Quick Acting Knob Question

I'd quite like to make a quick-acting knob for the depth stop on my drill-press like the one below. The current nut is an M10 Fine which is a bit of a nuisance to set and slow to adjust - and this seems a neat idea which I saw as a suggested mod for a milling machine.

Has anyone made one of these and would offer any advice on the best way and pitfalls please? The suggested angle for the through-hole is 12 degrees.

I'm thinking of drilling and tapping the M10 fine threaded through hole first followed by milling out a 10mm hole at an angle with a centre-cutting end mill. Any other tips I might find useful please?

Many thanks

Jon

Edited By Jon Gibbs on 05/04/2014 11:29:09

Hello Jon,

Look back in MEW 212 for Gary Wooding's article on the Centec mill modification, he has a drawing for a jig to make two off tilt nuts on the same lines you are thinking of. The angles he used aren't quite as big as yours but it is all related to the bore size.

Regards Brian

Thank you for the pointer Brian.

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I'm not a subscriber of MEW

Jon,

If I recall correctly, you only need a comparatively shallow angle

... see here for a commercial version.

I thought that WDS stocked them, but can't see them listed.

MichaelG.

WDS used to stock them, bought loads, but like all WDS's stuff it's not cheap.

WDS still do stock them, and quick release "thumb nuts" in M10, but Berger Tools **LINK** are worth looking at as well.

WDS look to be cast iron whereas Berger do moulded plastic with an insert at a much more friendly price. However you say that the thread you've got is M10 FINE, I think the standard knobs come with M10 coarse, but could be worth checking.

I've created a PDF of the section of the article that tells how I made the tilt nuts **HERE**

I hope this answers your query.

Gary

Edited By Gary Wooding on 05/04/2014 13:01:23

Thank you so much everyone for the useful information and especially to Gary for providing the pdf of the MEW article.

I'll have a go when I get chance.

Many thanks again

Jon