Safe place to drill a Vertex Hv-4 rotab

I've purchased the aforementioned unit recently and, like others, have found it difficult to mount to my mill table. One solution I'm mulling is two make two 8mm thick plates, slightly larger than each of the mounting faces. This will give a lip to clamp to as well as pack it up off the deck so the handle doesn't foul. These would be screwed to the rotab as needed depending on the orientation.

I'm curious if anyone has had one of these apart and determined the "safe" areas to drill and tap. I could easily take it apart myself but would prefer not to disturb it if I don't have to.

I usually use toe clamps to hold mine but if i can pick up one of the proper mounting holes i will use them as well .

The HV-4 does not have any slots

Several threads about mounting then on the forum such as this, this and this

Edited By JasonB on 29/12/2017 08:01:13

Some pictures *** HERE *** of an HV4 in bits, hope it helps.

John

Since the HV4 lacks slots, you can't extend the slots for vertical mounting as I did on my HV6.

BUT, what are the possibilities of milling a slot around each side, so that it can be clamped like the precision vices in the Arc Euro catalogue? Being below the level of the Table, they, and the clamp screws, should not be in the way of either an over hanging workpiece, or a cutter.

Howard

Also more info on this thread with a better picture of the RT insides.

John

If you either buy or make some screwless vice clamps like these:

**LINK**

All you’d need to do is carefully drill a couple of holes in the RT to take the pin.

Thanks, had seen the second two but not the first. I envision something like what Pinstrip did but making them extend out a bit from the base to clamp to. Obviously there'd have to be plate swapping depending on orientation. Or just plates like his and gooseneck clamps.

The clamp solutions others have suggested are helpful but any solution must also incorporate jacking the rotab at least 8mm off the surface so the handwheel can clear the table. Otherwise it has to hang off the front of the table, which is not really where I want to put it.

Those don't work for my rotab for height reasons, but they look like the mutt's for the tool makers vise. I'm partway through machining some clamps for that but will have to rethink now that I've seen those, much more elegant.

Exactly what I'm looking for, thanks.

It sounds like quite a careless thing to leave off considering it's intended to fit on a mill? I know you're never going to get a one size for all but it would be a nice place to start. 

The only other way you're left with is a decent sized machining job or take it in a vise if you've got one big enough. 

Michael W

Edited By Michael-w on 29/12/2017 20:00:41

Or you could make some of these to suit you purpose .

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3583

From the links Jason has supplied the milling two slots would appear the best option .

Edited By XD 351 on 29/12/2017 20:55:20