A tool to set accurate angles on a milling machine head

Here is a simple tool I made to help set accurate angles on my milling machines. I hope you enjoy and make one yourself.

[@AWDJRforYouTube]

That's a nifty time saving tool Tom. It is a paradox when I was working in industry, we would NEVER come up with such a tool [ If we did we would never let the boss see it] because we were paid the big bucks by the hour...slow and steady makes the $ untll we were replaced by the CNC machines lol!

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Hey Al. That is a bummer.

[@AWDJRforYouTube]

@@hilltopmachineworks2131 Yep, great to develope tools for our own best use.

[@ellieprice363]

Interesting how the “big bucks by the hour” prevented you from making time saving jigs and fixtures. The shop where I worked for twenty years was just the opposite. The more time we saved the more profit bonuses we received. Ten percent of net company profits were distributed to employees each quarter. That system worked amazingly well as long as the company was privately owned. Shortly after an international conglomerate purchased the company the bonus system was eliminated. The result was predictable. Profits quickly dropped, the company went through several more owners and is now out of business. If you have a company reward your employees and keep them happy. It’s not rocket science folks!

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Sticking to the task aren't you. Thanks for the video keep on keeping on.

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Trying to. Thanks Harold.

[@jackcollins2344]

Hello Tom, I enjoyed your video. Just subscribed to your channel. My friend Bear sent me your way. Thank you for sharing

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Awesome. Thanks Jack!

[@jackcollins2344]

@@hilltopmachineworks2131 your welcome

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hello Tom, A very good idea... another item for my to do list. Thanks for sharing the idea. Take care. Paul,,

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks Paul. Good to hear from you.

[@ab-shop]

Hi Tom! Very nice tool there! The angle blocks it Is something that are missing in this moment on my workshop, i have to buy it in the near future! ( P.S: always very impressed by your fantastic workshop 😀) Ciao Tom!! Alberto

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks Alberto. Over here you can pick up a shop grade set of gage blocks for about 80 dollars. They are handy. Hopefully the blocks are reasonably priced over there where you are at.

[@DudleyToolwright]

Very interesting project. Nice share, Tom.

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks Robert.

[@MattysWorkshop]

Gday Tom, That’s a great idea, the Cincinnati graduations on the head are pretty close but definitely not 100% accurate, I made some parallel gibs for a viewer out of some A2 tool steel that needed to be 60° and 55°, that took some setting up to get the angle spot on, this tool would of saved me a lot of time, great job mate, take care, cheers

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks Matty. It is simple but very handy. A time saver too as you mentioned.

[@outsidescrewball]

Nice work Tom, simple/smart!!…take a look at “making a v block” Solid Rock Machine, he discussed the X travel in relationship to the spindle (more hair splitting 🤯)

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks Chuck. Solid rock does some amazing work.

[@Rustinox]

That's a good idea, Tom. I don't have angle blocks but still, it's a good idea.

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

You can get some wild angles with that Deckel, so this maybe handy.

[@swanvalleymachineshop]

That's a different approach . I was thinking about a similar thing but make it to fit directly into the spindle taper to eliminate the collet chuck . 👍

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

A direct fit would be even better to eliminate any collet error. I would have to make two of them if I went that route since one mill is R8 and the other is 40 taper.

[@TrPrecisionMachining]

good video Tom

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks. 👍

[@DJako89]

Great idea and build Tom. Thanks for sharing!

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thank you Dave.

[@TheAyrCaveShop]

Hey Tom, Nice simple tool, great idea. Accurate enough for most projects.. ATB..

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Yeah it will get you in the close enough range. 🙂

[@bcbloc02]

You know some of that error was likely deflection of your support with the weight of the angles on it. Everything is rubber when you go for the nitty gritty!😂

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Yeah splitting hairs can be tricky.

[@HaxbyShed]

Not seen one of those before Tom, useful to have that in mind. Cheers.

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Hey Paul. It may come in handy on your new mill.

[@iancraig1951]

I agree -- great idea simple but accurate..

[@CraigLYoung]

That's a good idea 💡 Thanks for sharing 👍

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks Craig!

[@DavidHerscher]

Simple and effective, i like it. Only problem i can see is, if you’re really going for accuracy, that surface you milled is referenced off the bottom and sides of the stock, not off the turned surface that will be in the spindle. So, you’re going to be dead accurate to that surface, but not necessarily to the spindle. You did use a collet, which probably eliminates most of this concern, but technically that stock surface isn’t known, so, ya know, just sayin’.

[@houseofbrokendobbsthings5537]

Nice one Tom! That will be a nice add to cut down on fiddle time. Now you really know where it stands.

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Like I said, probably not needed for most jobs, but on that occasion it will be quick and easy to get the angle needed spot on.

[@camatbattler2233]

Very nice idea Tom. I'll store that one away in my brain box for a future project. Cam

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Hey cam good to hear from you. 🙂

[@SgtCude59]

Great video , thats a nice jig . Ok to add my 2 cents ? I always lowered the Quail on the mill put a decision angle finder on it

[@JourneymanRandy]

Nice tool.Tom. Well done

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks Randy. How is the snow up there? We are having mild weather here right now.

[@Wintersmachineshop]

Pretty nice concept Tom . It will certainly speed up set up time .

[@ellieprice3396]

Interesting and useful project. To make it simpler may I suggest using a square steel bar without magnets and a digital angle gage to set the angle. A quality digital gage will display angles to 1/10 (6 minutes) of one degree. You could also advance the spindle and set the digital gage directly on it.

[@Randysshop]

I like it Tom great tool for the tool box.

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks Randy. 🙏

[@eyuptony]

Nice one Tom, great idea. Did you set the new tool top face parallel with the mill table first? Tony

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks Tony and yes I did.

[@eyuptony]

@@hilltopmachineworks2131 Cheers Tom👍

[@jagboy69]

Pretty slick!

[@zoltannagy1813]

Nice work Tom. Give Kaos a pat too.

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Thanks, will do!

[@roylucas1027]

Very cool.

[@machinenutdel6764]

Being a bricklayer Tom an inch in ten feet is within reason !

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Sometimes you can get lucky using the eyeball method. 😉

[@machinenutdel6764]

@@hilltopmachineworks2131 You know the saying, if it looks right !

[@jimpritz4169]

Interesting tool Tom. Was that aluminum you made it out of? Thanks for the video.

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Yeah I chose aluminum, but you can use whatever material you like.

[@edethrington6175]

any rotation of that tool from the collet will cause discrepancy's.?

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Yeah set the tool parallel with the table first.

[@TheFreshmanWIT]

Cool project! Though I'll note, 5 thou over 3 inches is less than 6 minutes, so you got awful close on your graduations!

[@dane9175]

That is tricky😎