Shop Made Hold Down Device

I was given some alunimum pieces and decided to make a hold down pressure foot while machining thin material.

There were two unused threaded 10/32 tapped holes on the side of the spindle bracket, may as well use them. I heated and bent the aluminum to off set so not to intefere with the dust skirt.

For the hold down foot I decided to use 1/4" carrage bolts, I polished the heads so it would glide across the material surface without catching and causing a problem.

There are two bolts I am using, 1 1/4" and 2". this will give me a couple of choices depending on the cutter I plan on using. The bolt height is locked in place with the wing nut.

A view with the pressure foot in place.

I had thought of using a spring to keep a constant pressure on the foot, but I don't think it is necessary.

Shop Made Pencil Holder Device

Since I already had the bracket attached to the spindle frame, I decided to make a device that would hold a pencil or a pen.

This is a close up of the holder, simply a piece of 1/4" steel pipe that I drilled and tapped for 10/32 thread then locktite in place.

Wing nuts could have been used instead of making my own, but I can get more torque to be sure the parts don't come loose during tool pathing.

Just another view.

Shop Made Router Bit

I found this old router bit in my stash and what I needed was a router bit that would allow me to cut a lip on the sides of a small box so the lid could slide in.

This is the result of my project. The cutting blade will cut a 1/8" groove.

NO don't do this, the router bit is hardened.

So I use my trusty Dremel and a thin metal cutting blade.

While the lathe chuck is running, I slowly bring in the cutting wheel.

It only takes a few minutes.

The cut end just fell off, see it laying on the rag.

Now I use the Dremel Diamond wheel to under cut both the top and bottom of the bit to allow a bit of clearence

Now adding some clearence on the back side, or top of the bit.

There, thats it, I had looked for a router bit like this but couldn't find in any store.

Shop Made Wood Burning Attachment

Cartridge heater
My plan to make a wood burning attachment to be used with my CNC. I watched another CNC operator trying to burn wood with a pencil type burning tool. He was struggling with this because there wasn't enough mass at the tip to maintain the temperature. Here is my plan, rather than use a pencil style burner or a pencil soldering iron I am using a 100 watt 240 volt cartgidge heater. It is 1/4" Diameter by 2 " long. I plan on placing a thermocouple sensor at the tip to maintain temperature. I have done a test with only the heater and controller and can keep the temperature within about 10 degrees. Stay tuned.

Change of plans.
I found that a Dremel Versatip Model Number 1550, it comes complete with several shaped tips that can be screwed into the hot end of the soldering iron. Not only that, the hot end is tapped for 8/32" thread so now I can design my own pattern shaped tips, as example a star.
Looks like it will fit, lets make a bracket.

It looks like the soldering Iron will fit here.

I found a piece of 3/4" aluminum electrical conduit, this may work as a holder for the insulating material.

This is some insulating material from where I used to work, this material would be placed under the end of a teflon belt with a piece of teflon tape strip between then the other end of the belt then welded with a hot iron, so I know it will take the heat.

Drill and tap it for 10/32"

The Versi Tool heated shaft is .375 and the inside of the conduit is .828 so I will bore the insulation pieces a little under size and machine them a little over sized so I have a snug fit.

It is only 5/8" thick so I cut 2 pieces with a hole saw.

Here the conduit with the insulation material is pressed onto the versi tool, the insulation is flush with the heated end, so looks good.

I found a 10/32 by 3/4" allen screw and screwed that into the aluminum sleeve and locked it there with a hex nut and locktite,

The tool is held in place with a wing nut and seems very secure, there should not be much pressure applied anyway so I think it will be OK.

The first project I want to try is a photo onto a pine board

Shop Made Diamond Tip for Glass Engraving

Dremel 290-01
As I held this in place and tried to think of some way to hold the Dremel tool, it looked like this wasn't such a good idea.

I found a 5/8" machine bolt and cut the head and threads off then machined part down to ½" and bored it part way through at 5/16" and the tip end to 3/16".

The part that actually holds the diamond tip was tapped at the side for 6/32 set screw.
Also shown here are the two Dremel engraving tips available { 9929 Diamond} and the {9924 Carbide}. Dremel also has 7103 and 7105 Ball End Bits that could be used when the spindle is running slow.

Shown here it is assembled, the threaded adjustment screw at the top is made from a 3/8" by 24 thread sholder bolt, I cut a slot so the down pressure can be adjusted

This photo shows the tip at its lowest point, there is about .150 spring tennsion play.

Here the tip is pushed all the way up. I have found if the diamond tip is sharp, very little pressure is required. I have also used this on flat glass engraving as well as wine bottles and glasses. Spindle Stopped.