T-Slot nut help for Rotary Indexing Table?

[Lu-Max]

I recently bought a fully restored USA Made Craftsman 8" Rotary Indexing Table (nearly the same as the Palmgren Rotary Cross Slide Vise) for use on my drill press. I am now trying to find T-Slot nuts for the table but cannot seem to find the correct size. I have checked both Gibraltar and Jergens, but neither makes the correct size as far as I can tell. The height of B is where I am getting into trouble. The ones that I have found are all 11/32" (when they match the other parameters) which is too thick.

Anyone know where I might find 4 T-Slot nuts that will fit this device?

Yes, I know that I can get away with using standard bolts, but if I can find T-Slot nuts I would greatly prefer them to enhance accuracy. If I have to resort to using plain bolts I will do so if I can't find these.

Also, the folks at Jergens recommended that I don't just mill these to fit. They are hardened steel which would make that difficult, and grinding or milling would also remove the black oxide layer.

Thanks.

Here are the measurements that I am looking for (my quick drawing below is not to scale):

A = 1"
B = 1/4" - 9/32"
C = 5/8"
E = 5/8"

 

[iajonesy]

MacMaster-Carr will have just what you need.

Mike

 

[BLUE72CAMARO]

would a 5/8 bolt slide in these slots with the bolt sticking up to use as a stud possibly?

 

[Movover]

Machine the bigger ones to fit? 1/16-1/8" is not much material removal.. Just a thought?

 

[Lu-Max]

McMaster-Carr was my first stop before posting this: no-go.

I think I will just try to mill these down to fit using my big bench grinder. I don't yet own a mill, but one would definitely make it easier. Too expensive to bring these to a local shop.

 

[larry_g]

I would not hesitate to thin a T-nut to fit. One caution though, make sure that you deform the bottom of the thread so the stud will not thread all the way through the T-nut. If the stud is allowed to go through the T-nut you run the risk of putting enough up force on the T-nut to break out the top of the tee slot.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[tcsalvage]

I would not hesitate to thin a T-nut to fit. One caution though, make sure that you deform the bottom of the thread so the stud will not thread all the way through the T-nut. If the stud is allowed to go through the T-nut you run the risk of putting enough up force on the T-nut to break out the top of the tee slot.

lg
no neat sig line

I have seen this happen, not pretty. Also if you grind some to fit make sure they do not protrude above the table, if they do your work will not be tight.

 

[Thumper68]

Enco also has a large selection of T nuts

 

[Lu-Max]

Enco does, just none the correct size.
Same with McMaster-Carr, MSC, etc.

I plan to grind these down on my big bench grinder, gotta get some bolts to build a holding jig first.

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

Travers Tool should have something close. Google them , I used to get their catalog twice a year pre internet days.

It's Travers.com

 

[V-10 Killer]

I would not hesitate to thin a T-nut to fit. One caution though, make sure that you deform the bottom of the thread so the stud will not thread all the way through the T-nut. If the stud is allowed to go through the T-nut you run the risk of putting enough up force on the T-nut to break out the top of the tee slot.

lg
no neat sig line

I have seen this happen, not pretty. Also if you grind some to fit make sure they do not protrude above the table, if they do your work will not be tight.

That must be why the t-slot nuts I got for my drill press stand had tapered threads like they didn't run the tap all the way through. Hmm, you learn something new every day

 

[kazlx]

I can always do them on my surface grinder for you if you want.

BTW...you don't want to mill those, they are typically hardened like you mentioned and will just eat a cutter....btdt

 

[404]

Get the ones available and thin the base on a belt sander.

 

[Craptain]

Easy enough to grind or sand down but first are you sure that you are measuring correctly? The nuts are standard sizes to fit standard slots. Maybe you should be looking at next smaller size or even metric. What drill press are you using? Remember that the inside of the slot can be a little rough and may not accept the nut that you think. Also the bolt holes on the XY may be larger than the table was designed to accept so a compromise in the form of a smaller nut may be the answer.

Not sure that I put that well but hopefully you see what I mean and not what I may have said.

 

[PT Doc]

Could be metric for sure.

 

[shawnspeed]

Just drill & tap some flat stock that will slide into the slot....done...

 

[justanengineer]

+1 on the caution about the threads, if you tap through be careful to "stake" them. Also, on behalf of future owners I'd like to thank you for NOT using bolts. I've had and repaired machines and accessory tables in the past where folks used bolts, often it will deform the T-slot and top table surface.

 

[kbs2244]

I would call Sears Parts and work your way up the chain to a shift suoervisor.
Sears has a datsbase of all the items they sold under the Craftsman name.
You will need their item number.
They can then tell you who they bought it from.
That gives you a starting point for tracking down the OEM item number and their parts list.

I have done this with a number of Craftsman items.
You just have to be polite but firm
"I know this is not on your screen, but it may be on your supervisors. Can I talk to them?"