice colors and it seems to last pretty well.

Stuart

[Abratool]

No where near red Stu. I dropped it in the oil when the colour was blue - purple. The two components aren't doing enough to warrant heat treatment. ( Not that I know anything about it.:no:)

Bryan,

I will post more photos tomorrow.

BT
Bob
Pleased to hear that the parts were not heated to red & then quenched as that could harden them & make them glass hard, brittle, & dangerous to use :(
The blue purple temp is around 280 C to 300 C
This is OK I believe.
Parts look great !
regards
Bruce

[Greg Q]

Have you had a chance to use the clamps in anger, Bob? I bought a box of them for cheap a year ago and had them carried back by a friend. They make me want to buy more AMF things.

Greg

[Anorak Bob]

I hope this is sufficient.

[Dave J]

Really nice looking clamps Bob,:2tsup: And thanks for the additional pictures.
I was looking at the 2 last pictures in the first post and it seems the way they are set up breaks the main clamping rule of having the stud closer to the work than step block. It looks like it can go even further forward making it like 2/3rds away from the work and 1/3 away from the clamp which wouldn't give a lot of pressure on the job.
I hope thats understandable as it would be easier to draw, LOL.

Dave

[Anorak Bob]

Have you had a chance to use the clamps in anger, Bob? I bought a box of them for cheap a year ago and had them carried back by a friend. They make me want to buy more AMF things.

Greg

( I had to have a lay down after eating your lunch as well as mine. :no:)

I haven't used them yet in earnest. This morning, I modified both the screws and the nuts to enable them to clamp at their lowest position which is 30mm above the table. They have an (expected) substantiality about them and the clamping feels more secure than anything I've used before. I will look for more.

I remember when you mentioned scoring the box full. At the time, I had only recently seen a Deckel brochure and my appetite was definitely whet. It was your encouragement to scour Ebay Deutschland that resulted in my purchase of these bargain clamps.

BT

[Bryan]

Thanks for the pics Bob. I feel I'm on first name terms with your clamps now.

Dave I think there is room to move the workpiece a bit closer to the stud. And closer still with a flat strap.

[Anorak Bob]

Really nice looking clamps Bob,:2tsup: And thanks for the additional pictures.
I was looking at the 2 last pictures in the first post and it seems the way they are set up breaks the main clamping rule of having the stud closer to the work than step block. It looks like it can go even further forward making it like 2/3rds away from the work and 1/3 away from the clamp which wouldn't give a lot of pressure on the job.
I hope thats understandable as it would be easier to draw, LOL.

Dave

Dave,

They are only pretend set ups showing the clamping range. I would use them with the pull down bolt as close as possible to the clamp strap nose. The long slot in the clamp strap facilitates it's reversal.

BT

[Greg Q]

Bob I truly am sorry for that, but I got the willies for reqsons that I emailed you. If you come to stay with us in MEL I'll I'll be sure to lay on three lunches for you to compensate:wink:

GQ

Your local source for lender AMF clamps up to 300mm high

[Jekyll and Hyde]

I really, really like those clamps.... I always seem to find my clamping blocks would be best located right over the T-slot, which is obviously less than ideal. It appears that wouldn't be an issue with those!

[new_guy90]

Thank you so much for showing those clamps Bob. I had seen a bad photo of them somewhere on the net and i sure would love to make some one day

Your posts are always good reading mate dont ever stop :2tsup:

[Anorak Bob]

Thank you Patrick.