Centec raising block

Martin,

You don't need a raising block if you don't have a Vertical Head.

These pictures show how the long block is used.

Thanks to all for your input. Gary it was your post that I remember seeing some while ago, I hadn’t realised they were made of aluminium ,which would make the milling a bit less daunting,but still unfortunately too long to make on the machine itself and I don’t have access to a bigger one. One advantage of my original plan was that the dovetail on top need not be the whole length,just enough to park the VH so 14” or so would be fine. However that suggestion doesn’t seem to have found much favour!

Gary,

Thanks for that and I have one more question, when I bought the mill it came with an electric grinding spindle which from memory fits, I say memory because it sits inside a stand I made and hasnt seen the light of day for a while,, where the vertical spindle fits, would this need a raising block.

Martin P

Sorry Martin,

I can't help; I've never seen a grinding spindle.

The only purpose of a raising block is to provide more headroom, or space, between the table and the VH spindle.

Gary,

I must disagree with your "only purpose for the block" statement . My reason for making one was to change from vertical to horizontal configuration without taking off the very heavy head. This is perhaps what the OP was thinking.

Dave Halford.

Your proposed - push back and clamp is the process I use, but had not been told that I couldn't!

Good point Paul.

Paul,Gary, Dave,

yes,the ability to use either mode of milling without troubling the local crane hire firm was the original motivation. Extra capacity is a welcome bonus of course.

My 2A came with a modified overarm made from a long block of aluminium. I don't understand why a dovetail wasn't machined in the top and thereby making it a raising block while they were at it. I would like to do this if I can get someone at my club to machine the dovetail. Does anyone know where I can get two clamps?

The machine came from the Hornby tool room, but I don't know when the mod was done.

Hi Paul,

It's one of those re-tram moments people like to avoid, personally I don't like the idea of the VH hanging that far forward and I just KNOW I'd headbutt the thing even with the head swung horizontal.

Yes, I was thinking that. I think I would be head banging it all the time! Obviously to slide the head right back it would have to be turned through 90 degrees, does any oil come out?

Somebody suggested drilling and reaming for a taper pin through the round bit to ease the business of resetting after the head has been tilted,can’t see why that wouldn’t work but I haven’t done it (yet.)

Without wishing to hijack this thread but can someone tell me what the overall height is of a Centec with the raising block and vertical head?

Brian

If you mean table clearance Brian.

2A - longitudinal 9", cross traverse 4.5", vertical 6"
2B - longitudinal 14" (less 1.25" with power feed) cross traverse 5", vertical 9.5"

+ three or four inches depending on the block,

With collets as a cutter holder add another 2" or so again

Try this thread:

**LINK**

I think my riser block is 120mm. Any height, within reason, can be chosen.

Dimensions don’t take into account head-space needed for drawbar removal.

Of the 20 or so raising blocks I've made, 2 were 4" and all the rest were 4.5".

Thanks for the replies Dave an Gary, what I was after was the total height of the machine, to check if one would fit in my workshop.

Brian

Do you have any plans to make any more Gary; I don't think Tony from lathes.co.uk is intending to commission another batch.

Thanks

Bill

Brian.

The overall height of my 2B, with the drawbar in place, is, as near as I can measure it, 67" or 170cm. The drawbar is 12" (30.5cm) long.

Bill.

Sorry, I have no plans to make any more raising blocks..

You needed to take heed of my reply. All the main measurements are shown. Both the 2A and 2B models (which, unsurprisingly, are different).