Milling machine ways cover.

[waggie]

OOps, I meant table cover. duh! It's mid night and i'm already half asleep.

Made this table cover for my mill today while messing around with some plastic/acrylic.

milling plastic is messy. although very mesmerizing to watch. I'm just finishing up the second piece of the insert that will go into the T-slots. there's already one piece done that's in the T slot to the right of the vise.

here they are. holes drilled for some sheet metal screws I have lying around.

bottom view after they're mounted.

another angle

screwed the plastic inserts, checking fitment

fits good enough for me.

after some half hearted sanding with dual action sander.

Sadly, this is as pretty as it will be for the couple of days. I'll be setting tools on it and whatnot. I'm sure I'll ding it up. But hey, I'll just make another one.

In case you're wondering, the other side already has a plastic one that the previous owner made. This design is a copy of his. It's identical, except the one the previous owner made has only one aluminum insert. Now that I know how to make these, I'll make two sets next time one of these needs to be replaced.

 

[gonefirefighting]

I use old truck door magnets

 

[ZTFab]

Looks good!!

Nice detail on the tang that goes into the side of the vice to keep chips out.

You're getting crazier than I am!!

Next thing you know you'll be building custom aluminum pot racks....

 

[waggie]

I use old truck door magnets

please explain this. What shape is old truck door magnets? I didn't know truck doors had magnets.

Looks good!!

Nice detail on the tang that goes into the side of the vice to keep chips out.

You're getting crazier than I am!!

Next thing you know you'll be building custom aluminum pot racks....

thx. I thought about making them like yours, but I think this design works better for me since i have the big sensor for DRO in the front of the table that makes it hard to "wrap" it. that, and i have no brake/press to bend sheet metal

 

[A_Pmech]

please explain this. What shape is old truck door magnets? I didn't know truck doors had magnets.

Magnetic vinyl sign material.

 

[waggie]

wont a bunch of swarfs just stick to it? or is the magnetism weak enough that you can just brush it off?

 

[rsanter]

I did the same thing but using all plastic/lexan

Bob

 

[Kevin54]

For years I have bent up .050 aluminum sheet where it fits snug. I bent it so I have a lip in the front and back that hangs down around 1/2"- 3/4". Quite a few places sell plastic pieces that pop down into the table grooves, but if you are cutting steel, the hot shavings embed into the plastic. Also in doing so, I ran the table as far left and as far right as it would go and split the difference for center. I then made the covers to fit around the vise base. Then if for some reason, you have to remove the covers for clamping purposes,and remove the vise, all you have to do is put one cover back on and slide the vise up against it. Your vise is now in center, give or take a few thousandths.

 

[Jimmy_B]

I like 'em.