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Rick's Web Site: Tools and Inventions

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Tools and Inventions

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CAD

CNC

Electronic Edge Finders

Debugging Machines

Hand Tools

In The Home

Outdoors

Power Tools

Software

Storage

Welding

Plasma Cutting












Last Revised:









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CAD

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The Basic Mental Model of Alibre CAD

Two Ways to Skin a Cat: Dan’s Plate

Thinking About the Fillet Tool

Brian's Puzzle

Knurling

The Helical Boss and Helical Cut

Match Drilling

Changing your View

The Triad Tool

Drawing Angle Iron and Square Tubing

Drawing Turned Objects

Placing a Plane at a Compound Angle

Drawing Merged Radii with Alibre PE









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Electronic Edge Finders

Projects are listed from newest to oldest. My goal is to tolerate the smallest spindle electrical resistance with the fewest components. This effort has spanned over 10 years and maybe I'm finally satisfied.

The Problem that is solved by my Electronic Edge Finders **

An analog Electronic Edge Finder with CNC Compatible Output (For spindle resistances greater than 1 ohm with option for 1/2 ohm)

A Software Defined Edge Finder with CNC Compatible Output (For spindle resistances greater than 0.1 ohm)

A Precision Electronic Edge Finder Probe

An Analog Edge Finder with Optional CNC Compatible Output

A CNC Compatible Analog Electronic Edge Finder

Comparing My Analog Electronic Edge Finder to my Software-Defined Edge Finder

Edge Finder Run-out Compensation

A Guide to Most of My Electronic Edge Finder Articles.

Universal Low Cost Electronic Edge Finder for use in a Machine Shop

An Electronic Edge Finder - Simple Mechanical and Relatively Complex Electronic Edge Finder for use on a Mill

An Ultra Low Tech, Low Cost Electronic Edge Finder **

A Self Compensating Electronic Edge Finder **

A Noise Canceling Electronic Edge Finder **

An Ultra Low Tech, Low Cost Electronic Edge Finder **

A Self Compensating Electronic Edge Finder **

A Noise Canceling Electronic Edge Finder **

A Lathe Electronic Edge Finder (For spindle resistances greater than 3 ohms) **

A Lathe Electcronic Edge Finder (For spindle resistances greater than 0.2 ohms) **

A Lathe Electcronic Edge Finder (For spindle resistances greater than 0.01 ohms) **

Tune In for Better Electronic Edge Finder Accuracy.

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CNC

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Using a CNC Controlled Vertical Mill as a Lathe

Setting Up CamBam 0.9 So it Correctly Feeds CNC Wrapper and Mach3

Arc Bug Corrected (Between CamBam 0.9 and Mach3)

My Computer Numeric Control Software Architecture

Having a Second Home

My CNC Hardware

Mach3 X Axis Screw Mapping

Mach3 Z Axis Screw Mapping

Adaptive Backlash Reduction

2 ¾ D Machining On a 4 Axis RF-30 Mill/Drill

Cleaning a Swarf Invaded X Box 360 Controller **

Hand Coding AX Plane G-Code for a Centroid Equipped Mill In Order to Cut a Helix

A Centroid Acorn CNC System on a RF-30 Mill/Drill

Setting Up an X Box Controller to be Compatible with Centroid Acorn

Adding A Tool Touch Off to my Centroid Acorn

Adding Home Sensors to a RF-30 Mill/Drill

When the Centroid CNC Software Loses its Acorn

The Effect of Error in the Home Sensor on Centroid CNC Screw Mapping

Centroid CNC12 Screw Mapping Using Gage Blocks

Variable Frequency Drive Noise Reduction

Using Variables, Computation, GOTO, and IF-THEN-ELSE G-code Commands

This is a ReadMe file: mpgSoftware

mpgSourceCode











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Debugging Machines

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Taking Apart Complex Appliances So They can Go Back Together **

Fixing A Complex System **

Simulating a G.W. Bliss Punch Press Combination Clutch and Motor Control

Variable Frequency Drive Noise Reduction









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Power Tools

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Air Compressor

Bandsaw

Belt Sander

Drillpress

Foundry

Grinder

Handheld Power Drill

Handheld Reciprocating Saw

Dremel

Lathe

Mill

Power Control

Shaper









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Hand Tools

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Brake

Chemical Etching

Fasteners

Fixtures

Hex Wrenches

Marking

Measurement Tools

Nut Drivers

Press

Stamping

Cutting Tools

Inspection Tools









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Software

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Translating a Non-secure Web Address to a Secure one

A Sample Application of an Arduino Controlling Hardware

Temporary Naming Convention for Software **

A Diagnostic Tool for Arduino Software **

A Debugging Tool for Arduino Code **

Debugging Code Running on an Embedded ATtiny85: skinnyPrint **
The software for the Pro Micro
The header file
The cpp file
The keywords file
An Excel Spreadsheet to decode Skinny Print output
Writing to the ATtiny85's EEPROM
Reading from the ATtiny85's EEPROM

Arduino Byte Juggling **

Flight Data Recorder Software Description
Flight Data Recorder Software as a Text File

Creating a Shadow Model to Control Hardware That Cannot Respond back to the Software

A Technique for Sharing Realtime in the Arduino Software Environment

Global Positioning System and Global Navigation Satellite System Arduino Interface Software
The Software (change extension from .txt to .ino)

Bridging the Gap Between Realtime and Data in an Arduino

Optical Based Debugging Tool **

Programming an Arduino In a Realtime Environment **

A Fractal Audible Interface

A Rugged Low-Cost Fractal Optical User Interface **

A Simulated Analog Display Using Two LEDs **

An Arduino Debugging Tool

Arduino C++ Pointers

A Login Assistant **
The Login Assistant software











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Storage

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Material Storage

Tool storage









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Welding

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MIG

Stick









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Plasma Cutting

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Two Plasma Cutter Guides

Plasma Cutter Cylindrical Guide







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Outdoors

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Honda Fit

Chevy Bolt

Grilling

Irrigation

Landscaping

Pool and Patio

Kayaking

Lectric XP eBike









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In The Home

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Semi-Automatic Crockpot Yogurt **

Taming A Rocking Table **

Repairing Nicked Extension Cords **

Smartphone Support on a Tripod **

A Half Step on a Step Ladder

Taming A Monster Key Ring **

A Picture Hanging Tool **

A Tool for Hanging Close Fitting Pictures on the Wall **

Sous Vide Water Displacement With A Twist **

Kitchen Cutting Board Storage **

Using That Hard To Reach Corner Cabinet Space **

Repairing The Wheel Axle On a KitchenAide Top Rack **

Automatic Power Control of PC Peripherals via a USB **

Anti-Contamination Sink Spigot Handle **

Sewing Tiedown Straps **

An Adapter for A JOBY Tripod **

A “Toothpaste Tube” Squeezer **

Repairing A Jammed Telescoping Step Ladder **

How Much Butane Do I have? **

Ice Dispenser Chute Extender**

Avoiding the Hassle of Carrying Plastic Grocery Bags **

Emptying A Salt Brine Tank **

CPAP Mask Holder Repair **

Repairing A “Non-Repairable” Door Closer

Square Holes In Plastic Planks

A Hand Truck Attachment for Moving Stacks of Chairs

Rebuilding A Gate – Not As Easy as it First Appeared **

Clothes Drying Done Alarm

Converting A Mechanical Timer to a Countdown Timer









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Air Compressor

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Trigger Guard For a Ryobi Air Compressor **









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Bandsaw

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Horizontal/Vertical Band Saw Vise Jaw Extender

An Improved 4 X 6 Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw Vise Jaw Extensions

A 45° Jaw Set for a Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw

An Improved Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw Stop **

Cutting it A Bit Closer **

Double V Jaws for a Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw

Safely Sawing Small Bits **

Bolt Cutting and Beveling Fixture **

A Universal Bolt Cutting Fixture **

A Universal Bolt Beveling Fixture **

Miter Attachment for a Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw **

A Modified Stop plus Cut Line Indicator for a 4x6 Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw **

A Foldable Table for a Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw **

Increasing the Capacity of a Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw **

OO Blocks For a Bandsaw **

A Pneumatic Horizontal Bandsaw Feedrate Limiter **

Sawing Small Parts Safely **

Depth Of Cut Stop

Horizontal Bandsaw Floating Jaws **

A Horizontal Bandsaw Vise Screw Jack **

Sawing Threaded Rod Axially **

Horizontal Bandsaw Quick Clamp

A Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw Roll Around Wheel Brake **

Why Parts Sometimes Shift When Tightened **

Precision Horizontal Bandsaw Alignment of the Fixed Jaw

Keep That Bandsaw Blade Tight! **

Cutting a Notch With a Bandsaw **

Using Paraffin On a Bandsaw **

Recutting My Bandsaw’s Flip Up Table Blade Slot **

Fence Alignment Tool for a 4x6 Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw in the Vertical Position **

Improving the Horizontal Position Accuracy of a 4 x 6 Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw

Sawing Sheet Metal Accurately with a Vertical Bandsaw

Precision Cutting Sheet Metal On a Horizontal Bandsaw

Correcting Unwanted Movable Jaw Pivoting on a 4 X 6 Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw **

A Fence for a Vertical Bandsaw (Two Wrongs Make a Right) **

Sawing Thin-Walled PVC Sewer Pipe **

Bandsaw Arc/Circle Cutter **

Sawing Thin Tall Stock in a Horizontal Bandsaw **









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Belt Sander

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A Universal Bolt Beveling Fixture **

A Belt Sander Fixture for Squaring Up The End of a Rod **

Making Custom Washers and Spacers **

Adding a Bevel to a Screw **









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Drillpress

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A Low Cost and Easily Made Counterbore (by Steve-S'pore as told to R.G. Sparber) **

New Life for my Beloved Drill Doctor **

Spoiling a New Drill Press Vise (On Purpose) **

Drill Press Table Elevator **

All of Those Scrap Drill Bits! **

Making a Dremel Drillpress (or "Feeding the Disease")

Making Square Holes **

Drilling a Hole in a Slot with a Step Drill **

Improving A Dremel Drillpress **

A Stack of Wood on My Drillpress **

A Drill Size Look-up Table **
A decimal inch Drill Size Look-up Table .jpg file **
A decimal inch Drill Size Look-up Table .xls file **
A decimal inch and metric Drill Size Look-up Table .jpg file **
A decimal inch and metric Drill Size Look-up Table .xls file **
A fractional inch, metric, decimal inch, and thread table by Kevin Steele .jpg file **
A fractional inch, decimal inch, and metric table by Paul .html file **

A Fast Access Drill Size Table **
The Actual Fast Access Drill Size Table as a .pdf **


Gingery Drill Press

Drilling a Hole that is larger in the Middle than At the Ends

Circuit Board Drill Templates **

An “Accurate” Drill Location Tool **

A Vise Jaw Extender **

A Modified Harbor Freight Drill Press Clamp **

Yet Another Way to Find the Center of a Cylinder **

Centering Parts In A Drillpress **

Drilling A Hole At an Angle **

A Universal Centering Tool For a Drill Press **

Match Drilling and Tapping Holes **

An Alternate Belt Position Sign for a Drillpress or Mill/Drill by Dave Kellogg as told to R.G. Sparber **
An Alternate Belt Position Sign Excel Spreadsheet by Dave Kellogg **

A Chain Drilling Guide By Vladimir

A Drill Press Fence by Vladimir

Drill Press Vise Attachment for Drilling Channel and Angle **

Square Peg, Triangular Hole: Holding a Small Tap in a Drill Chuck **

Freehand Drilling of IC Socket Holes










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Foundry

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Making a Zamak Repair by Lance Eggleston as told to R. G. Sparber

Gingery Drill Press

Casting and Machining Parts for the Updated Gingery Metal Shaper

Electric Furnace Controller

A Modified Hartman Electric Furnace









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Grinder

Articles for beginners are marked with **

An Angle Grinder Table Saw **

Angle Grinder Nest **

Cutting Sheet Stock with an Angle Grinder

An Improved Tool Support for a Harbor Freight® ToolGrinder

Balancing the Wheels on a Bench Grinder **

A Figure Skate Sharpening Machine








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Handheld Power Drill

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Starting Holes On Domes and The Ends of Rods **

A Chain Drilling Guide For Straight Lines **

A Generalized Chain Drilling Guide **

A Speed Drive For A C-Clamp **

A Sheet Metal Drill Guide (How to Not Drill Your Hand) **

Using a Small Hole Saw on PVC Pipe **









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Handheld Reciprocating Saw

Articles for beginners are marked with **

A Blade Holder For a Ryobi Reciprocating Saw **









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Lathe

Articles for beginners are marked with **

Subcategories are Shop Assists, Attachments, Technique, and Lathe Modifications.



Shop Assists

Lathe Cutter Height Gage

Speed Table for Atlas-Craftsman 12” Lathe **
Excel Spreadsheet for above article **

Leadscrew Alignment Math

A program that calculates the best set of 4 gears to achieve a given overall ratio.

Excel® to Walgreens®: Making Small Reference Cards **

Lathe Turning Software Tool For HP-35s **

Lathe Assistant Program for TI-83 Plus **

Ball Turning with Manual Numerical Control Program for TI-83 Plus **

A Precision Electronic Cutter Touchdown Detector



Attachments

Holding The Wide End **

Making A Limited Range Jacobs Flex Collet® **

Making a Crush Collet

Another Diamond Toolholder Adapter **

A Machined In Place Precision Lathe Chuck Reference **

Tangential Tool Holder Chip Breaker (experimental) **

A Low Cost Quick Change Tool Post Angular Stop **

A Continuous Pin Support Fixture

Quick and Easy Lathe Jaw Spacers **

A Modified Knurling Tool

A Replacement Wrench for my Atlas-Craftsman Lathe **

My New CDCO 5C Collet Chuck

A Spindle Mounted Stop for a 12” Atlas/Craftsman Lathe **

A Beveling Tool

Another Bevel Fixture **

A Low Cost Longitudinal Axis DRO For my Lathe

A Low Cost Cross Slide DRO For my Lathe
(See "The Home Shop Machinist", March/April 2011, pages 30 - 36 for full details)

Installing a Phase II Quickchange Toolpost on an Atlas Craftsman 12" x 24" lathe **

Comparing a Wimberley Toolholder with a Diamond Tool Holder

A Toolpost Attachment for a High Speed Rotary Tool **

A Simple Lathe Pattern Follower **

Making A Grooving Tool **

Turning Non-precision Eccentrics in a 3 Jaw Chuck

A Quick Change Toolpost Wrench

Turning Thin Stock on a Lathe **



Technique

End Knurling On a Lathe **

Turning a Precision Washer **

An Easy way to Single Point Thread **

Making a 7/16-10 Acme Left Hand Tap

A Close Look at Single Point Threading**

Reducing Total Indicated Runout on a 3 Jaw Chuck**
Excel Spreadsheet that goes with "Reducing Total Indicated Runout on a 3 Jaw Chuck"**

Making a Knurled Knob for a Socket Head Cap Screw **

Knurling **

Boring Bar Thoughts **

Using A Taper To set the Compound on a Lathe **

Setting the Compound to Match a Taper, Round 2 **

Suggested Ways to Cut a Taper

Setting the Height of a Lathe Cutter **

True Enough (Lathe Accuracy) **

Adventures in Friction Forming of Bosses **

Making a Corner Radius Tool For a Lathe

Turning Matching External/Internal Tapers **



Lathe Modifications

Atlas – Craftsman Lathe Tailstock Lock Modification **

1964 Atlas/Craftsman Lathe Motor Supports









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Mill

Articles for beginners are marked with **

Subcategories are Attachments, Technique, and Mill Modifications. See also CNC at the Tools and Inventions screen.


Attachments

cutting a helix on a vertical mill

Building an MQL Coolant System **

An ER-20 Collet Holder Plate **

Installing the Drive Shaft on a Horizontal/Vertical Rotary Table **

Converting an 8 Inch Rotary Table to an "A" Axis

RF-30 Mill/Drill Head - Pictures by John Herrmann, Text by R.G. Sparber

A Rotary Table Tailstock

A Small Mill Table Mounted Crane

A Low Cost and Easily Made Counterbore (by Steve-S'pore as told to R.G. Sparber) **

Softjaw with Pad Separation

A Low Cost Mill Mounted Spotlight **

Replacement Table Feed Motor Drive

An Improved Mill Stop by Brian Lamb as told to R.G. Sparber

A Ring Light for a Mill/Drill

Making a Few VERY Minor Improvements to my Hold-down Set **

A Compact Hold Down Clamp Support **

A "C-nut" for a Mill

Making an "Omega-nut" for a Mill **

Making a T-nut" for a Mill **

Variable Frequency Drive Frequency versus Cutter Diameter Spreadsheet (in inches with 60 Hz line frequency)

Variable Frequency Drive Frequency versus Cutter Diameter Spreadsheet (in mm with 50 Hz mains)

A Variable Frequency Drive plus Three Phase Motor on a RF30 Mill/Drill

A Light Duty Parallelogram T Nut, version 3 (errata: length is 1.414B + A)

Making Cam Action Clamps for Milling

Mill Vise Soft Jaws, version 6.

Mill Vise Tune-up

An Ultra Simple Ultra Fine Feed for a RF30 Mill/Drill, version 2

A Tap Wrench to fit a RF30 mill/drill.

A Drawbar with Integrated Spindle Lock for a RF30 mill/drill. 1

An Ettco N. 22 Tapping Head, version 2

Dial Test Indicator Holder Base

Technique

Designing and Milling a Slot **

An Example of Small Scale Production **

Squaring a Bock using Ed Maisey's Method **

Accumulated Error When Squaring a Block **

A Closer Look At Machining a Block Square

Machining a Plate **

A Safe and Accurate Way to Set Zero on a Vertical Mill **

Drilling a Hexagonal Hole **

Reestablishing Position On a Round Column Mill **

Avoiding Mill Head Repositioning **

Tightening the Y Axis Nut on a RF30 Mill/Drill **

RF-30 Mill/Drill: What Gives? **

Spuds **

A Simple Little Trick: Holding Small Parts in a Vise **

Fixturing a Semicircle **

Removing and Installing the Leadscrews on a RF-30 Mill/Drill **

Measuring an End Mill's Effective Diameter **

Zeroing the Y and Z axes to the A Axis Center Of Rotation **

Locating A Corner on a Mill **

Milling An Angle Bracket **

Drill, Tap, and Counterbore **

A Few Basic Tests to Perform on your Mill **

What to do when you get a New Mill **

X or Y Axis Zero Set on a Mill, Version 2

Thoughts on Tramming the head of a mill/drill, Version 2

Tramming a Mill/Drill, version 4

Milling Tapered Spokes for a Flywheel designed by Elmer Verburg
John Walker's Spreadsheet for Milling Tapered Spokes for a Flywheel designed by Elmer Verburg

Milling Straight and Arced Paths, version 3

An Alternative to Locking Head Rotation on a Round Column Mill/Drill

Aligning to an Axis

Precision Machining: the control point and surface.

Why doesn't my RF30 Mill/Drill Cut Straight?

Endmill Effective Diameter (version 2).

Precision Z-axis Milling on a RF30 Mill./Drill (07/24/2008)

Chasing accuracy on a RF30 mill/drill with Shumatech DRO.

How to cut a block square on a mill.

Why is one parallel always loose in my mill vise? **

Accurate bedding of a part in the mill vise is an essential skill.

A Single Iteration Mill Vise Alignment Procedure.

Moving a small mill in parts **

An Example of Using a Rotary Table to Machine a Beam for a Steam Engine

Avoiding Over Constraint **

Aligning My 4th Axis on a RF-30 Mill/Drill

Want to Go Fast? Put in the Stops **

Basic Digital Read-Out Functionality on a Mill **

Mounting a 3 Jaw Chuck on a Rotary Table with a Face Plate

Centering a Rotary Table Using the Centerline function of a DRO

The Basics of a Rotary Table with Cross Slide mounted on a Mill Table

Translating Total Feed Rate to A Axis RPMs and X/Y axis Feed Rates

Finding Your Way Home Manually

Alibre to G-Code Procedure

Defining Arcs Interpreted by Mach3

A Spreadsheet to Audit an Arc in G-code

Is it Square? **

Edge Finder Run-out Compensation

Yet Another Way to Find the Center of a Cylinder **

Aligning A Vise on a Mill **

Installing the Spindle Bearing Grease Cup on an RF-30 Mill/Drill **



Mill Modifications

Repacking the Spindle Bearings on a 1990 Enco RF-30 Mill/Drill

Accessing the Spindle Drive Bearing on a 1990 Enco RF-30 Mill/Drill

The motor switch wiring, by Mark Cason Making Soft Jaws for a Bison 3 Jaw Lathe Chuck **

Scales on my RF30 Mill/Drill

Adventures with the EvaNut

A Speed Handle for a RF-30 Mill/Drill **

Mill/Drill R8 Pin Locator **

A Variable Thickness Washer for Preloading a RF-30 Mill/Drill Leadscrew Bearings

Y Axis Leadscrew Alignment Plate

Improved RF-30 Gib Retainer

A RF-30 Mill/Drill Y-Axis Gib Lock

Improving the RF-30 Mill/Drill Y Axis Take Up Nut

Improved Access to the Y Take Up Nut on a RF-30 Mill/Drill

Improving the RF-30 Mill/Drill X Axis Take Up Nut

Reducing X Axis Backlash on a RF-30 Mill/Drill

Reducing Y Axis Backlash on a RF-30 Mill/Drill

Performance Data After X and Y Backlash Reduction on a RF-30

Lead Screw Backlash and Mach3

Reducing X and Y Axis Backlash on a RF-30 Mill/Drill

Reducing Quill Backlash and Setting Z Axis Gain on a RF-30 Mill/Drill

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Power Control

Articles for beginners are marked with **

A Safety Switch, by John Herrmann**









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Shaper

Articles for beginners are marked with **

Casting and Machining Parts for the Updated Gingery Metal Shaper

Assessment of My Gingery Shaper’s Accuracy

Sniffing Out Static Error on a Gingery Shaper

The Start of an Idea for a Shaper Vise

How a Lock-down Vise Works, and Doesn’t **

A Lock-down Vise

Gingery Shaper Surface Finish

A Tiny Shear Grind Bit

Gingery Shaper Surface Tests

Rebuilding the Ram Ways on my Gingery Shaper

Ideal Surface Ripple on a Metal Shaper

Metal Shaper Accuracy
Metal Shaper Accuracy Spreadsheet

Building a Gingery Shaper, By Richard Perrin









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Dremel

Articles for beginners are marked with **

Making a Dremel Drillpress (or "Feeding the Disease")

Improving A Dremel Drillpress **

A Wrench for a Dremel **

An Index System for Hand Drilling Circuit Boards **

Freehand Drilling of IC Socket Holes











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Brake

Articles for beginners are marked with **

A Thrown Together Sheet Metal Finger Brake

Bending Angles Greater than 90° by Bill VanOrden as told to R.G. Sparber **

Bending Sheetmetal in My Brake
Bending Sheetmetal Spreadsheet (you may have to go to the files Properties and unblock it)

Designing a Project Box
Project Box Spreadsheet (you may have to go to the files Properties/General, at the bottom of the window, and unblock it)

An Improved Homemade Brake









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Chemical Etching

Articles for beginners are marked with **

Laser Printing to Clean, Smooth Surfaces **

First Draft of Etching Aluminum Using Laser Printed Artwork









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Fasteners

Articles for beginners are marked with **

Adventures with the EvaNut

Adjustable Length Rod **

Understanding Nut And Bolt Specifications **

Thread Calculator by Mark Cason
Thread Calculator in Excel 1997 format
Thread Calculator in Excel 2007 format

Untested 3A/3B Thread Calculator in ODS format by Mark Cason
Untested 3A/3B Thread Calculator in xls format by Mark Cason

Hot Air Gun Support **

Quickly Sorting Fasteners **

Finding Lost Tiny Parts **

Thread Gages (Training Wheels for a Newbie) **

A Countersink Gage **

Cable Retainer **

An Alternate Way to Think About Tightening a Nut **

Hose Clamp Tool **

Bringing a Harbor Freight Wire Twisting Pliers Into Usefulness **

Cable Tie Tightener **

Small Tapping Machine Made from Scrap Yard Find By John Nathan

Low Cost Plastic Insulating Washers **

Thermal Interference Fit Stud **

A Stud Tool **

A Captured Fastener **

A Hidden Circuit Board Anchor **

Hot Glue Reflow **

A Different Kind of Screw Vise

Angled Half Nut **

Faking A Trapezoidal Left Hand 16 X 2 Nut **

A Cost Reduced Wall Anchor **

An Experimental Threaded Insert **

Using Rosin To Start a Philips Head Screw **

Uses for Magnets **

Painter’s Tape and a Homemade Dispenser **

Drilling a Half Inch Hole In a Half Inch Bar **

Accurate Hole Placement Only Where You Need It **

Making Threaded Rivets **

A Homemade Expanding Anchor **

Preventing Hot Glue Gun Drip **

Get a Grip on Tap Handles **

Friction Welding PVC Pipe to PVC Board **

Small Plastic Part Fabrication Using Copper Wire **

A Strap Buckle **

Excess Strap Storage Clip **

Finishing the Working End of a Plastic Woven Line **

A Quick Acting Strap Buckle **

Hitch Pin Removal Tool and Backup Pin **

Prototype Bars **

Securing a Multitool on my belt **

3D Printed Wire Nut Drivers

3D Stud Removal with Double Nuts

Non-Standard ¼-20 Nuts

Magnetic Finger **

Using A Screwdriver with One Hand **

Pop Rivet Drill Guide **









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Fixtures

Articles for beginners are marked with **

Making Miniature Tools **

Workbench Walls **

A Cross Drilling Tape **

What to do with 1-2-3 Blocks **

An End Drilling Guide **

Demagnetizing Tools **

Hockey Puck V Bench Block **

The Lowly Bench Block **

A Rugged Bipod

An Accidental Hand Stamp Guide **

A Sheet Metal Filing Button **

Hidden (from me) Tap Guide Feature **

An Auxiliary Bench Vise **

A Vise Jack **

A Very Smooth Slide and Lock Mechanism **

A Variable Height V Block **

Making Tight Bends with Heavy Gage Wire **

A Centerless Filing Button **

Hard Rubber Jaw Liners for a Bench Vise **

Bench Vise Jaw Jack **

A Drop-In Bench Vise Jaw Jack **

Forming A Hook For a Web Strap **

Storing Ratchet Straps for Quick Deployment **

Molded-In-Place Grommets **

A Benchtop Shoe **

Determining if a Shaft is Parallel to a Machined Surface **

Gently Removing an Electrical Box Punchout **

Drilling a Hole In the Center of a Rod without a Lathe **

Nautical Line Winding Fixture **

A Speedy Stitcher™ Sewing Block **

Garbage Into Gold: A Pin Vise **

Hand Molding PVC Pipe **

Aligning Hidden Holes **

When I need a Flat Surface More than a Bench Vise **

Cutting Round Corners with Scissors **

A Long Machinist Clamp **

Irwin Vise Rework

Bench Vise S-Hooks

Drilling Centered Holes for Mounting Plates









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Hex Wrenches

Articles for beginners are marked with **

Hex Bit Bars **

Socket Head Cap Screw Eye Training **

Making Custom Screwdrivers **

A Hex Drive Chuck **

Allen Wrench Extension **

A Hex Wrench Handle **









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Marking

Articles for beginners are marked with **

More of an Attitude than a Custom Tool **

A Modified Gel Pen **

Permanent Marking of PVC Pipe **

A Purple Primer Pen for Marking PVC Pipe **

Laser Printing to Powder Coated Sheet Aluminum **

iPod Touch® Holder for Photography **

Printing on Thermal Plastic using Kitchen Parchment Paper and a Laminator **

Making Low-Cost Stick On Labels From Artwork Printed in Toner **

Making Low-Cost Stick On Labels From Artwork Printed in Ink **

Those Drill Index Numbers **

Making A Layout Knife **

A Layout Punch Guide **

Using Cheap Packing Tape as a Protetective Layer for Labels **

Minimalist Dot Peen Marking **









| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Hand Tools

Measurement Tools

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Home Made Instruments (other than Electronic Edge Finders)

Edge Finder Tool **

An Automatic Centerline Scribe **

A Four Ball ID Gage

Improving a Harbor Freight® 6" Digital Caliper

A Possible New Inside Diameter Gage

Rod Clamp **

Rod Clamp (second time around) **

An Experimental Measurement System

An Experimental Measurement System Arduino Software as a .txt file

A Drill Size Look-up Table **
A decimal inch Drill Size Look-up Table .jpg file **
A decimal inch Drill Size Look-up Table .xls file **
A decimal inch and metric Drill Size Look-up Table .jpg file **
A decimal inch and metric Drill Size Look-up Table .xls file **
A fractional inch, metric, decimal inch, and thread table by Kevin Steele .jpg file **

A fractional inch, number, letter, metric, and 55% thread engagement table **
A fractional inch, number, letter, metric, with 75 and 65% thread engagement table, by John Hall **

New Life For a Broken Watch **

Flight Data Recorder Software Description
Flight Data Recorder Hardware Description
Flight Data Recorder Software as a Text File
Flight Data Recorder Board Artwork

How Small A Gap Can you See? **

A Torque Wrench to Adjustable Wrench Adapter **



Technique

Adjusting a Machinist Square By R. G. Sparber with information from Ron Thompson **

Using a Telescoping Inside Diameter Gage **

Absolute versus Incremental Dimensions **

An Inside Diameter Gage, version 1

How to use an Inside Diameter Gage, by Brian L. of Valley Metal Club

Those Wonderful Spacer Blocks **

Repeatability and Accuracy of the Harbor Freight® Caliper; version 3.
Discussion Related to Caliper Accuracy

Total Indicated Runout Explained

Finger type Dial Test Indicators. Theory and practice.

Seeing With a Dial Test Indicator, Torque Wrench, and Excel Spreadsheet

How Accurate is Your Micrometer?

The Intersection of Art and Precision (Using a Caliper)

A Possible Means of Measuring a Thread’s Pitch Diameter

Yet Another Way to Hold Thread Wires to a Mic

A Low Cost "Digital" Angle Gage
The Excel Spreadsheet for the "Digital" Angle Gage

The Theory and Practice of a Sine Bar

Stacking Gage Blocks **

Marking Knife: Layout Tool and Height Gage **

3D Measurements **

Don't Measure! **

Finding the Center of Rotation of a Finger Dial Test Indicator

Making it Dead Flat and Square **

Truing Up a Square with a Known True Square **




Store Bought Measuring devices

Evaluating a $30 Laser Distance Meter **











| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions |Hand Tools

Nut Drivers

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Making a Really Nice Nut Driver **

Socket Head Cap Screw Eye Training **

Double Open-End Wrenches: Which End is Up? **

A Minimalist Way to Identify Metric Sockets **

A Minimalist Way to Identify SAE Sockets **

A Master Socket Table **

Sticky Finger **

A Quick and Dirty Light Duty Carriage Bolt Wrench **

A Light Duty Deep Socket **









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Press

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Modifying an Arbor Press, by "TinkerJohn" as enjoyed by me **

Arbor Press Attachments **

Repairing a 1-Ton Arbor Press **









| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Hand Tools

Stamping

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Captured Ball Lip Tool **

Cutting Corners (Making a punch to cut corners in plastic sheet) **

A Simple Way to Accurately Stamp Text on a Metal Block, Version 3

An Accidental Hand Stamp Guide

A Wire Forming Tool









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Cutting Tools

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Restoring A Bolt Cutter **

A Sanding Block Using a Belt **

A Cable Sheath Stripper **

One Way To Splice an Extension Cord **

Flame Deburring Thin Aluminum Sheetstock **













| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Inspection Tools

Inspection Tools

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A Large Inspection Mirror **

Measuring Inside Dimensions with a Tape Measure **

Spindle Resistance Survey And Conclusions **













| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Storage

Material Storage

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Repairing a CamelBak Water Bottle **

Making USB Cables Behave **

New Life for a NeilMed® Bottle: A Spillproof Oil Can **

Bottle Transfer Collar **

What is Good Storage? **

Storage of Materials **

Making a Quick Yet Rugged Project Box

A Nice Looking Aluminum Project Box **

Pre-sort to Save Time **

A Low Cost Portable Sink **

Does Your Hydro Flask Water Bottle Leak Air When You Sip? **

Low-Cost Drawer “Kit” By the Foot **

A Self-Contained Workshop Sink **

Making Boxes from PVC Sewer Pipe **

Custom Capacity Strap Clips **

Speed Sorting Nuts **











| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Storage

Tool Storage

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Screwdriver Rack **

Vise-Grips and C Clamp Rack **

What is Good Storage? **

Kitchen Cutting Board Storage **

Using That Hard To Reach Corner Cabinet Space **

Labeling My Wrenches **









| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Welding

MIG

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A Replacement Handle for a Harbor Freight® MIG Welder

A $10 Upgrade to my Harbor Freight® 90 Amp Flux Wire Welder

Square A Frame **

Axial Alignment Welding Fixture **









| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Welding

Stick

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| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Outdoors

Irrigation

Articles for beginners are marked with **

A Direct ¼" Line to PVC Pipe Irrigation Coupler **

A Direct ¼" Line to PVC Pipe Irrigation Coupler, Version 2 **

Thermal Forming PVC Pipe **

½ inch PVC Irrigation Full Sliding Coupler and Patch **

½ inch PVC Irrigation Full Sliding Coupler, Round 2 **

360° Sprinkler Head Shield **

Patching Schedule 40 ½" PVC Pipe **

Horizontal Drilling in Soil **

PVC Cutter with Built In Can Top Opener **

Water Meter Auditing **

Root Drip Irrigation Stakes

A Soft Pipe Insertion Tool

A Flow Monitor and Control System for a Residential Irrigation System

Coiling A Hose By Walking In A Straight Line **

Testing Irrigation Emitters **

A Self Clamping PVC Pipe Patch **

Repairing A Hose Timer **









| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Outdoors

Landscaping

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A Power Rock Rake

A Cable Anchor Belt Clip **

A Handheld Power Weeder **







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Honda Fit

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A Garmin GPS Suction Cup Stand Converted to Magnetic **

Car Sun Shield **

Crotch Located Cup Holder **

An In-circuit Car Fuse Tester **

Making A Flat Place in My Car **

An iPhone Holder with Magnetic Charging for My Car









| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions |Outdoors

Chevy Bolt

Articles for beginners are marked with **

Chevy Bolt Trunk Deck Hold Down Strap **

Hauling Long Stock in a Chevy Bolt **

Electric Vehicle Charging Cable Management **

Chevy Bolt Trunk Floor Transition Plate **









| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Outdoors

Grilling

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Weber Gas Grill Back Saver **









| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Outdoors

Pool and Patio

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Repairing A Portable Gazebo Strut **

Taming the Beast: Wheels on a Sun Shade **

In Line Pool Filter Modification **

Building A Better Mousetrap **

Access Cover Lifting Tool

Birdseed Scoop **

Fighting the Recycle Bin Lid – One Less Hassle **

A High Capacity Pool Vacuum Attachment **











| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Outdoors

Kayaking

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General Boating

Nautical Line Winding Fixture **

Finishing the Working End of a Plastic Woven Line **

Gunnel Launching my Kayak **

Kayak Paddle Retaining Clips **



The Sevylor Colorado Kayak

Rolling Up A Sevylor Colorado Kayak

Extending the Life of a Low Pressure, High Volume Air Pump

Experiments with Adding a Skeg to an Inflatable Kayak **

An (Almost) Traditional Skeg for My Sevylor Colorado Kayak

An All Plastic Add-on Skeg for a Sevylor Inflatable Kayak **





The Advanced Elements AirVolution™ Kayak

Boston Valve Filler to Military Valve Adapter Fabricated on a Lathe

Boston Valve Filler to Military Valve Adapter Fabricated with Hand Tools **

AirVolution Kayak Tips and Tricks **

Maybe It is Just Me – The AirVolution™ Seat Plus a Solution **

A Custom Cart for my AirVolution™ Solo Kayak **

Fast Folding an AirVolution™ Kayak **

Excess Strap Storage Clip **

A High-Pressure Adapter with Gauge: Schrader Valve to Military Valve **




| Home Page | | Tools and Inventions | Outdoors

Lectric XP eBike

Articles for beginners are marked with **

A Key Fob for an Upside-down Lock **

Replacing a LECTRIC eBIKE Bottom Bracket Support Leg

Securing a Folded Lectric XP eBike **

Tightening All Fasteners on a Lectric XP eBike **

Making Your Lectric XP Serial Number Visible **

A Work Stand for my Lectric XP eBike **

A Bike Disc Brake Rotor Truing Tool **

When I Ride My Lectric eBike, My Butt Hurts and my Hand Goes Numb **

Lectric XP eBike’s Mythical Mileage Indicator **

An eGas Gauge for My Lecric XP eBike
The software for the eGas Gauge

The Peddle Assist System on the Lectric XP

Temporarily Attaching a Smartphone to a Lectric XP **

The Lectric XP Energy Bar, Voltage Display, versus Reality **

A Repair Stand for a Lectric XP eBike

A Throttle Clip for a Lectric XP eBike

A Lithium Polymer Battery State of Health Assessor
The software for the Lithium Polymer Battery State of Health Assessor

Placing a Lectric XP eBike in Neutral

Adding A Third Wheel to a Lectric XP eBike

Lectric XP e-Bike Spare Battery Holder

What’s Inside a Lectric XP eBike Battery?