Yes, fairly heavy.I'm picturing this thing having some weight in it when done. Not sure why I have that hunch.
Too bad you can't integrate a spring at least at the lower swivel to counteract the weight. I think a worm gear at each pivot would be kind of interesting so it could be "screwed" into position then locked down.
It would be really cool to use a foot pedal to release the holding mechanism, so that you could raise and lower the vise with your hands.
I wouldn't be too hard on yourself in "designing a spring mechanism"- you can start with too much spring and let the spring always return the stand to a certain position, such as all the way up. Then push it down to where you want it for the job you are doing.
You can always swap out springs with different rates until you get the stiffness you need. Or, you can also adjust force on a spring using what you designed above to pre-load the spring. You just need enough spring length to do everything you want to do.
Could use and air bag or an air cylinder instead of a spring and a foot pedal air valve to raise and lower, or perhaps find an old barber's chair lift mechanism might be neat....
Just some thoughts, awesome project you have going on here!
Hey Riv, you remember when a telephone was just a phone!!!
I’m so “Woke” , my cell phone has pronounsThat was before he got “ woke”.
Puget,Looks like you have a limitless supply of used heavy gauge steel plate, bar, and tubing up there, Royce.
Wish I still had my old drafting machine, would greatly improve my CAD skills.
And pretty's up the drawing, I wish I had one, my square and triangles will have to do for now. HarryPuget,
I used to have a large stock of materials but the "bone pile" has dwindled down to mostly junk.
The drafting machine is a fine asset, really shortens drawing time.
Only two people don't make mistakes.... One is not doing anything.... the other is a liar....When I first started my career in the fab business, an old guy told me
"Everyone makes mistakes, experience teaches you how to recover from them"
Nice save.
Puget I don't mind at all.Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who are so afraid to make a mistake they will never make a decision.
I worked with a few of them during the course of my career, ended up replacing or reassigning most of them.
I called it paralysis by analysis...
Sorry for the post hijack, Royce... it's clear you're not afraid to try new things and think out of the box. I mean, who drags home a 5-ton jig borer that never ran one before?![]()