Looking for rectangle metal bar

No it isn't, a tad bigger machine, but it is a horizontal mill.

Andrew

Don't forget the dovetail is half an inch deep so a 2 inch block of metal will only give you an inch and a half of lift, which isn't enough to be worth the trouble IMHO. Mine is 3 inch square but was carved from a 3 x 3.5 inch block. It's been ideal although 3 x 4 material would be easier to get and would give you an extra half inch. And we could all do with an extra half inch.

If you make it long enough, you can avoid swapping in the horizontal arm when changing modes. Just hang your arbor support from the underside. Mine is, but I would not want mine made of steel - it is already heavy enough as it is!

Mine is 8.5 inches long as the Mk 3 head uses the full length of the machine dovetail. I didn't make mine, there was a guy online who used to sell them but I haven't kept his details. I like the idea of making a combination overarm and raising block. I have the overarm but never use it, as the head is too heavy to remove easily without lifting gear. A solid raiser/overarm would be tricky to use, maybe a removable front section would be better. You would rotate the head out of the way then bolt a short arm and support to the front of the raising block.

Measured my riser block last night. Raises the head by 115mm, is ~ 450mm long and 90mm wide. I'm fairly certain it is either hollowed out or had a casting core. Stilll heavy, but nowhere near as heavy as heaving the vertical head into position.

In solid steel it would weigh approx 35kg!

Sean,

Looking at lathesdotco, the ally one is def hollow.

If I were making it in steel, I think the top dovetail would be cut and the bottom one fabricated, tack welded in position then bolted on securely. If slow set loctite were used in the joint (away from the heat), it would be pretty secure, I would think. Several options of how to do it, I suppose.

The main bulk would likely be a welded fabrication as well. Wouldn't need to be as thick on the sides as the ally one appears to be - and most certainly does not need to be made of solid steel! Probably could make it with more height and no more costly in materials.

Welding would introduce warpage ... The very last thing I want to happen .

Bolt it, glue it, or anything. But what are you making it for? Ahh a horizontal milling machine - just the type of machine to mill surfaces flat!

I'm not making it, obviously. Your choice. I just thought that solid steel might be a bit

over-engineered, and fabrication would give you far more for your outlay. And less likely to give you a hernia. But your choice.

If you were to weld you would make it oversize, stress relieve if you wanted and then mill to finished size which would eliminate any warpage due to the actual welding.

Watch out that the bright bar being suggested by some here does not also move as you start cutting one side off it..

Wot? Like my suggestion about 4 posts up

(Chuckles).

Is there a way of blocking undesirables on here by any chance ,Moderators ?

Sean