Re: ATM Why a star lap?

[Joseph Johnston <usc@sover.net>]

Hey Tyrone,

<I'm interested in how you got that thing together.>

     http://www.sover.net/~usc/grinder/front%20grinder.jpg
     http://www.sover.net/~usc/grinder/rear%20grinder.jpg


     Well I'm not sure exactly how you mean that. I guess I just "built it". I know that's
not what your looking for as an answer
though. Let me see if I can elaborate and make some intelligent comments.

1. I reverse designed/built it by knowing the size mirrors I was interested in making.
That gave me some dimensions to start
with, i.e. height, width & depth.

2. I had some Unistrut (do a search on the net to find out more about it or contact a
local electrical supply house, they'll know
about it) along with the associated hardware to connect corners, rails, supports & legs.
Hardware like angles with different
lengths; flat "T's" for "butt" joints; regular 1" & 1 1/2" X 3/8" bolts with special
Unistrut nuts that don't allow "spinning" when
tightening. These nuts allow "blind" (unreachable with a wrench) nuts to be tightened.
Also different sizes of washers for bolts
and spacing of angles and for pivot points. That should cover the framing.

3. I used two "pillow block" bearings (again try the net for a better description) for the
main platters rotational axis. The platter,
$10.00, is from a salvage yard. It's a 75 lb piece of machined aluminum from an IBM throw
away. Thank you Jesus. I used a
plumbers pipe mounting plate for its rotation pivot, (the mounting plates you usually see
used on the ends of 1 1/2" or 2" pipe hand rails where they're attached to concrete
stairs).

4. The platter's motor is a variable, 0-300 RPM, AC motor I picked up at a salvage yard 10
years ago for $25.00. It turns the platter and has an idler tensioner to keep the belt
snug.

5. I made the tables drip/catch pan out of 18 ga. galv. sheeting.

6. The over arm is not a normal design. Mine slides on a track using 8 boogie wheels and
two pieces of Unistrut as guides. The motor, 1750 rpm, is connected to a 900:1 gear box.

7. The table is wired with multiple outlets (4) so I can unplug all of the motors.

     I guess that's about it Tyrone. I hope I've given you what you were asking for and
enough info to excite you to attempt your own machine project. Good luck. I'll post to the
list after I've turned the main switch and started grinding Tyrone.

--
Joe & the four furry paws of Jenny, the wonder dog,
       in the Aurora filled skies of northwestern Vermont.
               Swanton - The Maple Syrup capitol of the WORLD...