On Mon, 02 Jul 2012 23:54:00 -0400, Joseph Gwinn
wrote:

In article ,
Ned Simmons wrote:

On Sun, 01 Jul 2012 21:09:50 -0400, Joseph Gwinn
wrote:

Recently, I was in the bidding for a micrometer stop for a Clausing 12"
lathe. I dropped out when the price soared well above $200. Why?
Because I was thinking that for that kind of money, I can buy a
special-purpose endmill that will mill the 70-degree (included angle)
groove to fit the bedway V-rail. If as-milled isn't quite precise
enough, I can always scrape it into perfection.

It isn't obvious that I need a micrometer stop versus a plain old stop,
and I plan to make a clamp to hold a 0-2" dial indicator such that it
will indicate carriage location, and having the 70 degree groove endmill
makes it easy to make all such things.

So, I ordered a pair (main plus backup) of V-203 conical endmills from
the Conical Tool Company http://www.conicalendmills.com/default2.htm
in the frozen wastelands of Michigan, Grand Rapids to be sure. The
endmills cost $122 each, through MSC's special-order process.

It will be a few weeks before the endmills arrive. The first two
projects will be the stop and the dial indicator holder.

Joe Gwinn

Any reason you can't use a regular endmill and tip the part 35 degrees
to cut the angle?

One can, but it's very slow, with all the setup, and the fact that one
cannot use a big mill because of the 1/4" groove bottom dimension.

Joe Gwinn

While you need a relatively small dia end mill to finish the sides of
the vee, almost all the material can be hogged out with a larger tool.
I'd probably bandsaw it out.

If the block is squared up carefully first, setup should be pretty
quick.

--
Ned Simmons