From: none@none.com99   
      
   On 3/4/2026 12:11 PM, Snag wrote:   
   > On 3/4/2026 12:30 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   >> On 3/3/2026 9:30 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   >>> After modifying the cheap Harbor Freight tube notcher so it (should)   
   >>> work okay for the NAU BAJA SAE team, I had a realization.  All you   
   >>> need is a clamp and a spindle.  In theory I could use (almost) any   
   >>> half decent swivel base vise with pipe jaws or prismatic jaws, and   
   >>> improvise a spindle.   
   >>>   
   >>> Yes, Jim, you could certainly CNC it, but programming and modeling to   
   >>> get good results I think will take longer than just doing it with a   
   >>> manual purpose built tool.  (a live tooling CNC lathe would be better   
   >>> than a CNC mill, but it would likely cost a lot more.)   It would   
   >>> only be beneficial if you could more fully automate it with a parts   
   >>> loader so you could walk away and let it run multiple parts on its   
   >>> own... and then there is the fact that my CNC machines are better   
   >>> spent cutting more valuable parts in the small quantities I would make.   
   >>>   
   >>> Here is my idea.  Make the spindle with two expanding locating pins   
   >>> that drop into the standard grid on a welding table.  Fabricobble   
   >>> something similar for a purpose built vise, or just use a swivel base   
   >>> vise with prismatic jaws.  5/8 (nominal 16mm) holes on a 2 inch grid   
   >>> are the most common grid pattern on hobbyist and small production   
   >>> tables, but it could be made for any size grid table.   
   >>>   
   >>> There would be no need to make a fancy indexable telescoping spindle   
   >>> mount like I did for the Harbor Freight monstrosity.  Just position   
   >>> the vise and the spindle where ever you need them to make the cuts   
   >>> you need to make.  If you need to reposition for long 30 degree   
   >>> notches you just move the spindle.  Alignment will remain as good as   
   >>> the grid holes on the table.  It's self indexing.  A cheaper to make,   
   >>> but more pain to use version is to just have threaded holes in the   
   >>> alignment pins and bolt it from the bottom.  Even more crude/simple   
   >>> options can be done for single or low use as well, but the less time   
   >>> you spend in design and build the more time you spend in use.   
   >>>   
   >>> Here is the biggest benefit.  Because my shop not only suffers from   
   >>> HSD (horizontal surface disease) it suffers from ACUTE HSD (yes its   
   >>> killing me), the notcher can be tossed in a box on a shelf or in   
   >>> drawer when not in use, and it only requires clearing the edge of the   
   >>> table when needed.   
   >>>   
   >>> The only major requirement that requires some planning really is that   
   >>> the vise tube slot and the spindle axis of rotation are parallel, and   
   >>> the tube when held and the spindle are at the same center height.   
   >>> Roughly by machining standards.  We are after all talking about   
   >>> fabrication work, not machine work.  That being said as long as both   
   >>> center lines are parallel to the mounting surface, the height can be   
   >>> shimmed if need be for an improvise solution.   
   >>>   
   >>> I think I could build such a notcher in a fraction of the time it   
   >>> took me to make parts to make the harbor freight notcher work better.   
   >>> Partly, of course because I have already figured out some of the   
   >>> problems by fixing the Harbor Freight notcher.   
   >>>   
   >>> I doubt I would make and sell this.  I'm not a machinery dealer, so I   
   >>> am putting it out there in the open.  Maybe its a dumb idea.  Maybe   
   >>> its a great idea.  I don't know, but its worth atleast as much as you   
   >>> paid for it.  Maybe Jason over at Fireball Tools would be interested   
   >>> in making something like that as an accessory to his welding tables.   
   >>> He has the reputation to be able to sell something like that at a   
   >>> price that would make money, and the knowledge and skills to produce   
   >>> them efficiently.   
   >>>   
   >>> P.S.  After picking up the HF notcher my son told me he is going to   
   >>> try to get the team to put TWO (of my stickers on their race car.   
   >>> One on each side.  LOL.  Me?  I'm going to try to get them to all   
   >>> wear my company hats anytime they don't have a racing helmet on.  LOL.   
   >>>   
   >>> HERE IS THE BIG PROBLEM.  My welding table doesn't have any holes in   
   >>> it.   I don't do a lot of welding and fabrication.  Most is repair   
   >>> work in situ, and often outdoors and out of position.  For the few   
   >>> repeat assemblies I've done on the table that require repeat indexing   
   >>> I weld stops on the table and grind them off when I am done.  I have   
   >>> a solution for making the grid pattern. I've got a mag drill and the   
   >>> right size annular cutter.  I've got the steel to make the giant t-   
   >>> square and grid hole spacers for aligning and moving the square.  I   
   >>> just haven't had the three days I think I'll need to do it.  Well, I   
   >>> haven't had them and not wanted to go fishing more.   
   >>>   
   >>>   
   >>   
   >> Getting back to the original idea.   
   >>   
   >> By using a commercial or commercial like welding table as the base:   
   >> 1.  You don't have to make a base plate.   
   >> 2.  You can adjust the distance between the cutting spindle and the   
   >> tube vise without loosing your angle.   
   >> 3.  The base plate (table) is going to be flatter than the typical   
   >> bent and welded base plate that comes with many tube notchers.   
   >> 4.  Its an out of the box solution that will produce quality   
   >> repeatable results without spend half your day cobbling up a makeshift   
   >> solution.   
   >>   
   >> I've spent way to much of my mental budget thinking about this, and I   
   >> have solutions for tables with different dog hole sizes and grid   
   >> pattern spacing.  To a limited extent even for tables with erratic   
   >> grid spacing, but maybe not for tables with radically erratic dog hole   
   >> sizes.  LOL.   
   >>   
   >> Making the spindle fit multiple tables is easier than making the vise   
   >> do so, but both are possible.  You still have the same accuracy (more   
   >> or less) as the grid itself.   
   >>   
   >>   
   >   
   > How about a portable version . The spindle is on a pivot with the other   
   > leg a pipe clamp . Clamp the device to the pipe/tube , set the angle ,   
   > and Robert's yer mother's brother .   
      
      
   HEY!  YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE DIDN'T YOU!  You took me down a rabbit   
   hole away from the original idea on purpose.  What the heck was... OH!   
   BRIGHT AND SHINY.   
      
   --   
   Bob La Londe   
   CNC Molds N Stuff   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)