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Stand for granite surface plate

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PekkaNF:
I was designing a surface plate stand around a tool cart (to have all dial gauges etc. convinietly at hand). When I got the tool box home, cleared the room and moved stuff around I found the place the tool cart, but it would make very bad place for the surface plate....too close to window and radiator.

Back to drawing board. I have been thinking of something very simple to make, easy to level and such. Much like this:
http://cdn.mscdirect.com/global/images/ProductImages/0015054-24.jpg

Any pointers?

I have been thinking of using  normal adjustable screw feet under the frame, and to level the frame close to level.

The part that makes my head spin is the three point support adjustment for the surface plate. I'll get the airy points, but:

1) How to make the fine adjustment? Normal screw is pretty hard to adjust accurately, just a little twich and bubble on level sifts from other end to other end.

2) The surface plate has no glued inserts for support. Do I just epoxy a piece of cast iron there?

Planning to see how much space is there and buy a small tool chest with drawers to fit inside of the frame, but that is not that critical.

Pekka

Spurry:
Going by the design of my own frame, (bought with the plate) I would put the three main adjusting bolts on the two opposing ends.
That would make the adjustment less critical. But you could always use a finer screw pitch, say 1mm, with m12 diameter.
Insert other bolts round the frame too, which you just nip up without actually disturbing the level.
On mine, the bolt heads are covered by a disk about 50mm diameter about 13mm thick. There is a recess turned on one of the sides, which goes over the bolt head.
The plain side of the disk faces the plate.
My frame also has levelling bolts (head downwards) in the feet.
Hope that helps
Pete
Edit: Found an old photo of plate just before it was removed from my last shed.

BillTodd:
The surface plates on all the cmms at work have five feet on which the plate rests. There are two extra either side of the single adjuster to ensure the plate cannot tip should some pillock sit on it (even though the smallest plate weighs 200kg and the big ones several tonnes) .

Bill

sparky961:

--- Quote from: BillTodd on January 25, 2017, 01:45:11 PM ---The surface plates on all the cmms at work have five feet on which the plate rests. There are two extra either side of the single adjuster to ensure the plate cannot tip should some pillock sit on it (even though the smallest plate weighs 200kg and the big ones several tonnes) .

Bill

--- End quote ---

That sounds like a good idea. I've always thought the end with one support was a bit precarious, if not dangerous. Is it safe to assume these two extra ones are adjusted with a small gap and not normally touching?

Spurry:

--- Quote from: sparky961 on January 25, 2017, 05:30:39 PM ---That sounds like a good idea. I've always thought the end with one support was a bit precarious, if not dangerous. Is it safe to assume these two extra ones are adjusted with a small gap and not normally touching?

--- End quote ---
IIRC the instructions for mine mentioned setting it level with the three triangulated bolts.
The other bolts are just wound up to touch, but not disturb the actual plate. Every bolt did have a lock-nut in addition to the threads in the frame.
Pete

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