Shop Built Angle Plate

Here are some screen shots of my version of Fred Giesler's design that was in the Dec. '95 PIM. I made it a bit bigger and went with 1/2" plate instead of his 3/8th's but it is essentially his design.
My plates are 6 x 8 and I designed the side guides to allow the table to go to 90* verticle also.
http://images14.fotki.com/v437/photo...3/photo-vi.jpg

http://images54.fotki.com/v627/photo...3/photo-vi.jpg

http://images16.fotki.com/v378/photo.../photo1-vi.jpg
I have the plates cut to size and squared up but decided to put a DRo on the FrankenMill to make drilling the holes a little more fun rather then a chore...
http://images46.fotki.com/v677/photo...6/photo-vi.jpg

See next post
Mark

After installing a TPAC Tools DRo I knocked out the holes in both plates. The top has 30 holes that will be tapped with a 3/8-16 tap and the base has 9 holes tapped the same and 9 holes drill ed and counterbored for 5/16th's mounting bolts.
http://images56.fotki.com/v168/photo...MVC014F-vi.jpg
The base plate all drilled and tapped. The three holes on the left are drilled and c'bored from the bottom for the hinge block bolts.
http://images57.fotki.com/v80/photos...MVC015F-vi.jpg
The top plate.
http://images40.fotki.com/v1075/phot...MVC013F-vi.jpg
Still have to notch the top plate and make the hinge block but those are easy after tapping all of those holes. :)
http://images55.fotki.com/v605/photo...MVC004F-th.jpg
Thanks for looking!
Mark

Thanks astroracer! We've added your Angle Plate to our Angle Guides and Try Squares category, as well as to your builder page: astroracer's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/angle-plate-5"><img src="http://www.homemadetools.net/uploads/138630/angle-plate-5.jpeg"/></a></div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/angle-plate-5">Angle Plate</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/astroracer_2">astroracer</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/angle">angle</a>, <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/plate">plate</a></div> </div> </div> </div>

Thanks! It's not done yet but I'm working on it.
Mark

It's coming along nicely. Looking forward to the finished article!

Al

Thanks Al. I worked on it for about 4 hrs last night. I got the pocket in the top plate milled out for the hinge block and the hinge holes drilled.
Added pics from 06ja16.
http://images20.fotki.com/v1632/phot...MVC009F-vi.jpg
I also made the hinge block and got that drilled and tapped for the mounting bolts. i could have made this out of some 1/2" key stock but I LOVE offhand cutting on the VBS. :)
http://images16.fotki.com/v387/photo...MVC014F-vi.jpg
Marking the holes in the hinge block after fitting it to the notch in the top plate.
http://images56.fotki.com/v168/photo...MVC017F-vi.jpg
i used a .25 dia. transfer punch to mark the holes in the hinge block.
http://images54.fotki.com/v461/photo...MVC019F-vi.jpg

Mark

Finished up the hinge block tonight along with drilling the holes for the side plates, hinge pins in the top plate and the hinge centering holes in the hinge block.
http://images59.fotki.com/v684/photo...MVC012F-vi.jpg
Tapping the hinge pin holes in the top plate. The "hinge pins" are simply cone pt 1/4-20 set screws that lock into #3 centerdrilled holes on each end of the hinge block.
http://images15.fotki.com/v1631/phot...MVC015F-vi.jpg
Doing a trial fit. Everything looks pretty good.
http://images60.fotki.com/v662/photo...MVC017F-vi.jpg
It opens up just as planned! Now to get the side plates made.
http://images56.fotki.com/v168/photo...MVC018F-vi.jpg
I hope to get the side plates done this weekend.
How should I finish this? I would like to do a black oxide but have nevr done anything like that. Paint would work okay but I think a nice professional style finish would look better. i guess I'll hit up Caswell for a kit.
Mark

I got out in the shop this morning and knocked out the side plates. I used a piece of 1/8th in strapping I dug out of the scrab bin.
Laying out the pattern on one of them.
http://images58.fotki.com/v511/photo...MVC001F-vi.jpg
i cut the plate in half with my bench shear. Easy.
http://images16.fotki.com/v301/photo...MVC003F-vi.jpg
With one laid out and two pieces in my hand i clamp them in the milling vice and drilled a BUNCH of holes. Drilling the holes first, like I did, works well with small parts that are only clamped on their edges.
http://images59.fotki.com/v684/photo...MVC009F-vi.jpg
After drilling the holes I swapped the drill out for a 1/4" endmill and milled the slot. This method puts a lot less lateral force on the milled pieces which keeps from pushing them sideways in the vice. Also notice the two sticks of 1/8th inch aluminum rod. Those crush down in the vice and help in clamping the two plates in place.
http://images57.fotki.com/v139/photo...MVC010F-vi.jpg
Continued in next post.

Two slotted plates. :)
http://images56.fotki.com/v168/photo...MVC011F-vi.jpg
I trimmed these up on the bench shear and clamped them together for radiusing the corners.
http://images15.fotki.com/v1631/phot...MVC018F-vi.jpg
All done other then finishing.
http://images20.fotki.com/v1632/phot...MVC021F-vi.jpg
Bolted up and functional!
http://images15.fotki.com/v1631/phot...MVC024F-vi.jpg
Thanks for looking!
Mark

Using set up angles and parallels to set the angles will make for accurate milling.
http://images15.fotki.com/v1631/phot...MVC004F-vi.jpg
I set a piece of 1/4" plate under the angles to put them on center to the pivot point of the top plate. I will probably end up making a jig so i can clamp the angles in place during set up.
http://images49.fotki.com/v1585/phot...MVC002F-vi.jpg
It also clamps nicely into the milling vise. That will make for quick set ups when doing light cuts on aluminum.
http://images34.fotki.com/v1633/phot...MVC007F-vi.jpg
Another fun project! (except for tapping all those holes...). This will work well and will be aversatile addition to my shop.
Now to get it finished so it doesn't rust all up on me. :)
Mark

I got the Black Oxide kit last nite and put it to use tonite. The first thing I refinished was this big ole wrench. I had blasted it earlier and it took the stain quite well.
After hitting it with a sanding pad on my mini air sander.
http://images59.fotki.com/v112/photo...MVC012S-vi.jpg
This is what it looked like after the oxide. Once the sealer drys I'll get more pics.
http://images61.fotki.com/v1635/phot...MVC024S-vi.jpg
I then cleaned up the angle plate parts and dunked those.
http://images12.fotki.com/v254/photo...MVC004S-vi.jpg
The top plate. NOW... you can see around the tapped holes where the stain didn't take... That's on me. When Caswell says the "parts should be clean. Oil and grease free. I think they mean "squeaky"... I cleaned the parts after sanding off the mill scale BUT I didn't clean out all of the threaded holes... What you see is tapping fluid contamination keeping the oxide from working correctly.
http://images108.fotki.com/v360/phot...MVC003S-vi.jpg
Continued in next post

The small parts. They turned out pretty good.
http://images15.fotki.com/v1631/phot...MVC002S-vi.jpg
All back together and it doesn't look half bad. I may run the parts thru the sandblaster and redo them. They don't look terrible but I know they could look better...
http://images34.fotki.com/v1633/phot...MVC008S-vi.jpg
http://images108.fotki.com/v371/phot...MVC011S-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v1615/phot...MVC009S-vi.jpg
They said to scrub the parts with comet... I will do that next time. :)

Looks good - and now you know how to make the black oxide even better the next time. I can still hear an old friend of mine saying "scrupulously clean"…

Ken

Hi Mark,

A great project and nicely documented with step-by-step photos. Your Angle Plate is our 'Best Documented Build' for January, 2016!

You'll be receiving a $35 online gift card.

Just send me your email address (via PM) and we'll get things processed directly.

Congrats!

Ken

I like this! I am for sure making one of those. :D

This project is really well put together. Great photos will make this a good project for me to work on. Looks like my Drill Doctor will be put to use with so many holes in thick steel LOL. -- johnz

Quote:

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Originally Posted by johnz

This project is really well put together. Great photos will make this a good project for me to work on. Looks like my Drill Doctor will be put to use with so many holes in thick steel LOL. -- johnz

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Thank you John! I have a set of plans I drew up if you are interested. They are on my other computer, I will try to post them up tomorrow evening.
Mark

Great build thanks.

Ralph

I like it done a good job, did you ever post the plans if so where

I like the angle plate & hope to make it someday. I noticed you did not finish machine the steel plates. won't this affect the flatness of the plates 7 the accuracy of the angle plate ?

Thanks, I'm glad you like the plate. I was concerned about flatness "across" the plate, parallel to the hinge. I considered fly cutting the surface once it was bolted together but, when I checked, it wasn't that far out. I think it was about .005-.010 across the whole plate. Not enough (for me) to be concerned with. Someone who does very accurate machining may want to dial it in closer but I am just a hack and it works well for the stuff I do.
Setting the plate angle with a digital protractor gets it pretty dang close. :)
Mark

Mark
I like your answer for the flatness. I consider a few thousands to be close enough. I like to hit my numbers but they are something we live with and what part of a perfect world do we live in. By the way I do not believe NASA will hire me any day soon.
Very nice job, keep them coming.
Nelson

Thanks Nelson,
I have used the plate quite a bit and haven't had any concerns or issues with the flatness. :)
Mark

I hate being the "Newbie" with stupid questions, but how exactly do you use an angle plate?
:smash:

Blair
There are no stupid questions. If we do not ask we will never know and that is the stupid thing. Angle plate are used to set material on a given angle for drilling, milling or any other process.
Nelson

Thanks for your response. I do understand now. :hattip:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by InspBLAIR

Thanks for your response. I do understand now. :hattip:

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I might point out that Nelson's any other process can be all sorts of things. Adjustable angle plates can see use in welding setups, model building, optical bench work, wood working and many other uses. They can be useful anywhere you need to hold something at an odd angle.

Very well written up build. Easily read, quickly asimulated and informative. Way better than a u tube video. Thanks and well done