Homemade adjustable parallels. A bit more experimenting.

[@rodbennett4790]

G'day Rusti, you're spot on about the table support design. It's how my small Douglas shaper table is supported.

[@Rustinox]

Indeed. And many others. It works just fine.

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Your ideas continue to be so inventive and inspiring. Thank you so much for taking the time to share them. 👏👏👍😀

[@Rustinox]

My pleasure, Andrew.

[@TheAyrCaveShop]

Good one Rusty, Always thinking outside the box 👍👍

[@Rustinox]

Thanks Dean.

[@MyMiniHomeWorkshop]

Excellent "Where there is a will, there is a way" solution to the adjustable parallel, I certainly hadn't thought of it 👍

[@Rustinox]

If it doesn't work, try something else :)

[@swanvalleymachineshop]

Not often you see parts riveted together anymore ! Good one . 👍

[@Rustinox]

Nothing wrong by using rivets. They work very well.

[@MrFactotum]

hi Michel I'm with you the shaper the way to go😉😉👍👍 atb Kev(UK)

[@Rustinox]

It makes perfect sense.

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing your experiments with us.

[@Rustinox]

My pleasure.

[@wibblywobblyidiotvision]

I like your shaper block solution. As you say, bearings are a bad idea, for all the reasons you give, plus force concentrations *in* the bearing(s), chips and crap getting into the bearing, shear force on bearing axle, etc etc. A bit of oil on the new "way" you've added, and you're golden. Can't remember if they are steel or cast iron, I'd have gone for cast iron. There is another way to make adjustable parallels, of course. The way apprentices would have been required to use back in the "good old days". Chisel, saw, file, scraper :)

[@Rustinox]

The support is steel on steel. It's all I had.

[@HaxbyShed]

Michel,that was great. Another level of thinking and execution, almost artwork. You are giving me inspiration to use my mill, when I have finally finished maintenance and tooling improvements. Explanation of the shaper support really clear. Excellent thanks.

[@Rustinox]

That's nice. Go for it, Paul.

[@maxfarr4142]

Keep up the good work Michael!

[@Rustinox]

Thanks. That's the plan.

[@Unrivaledanime]

Michael you have convinced me I will go pick up a shaper

[@Rustinox]

Go for it.

[@benkeller3]

Another great video. You continue to expand my thoughts on machining.😁

[@Rustinox]

Thanks. That's nice.

[@dreamsteam8272]

a fixable parallel is really amazing! great job.... i'm in love...

[@Rustinox]

Lol. Thanks.

[@Steviegtr52]

Hi Michel, the parallel's are something I have been meaning to make myself. Not thought of a 3 piece plate idea. Great. Totally agree with you logic on the shaper. Steve.

[@Rustinox]

Go for it, Steve.

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

This guy really thinks things through and comes up with unique solutions!

[@eyuptony]

Good demonstration of the pros for the square shouldered dovetail on the adjustable parallels Rustinox. I agree with you choosing the solid sliding support for your shaper. You could make some wipers to fit on each end to clean its path as it advances along the support bracket, also an oiling point or two to keep it well lubricated. Cheers Tony

[@Rustinox]

Good idea. Thanks Tony.

[@bostedtap8399]

Brilliant idea, I would never have thought of constructing a 3 part , and with 90° features 👌. Still, the other elegant milling machine on YT. Great work Michel, thanks for sharing

[@Rustinox]

Thanks.

[@ls2005019227]

Excellent project and video! I have 2 shapers & a mill..... but have never made an adjustable parallel on any of them-

[@Rustinox]

Well,it's maybe an idea...

[@jonsworkshop]

Hi Rusti, agree on your shaper mod, my little shaper just has a flat foot and......... "it works" 😉 I also agree on your adjustable parallel, the 45 deg is not the way to go. Cheers, Jon

[@Rustinox]

Thanks Jon.

[@wizrom3046]

The roller bearings are no good because that horizontal surface will get covered in chips, and the bearing wheel will roll over the chips crunch crunch. Your sliding block is much stronger, can be lubed, and like a bedway etc can have a couple of simple wipers on it. 👍

[@Rustinox]

Indeed. And it's easy to recut when it starts to wear.

[@Peter_Nottle]

what a "riveting" idea 👍

[@Rustinox]

Lol. Thanks.

[@allenhunt3070]

Michel, I enjoyed seeing the process of you making adjustable parallels on both machines. Good information on how the process affects the workpiece.

[@Rustinox]

Thanks. Allen.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Nice work Michel, and good explanation on the pros and cons for the two different styles for the parallels. I think you are right about the shaper. If the table is stationary when the pressure is applied then there should be no wear. If there are concerns you could fix a strip of sacrificial brass between the bottom of the block and the support. That way the brass can be replaced if it wears over time.

[@Rustinox]

That could be a good idea. Thanks.

[@localele1]

My first thought as well.The self lubricating nature of the brass as a slide would probably last forever.You could also add a drop of oil under the brass before use.There may also be a reduction in stiction for the slide.

[@ianaristotlethompson4186]

Very well explained. Thanks.

[@Rustinox]

Welcome.

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

Interesting serie. About ball bearings..... They carry a lot less of load being static. When rotating they carry a lot more. Check the specs for static resp. dynamik load!

[@Rustinox]

Thanks Stefan.

[@richardw3294]

Still making me 😃! Thanks.

[@Rustinox]

Nice. thanks.

[@EverettsWorkshop]

Man, you make me itch to go make shaper chips again, lol. I like your idea of making them at home as it would be cool to have some of various larger sizes than the standard set ones. Even a wider block style, perhaps? Very cool to see your ideas.

[@Rustinox]

Go for it Everett. It's an interesting project.

[@LetsRogerThat]

I've been wanting to make adjustable parallels and its educational to see your designs. I have to keep thinking. Gilles 🤔

[@Rustinox]

Go for it, Gilles.

[@kimber1958]

Great video! Thanks for sharing

[@Rustinox]

Thanks Kimber.

[@MASI_forging]

Brilliant idea 👍👍

[@Rustinox]

Thanks.

[@cyclebuster]

BRAVO!! Finally i get the first reply!

[@Rustinox]

Someone has to do it :)

[@cyclebuster]

I made another lathe video

[@howardosborne8647]

The shaper table support is far better as you have it with 2 flat sliding surfaces rather than rollers for all the reasons you point out here. The table support on large industrial shapers like Cincinatti works on the same principle as yours(just 2 flat sliding faces)

[@Rustinox]

Simlpe and effective.

[@jamesreed6121]

I like that you keep improving the parallels. To me that is the fun of hobby machining. If every project didn't have its own set of problems, things would get boring very quickly. One thing you mentioned about the motion of the shaper table, I believe that you said the table only moves on the backstroke. Correct me if I am wrong, I believe that that is true when the table moves in one direction (right to left, I think), If the table moves left to right doesn't the table move on the forward stroke.. Also I like your analysis of the table support, regarding using a roller bearing for the Vertical support of the table. KOKO!

[@howardosborne8647]

That is why you should reverse the table feed pawl when cutting in the opposite direction so that the table always feeds incrementally across on the ram backstroke no matter which way the table feed is travelling(from left or from right)

[@Rustinox]

You can easily set the machine to feed left or right on the retunstroke, so it will never feed on the cutting stroke. No matter what direction it feeds. I hope it helps.

[@jamesreed6121]

@@Rustinox I have a 7" South Bend Shaper. It is the newer model with the wider base in front, plus an oil pump. I have checked the left/right table feed and on my shaper. The table moves right to left on the forward stroke and left to right on the return stroke. The directional pawl turns 180 degrees and determines direction. So what am I doing wrong? If you know something I don't, please share? The motor turns only one direction no reverse and even if it could be reversed I don't believe it would change anything regarding table direction, but I am not able to test that theory. Looking forward to your reply!

[@jamesreed6121]

@@howardosborne8647 Hello Howard! I just finished testing my 7" South Bend shaper. Sorry to report that when the table is set to move right to left the movement is on the forward stroke. Reversing the pawl on the ratchet mechanism changes the movement left to right and movement occurs on the backward stroke of the ram. So my question is what am I doing wrong? The pawl that I am describing is part of the ratchet mechanism that drives the table lead screw.

[@Preso58]

I would back up your analysis of the table support. We had a couple of large shapers at work with the same style of sliding support. One of them had simple way wipers though.

[@Rustinox]

Simple and effective.

[@stewartfrye]

I'm working on a video, that agrees and confirm your sliding surface issue instead of bearings, I'm trying to show that square inch / millimeter of bearing surface tension is VERY important for stability/rigidity. I fully Agree with your conclusions on surface area loading.

[@Rustinox]

Nice. I hope you'll share the results.

[@jayden4656]

Very interesting

[@Rustinox]

Thanks.

[@426simon]

Totally agree with you thoughts on the shaper support, it’s how I would have gone, shame you can’t scrape for some oil retention but I don’t think it really needed. Good work!

[@Rustinox]

Just a drop of oil and it works just fine.

[@scififan698]

Waaw, mooi project zeg! Interessant idee.

[@Rustinox]

Thanks.

[@henrikhv5084]

Hey Rusti, my old 18 inch shaper has a sliding block, or what to call it. The shaper is over 50 or 60 years old, and the system still works. I call that prove of concept, so no worries. Cheers 👍

[@Rustinox]

Simple and effective.

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

Did anyone else see a frog jumping and another getting ready to jump in his chalk board diagrams at 10:14? Now I can't unsee them....

[@Rustinox]

That's good. You have a lot of imagination :)

[@MyLilMule]

I'm enjoying the experiments in adjustable parallels. I think, as far as your shaper table support, the only issue might be, how square is the support in relationship to the saddle ways? If the support is out of alignment with the horizontal ways, you could potentially lose some level of precision as the table is lifted or allowed to droop more as it travels.

[@Rustinox]

It's very easy to align the support, so that will not be a problem.

[@howder1951]

Excellent video Michel, the built up part never occurred to me. I have been pondering buying a set, but also the building is fascinating. My design (still in my head) is to cut a dovetail with a very small milling cutter with the blank held at a 20-30 degree angle, as Henry Hall describes if you don't have access to a dovetail cutter . The other option I am toying with is to cut down a small milling tool or blank to a dovetail shape, again making my own angle choice due to limited size. Of course. I am on retirement time, so this may take months. Enjoyed very much, and looking forward to next weeks "frolics" . Take care and cheers!

[@Rustinox]

I think this experiment was well worth doing. Now it's your turn :)

[@nobbysworkshop]

You do come up with some amazing ideas Michel. 💡 I like your approach to problem solving. A shaper is something I would like to own, but my workshop is too small, unless I could find one of the small hand operated ones. Great video Cheers Nobby

[@Rustinox]

Every hobbyist has the same problem. Too small workshop.

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Every shaper that I have seen with a table support, the foot just slides on the base (including mine).

[@Rustinox]

Indeed. It works just fine.

[@DoMetalStuff]

Hey Michel, your id about the table support is good 👌but i think 1 bold wil bust out. Cast iron is not so strong . Is a back plate a option? Or more bolds. Jus some brain farts😅

[@Rustinox]

No need. The bolt doesn't need much torque.

[@ThePottingShedWorkshop]

"Unloosen this screw"... have you been watching Joe Pie videos?🤣

[@Rustinox]

I don't think I know anyone who doesn't :)

[@onn1498]

Video interrupted by Ads. Hey Rustinox, please don't allow it

[@Rustinox]

Well, I didn't allow it.

[@jacquesmuller4356]

Hi Michel, very good job done, I am no machinist, more a IT person, but why over complicate it. Why can't a simple U/T (don't know what to call it) male and fitting female work? It is a down ward force on the joint, use small grub screw at the back at an angle just to lock movement. Sorry for my ignorance I am no machinist but aren't you "inventing" your own?

[@Rustinox]

That could work, but it also make the parts more complicated.

[@jdmccorful]

For me, a well defined concept! Thanks.

[@Rustinox]

Thanks.