Miter Box Clamp

[Burkhardt]

As you may have noticed from other posts I have been making a bunch of finger joint boxes lately. Getting them clamped together before the glue starts setting was always a pain in the neck and not always successful. I tried c-clamps, strap clamps and special miter frame clamps with threaded rods but still not that great.

Now I got inspired by Dan P. (he bought my finger joint software for jewelry boxes) who made a fixed size clamping frame for this purpose. I expanded on this concept and made it adjustable for boxes, drawers or frames of various sizes. Tried it once so far and seems to work quite well. It clamps the joints while enforcing a precise 90-degree angle. The size and clamp position can be set when dry fitting the joint. I considered handles for tightening the nuts but ended up using a deep socket on a battery powered impact driver.

This one gous up to 18x18" and I will probably also make a smaller and a bigger one.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uln_J7ICZ1k/VGktSB7JIeI/AAAAAAAAFdM/SYWes1_THME/w1201-h853-no/DSC02886.JPG

[scottp55]

Looks GOOD. I told Dan you were probably going to "Tweak"it :)
Did you send Dan a pic? Probably tickle him as he was fighting 3' drifts and his driveway wasn't frozen hard the last time we talked.

[Tim Lucas]

I like it a lot, might have to make me one - would you share the cut file?
Thanks
Tim

[Burkhardt]

....Did you send Dan a pic?....

No I did not, I have misplaced his email but thought he might be seeing it here.

If somebody wants to make a copy, the zipped .crv file is here (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29562014/SQUARE4.zip). It is cut from with 1/8" end mill from 3/4" phenolic clad Baltic Birch. Can be changed to 1/4" bit of course but the small dogbones won't cut and the inside washer slot will be a bit wide.

WARNING: this is the file that I tried to cut without tabs and almost started a fire when one of the pieces was pulled up against the collet. It is highly recommended adding tabs to the final cutout tool path!

The washer slots are not visible in the picture (inside of the dual arm square) but they hold a 1/2" washer that makes a spring push up the clamp bracket so that it does not move around (hope that makes sense). The 5"x1/2" bolt heads are cross drilled with a 1/4" dowel to make a t-bolt. But I find the 1/2" bolts are a bit overkill. 3/8" or 5/16" should be ample. Oh, and the alignment dowels in the corner are a bit unusual 5mm diameter. For 1/4" dowels the holes must be changed.

[scottp55]

Thanks G. :)

[Tim Lucas]

No I did not, I have misplaced his email but thought he might be seeing it here.

If somebody wants to make a copy, the zipped .crv file is here (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29562014/SQUARE4.zip). It is cut from with 1/8" end mill from 3/4" phenolic clad Baltic Birch. Can be changed to 1/4" bit of course but the small dogbones won't cut and the inside washer slot will be a bit wide.

WARNING: this is the file that I tried to cut without tabs and almost started a fire when one of the pieces was pulled up against the collet. It is highly recommended adding tabs to the final cutout tool path!

The washer slots are not visible in the picture (inside of the dual arm square) but they hold a 1/2" washer that makes a spring push up the clamp bracket so that it does not move around (hope that makes sense). The 5"x1/2" bolt heads are cross drilled with a 1/4" dowel to make a t-bolt. But I find the 1/2" bolts are a bit overkill. 3/8" or 5/16" should be ample. Oh, and the alignment dowels in the corner are a bit unusual 5mm diameter. For 1/4" dowels the holes must be changed.

Thank You, I will post pics when I make it.
Tim

[barrowj]

G,

Thanks for the link, I will make some this weekend and post pics.

[Burkhardt]

Thanks G. :)

Oh, just noticed the layout is 24" x 24" and I suppose too big for the Desktop.
I will probably make a few improvements and simplifications anyway like getting rid of the scalloped rail and the cross-drilled bolt. Can the Desktop handle exactly 18" width sheets or a little more?

[scottp55]

Don't worry about it G., I can scale it down. Haven't even opened it yet, and haven't got boxes in immediate future as Dad is Full-Bore Buttons and Vac jigs right now.
Desktop CAN go to -.5 in X,Y which is how default Zeroing on prox switch is set up.
I have 2 additional prox's I have Y set at 18.15" which is .01" before a Hard Stop, but I can Tile stuff through Y.
X hits prox at 24.16", but don't feel like blowing through it right now to find Hard Stop as I have something on right now, but imagine it's set similar.
Like I said though--Don't worry about it, but thanks:)

[Burkhardt]

New and improved version....
- smaller hardware 5/16" carriage bolts for tightening instead of custom drilled 1/2" bolts
- no serration, easier to machine
- nesting now Desktop-friendly, fits a 24" x 18" sheet

I added some rudimentary instructions and download button on my web site HERE (http://www.tailmaker.net/clamping-jig.html)

[scottp55]

Thanks G. ! Wow, You really packed them in there:)
Forwarded to Dan, but he doesn't own Vectric and Desktop only came with Shopbot PP.
Thanks again,
scott

[chiloquinruss]

Congrats on the plug in the latest Vectric Newsletter. I had already downloaded the file but right now it's 22 in the shop. Sooooo, it will keep for a warmer day! Thanks for sharing, it's what makes a ShopBot special, it's all of you. Russ

[Burkhardt]

Congrats on the plug in the latest Vectric Newsletter. I had already downloaded the file but right now it's 22 in the shop. Sooooo, it will keep for a warmer day! Thanks for sharing, it's what makes a ShopBot special, it's all of you. Russ

Yes, that is pretty cool. Nice when somebody is actually interested in the stuff you post... :rolleyes:

For that matter I am now getting a bunch of emails that are pushing me to finally finish that maze software. Maybe that will focus me and overcome my project ADHD.