Thread: Alpha Zoot ... new aussie machine on the way!

Hi Tankstand

The geometry of the gear mesh is designed for zero backlash. The forward tooth engages while the back tooth is still meshed.
In the design the steppers only have the load of the belt tensioning to the next pulley. The load is between the rack and pinion.

Hello Boys

When you next need to buy a tap, get a gun tap, these are designed for machine use, same deal, drill a hole, then tap.

For 4-8mm in Ally or steel, I use a Makita cordless drill set on high speed, bigger than that I use a mill, only because it has forward and reverse.

They are in " standard " lengths as well a long series, I have just bought a long series 6mm, it was about $70.00.

The main difference seems to be the swarf is driven in front of the cutting tip.

None have ever broken but in blind holes you need to allow for the swarf at the bottom of the hole.

Ed

Originally Posted by appiwood

None have ever broken but in blind holes you need to allow for the swarf at the bottom of the hole.
Ed

For blind holes These are the go

The swarf comes out backwards in one long length.

Hello Tankstand

Thanks!!!

Ed

I know that it has nothing to do with my new 'Alpha Zoot', but thought others may be interested in a recent order I completed at the weekend ... 66 tree signs. Made using Laminex 'Aquapanel' 2.7mm thick so is much more servicable than Trafalite for this application. And as Aquapanel is really a bathroom wall sheeting, it should stand up to outside weather conditions well.
I supplied them screwed to a treated timber peg which I dipped into fencing paint to unify the appearance and just for fun I also dipped the point of the peg into some red paint I had lying around, which just added a finishing touch. The clients were very happy and are proposing to tell all their friends ... could be more of the same in the future!!

Cheers,

Alan

Good to see the Widgetmaster put to use. Nice work on the name tags.
I used to do a lot of these many years ago on a Gravograph engraver. It was like a pantograph and had a little spindle and letter set. I used to do it on black anodised aluminum plates and thirty years on they are still there. A lot of the coloured ally these days is powder coated and I wonder if it is as long lasting.
You need to get that machine started and produce some big signs. I am sure there would be a lot of opportunity to make farm signs but you are going to have to have lots of different materials and designs to make them unique. I have been toying with an idea of a self design service. This could be done from a Web page and given most people have computer skills I think it might take on. You give them a choice of mountings (even jewelery boxes with fancy joints ) and graphics and text and they match the whole thing up.
There you go Alan in your spare time create a Web page.

Thanks Rod,
I wonder sometimes where my spare time goes! They call it 'retirement', but about the only advantage that I see is that I can get up and surf the internet in my pj's and don't feel at all guilty!
I am planning a web page, but as my skills there are somewhat basic, the web page will in all probability also be basic.

Cheers,

Alan

Worst thing about retirement is you never get a day off. I have never tackled web design as my time is taken up by other things. I like the sound of simple as anything else gives me a headache.

Am currently sweating on my rails and ball screws ... they have left China and arrived in Sydney yesterday. So hopefully they should be here tomorrow or the next day!
Then I have got to work out my excuses as to why I am not building the thing!

Cheers,

Alan

Hi Guys

I have done some basic web design for my electronic stuff...I used Serif which isnt too expensive and has quite a few templates.....
Heres my sites
http://www.armaghelectrical.com.au/
http://www.hobby.armaghelectrical.com.au/

and heres a link to serif

http://www.serif.com/webplus/webplus10/?MC=SERPPCROWWP

HTH
Frank

Thanks for your suggestions Frank, but I do have a web building program called Freeway. It is a Mac program which suites me being a Mac user since 1984!!
I have my own website ... users.cyberone.com.au/ahunt ... and I have recently done a web site for a Rescue Squad that I am a member of ... bdvrs.acenet.com.au

The website for rural Timber Signs is on the bottom of my current priorority list ... got to get the new machine made and running first.

Cheers,

Alan

Hi Guys,

My 120 x 80 alum gantry rail arrived today from Linear Bearings in Victoria ... boy, is that some piece of metal!! I haven't weighed it yet, but the weight supprised me ... steel = heavy / aluminium = light ... or so I thought!!

Construction is getting closer.

Cheers,
Alan

I am watching

Hi Alan,
Did your rails and ballscrews arrive yet?
It's October and you promised us you were going to start in October.
I shouldn't poke fun as my build has gone backwards. I was ready to assemble the base and did not have a bench big enough to build it on. This week I have been making a stand so I can start again. So that is my excuse.