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Not sure if this would work but I modified the tailstock model to make it easier to print.? If printed in the orientation of the screenshot it shouldn't need any supports.?

Huge "I haven't even tested this" note on it though, I was just curious after seeing you talk about 3d printing the tailstock if I could make it an easier/better print.

Yes, teasing in a way, but ‘guide pin’ for something that looks like a spacer bushing??

Thanks SMJ for that model. I’m completely incompetent (at a lot of things) at CAD so what you made should make it possible for others to replace missing parts.?
I just ordered some aluminum stock to make the quill for a replacement tailstock. If it works, I will show the process. I really believe that ordinary 3d printed parts and aluminum and brass parts are sufficient for most Unimat use.?
I’m now debating about an aluminum feed screw in the aluminum quill or if I should use brass for the screw. I’m not worried about corrosion, I don’t store my tools in salt water.?

I wish you had, looks like you did a great job on the U3 model lol.? Hopefully I'm up to the task.? I do a lot of modeling and reverse engineering at work.? I trust myself to get the important dimensions right, not so confident on the various curved surfaces and what not.? I'm starting on it soon though.? Mine is getting stripped down starting tonight

I'm the one who made the U3 CAD models up on Grabcad.?
I thought some day I might get my hands on an older version and do the same, but that hasn't happened yet : )
I was using the free student version of Inventor -?

On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 11:15 AM, Nevadablue wrote:

"Note the strange names on some of the parts in the original drawing."

Strange names??

I’m going to try this one:





It looks like a good possibility that it can work. All 3d printed except for fasteners I think.?

Nevadablue:

Did you also machine the dovetails?? I think you're going to have an adjustable gib on one side, but the layer lines may be an issue on the other side.? They may tend to "lock" together.? Or they might not, I guess you'll find out one way or the other.? Also, did you radius the leading and trailing edge of the side without the gib?? I'd think a sharp edge there would want to dig in if there was an movement in the gib adjustment.

If you are looking for "free" 3D CAD you are kind of limited in your choices:
1) Fusion 360 has a "free" version but it's limited.? It is available free to hobbyists and can be used professionally on a very limited basis, you have make less than $100K a year using it, and professionally you can only use it free for for a limited time.? I think that limited time is something like 3 years.? If your business makes more than $100K/year, or if you have been using it in your business for 3 years they will require you to purchase a subscription.? Fusion 360 uses Parametric Based modeling, and it is VERY powerful.? Some people find it easy to use, I didn't.? Most people that I have talked to, at least those that also have a long background in 2D CAD, seem to have a hard time with Fusion 360.? Fusion 360 needs an internet connection to verify your license, even though the software is installed on your machine.? The current "free" version of Fusion 360 also is less powerful than the "free" version before they went subscription.
2) DesignSpark 3D also has a "free" version.? DesignSpark is the software I used to learn 3D modeling, it is Direct Based modeling and is easier for some people to learn to use.? Last year the makers of DesignSpark decided to do the same thing that Autodesk did with Fusion 360, they switched to subscription.? The "free" version that they now offer is less powerful than their previous versions.? Both Fusion 360 and DesignSpark will deactivate your license if you don't use it often enough.? DesignSpark is less powerful than Fusion 360 and some times it felt like you had to force it to do what you wanted.? DesignSpark also needs an internet connection to verify your license, even though the software is installed on your machine.
3) FreeCAD is an Open-Source CAD package and as such is free to download and use with no restrictions.? It, like Fusion 360, is Parametric Based modeling.? FreeCAD? works, and there are a LOT of tutorials on how to use it.? I would recommend finding somebody whose tutorials that you like and stick with that person.? FreeCAD being open-sourced has had many developers, sometimes everything doesn't play well together.? ?At times it feels that you could ask 10 different people how to do the same thing in FreeCAD, get at least 12 different answers - and they'd ALL work.? It's very powerful, does a LOT of different things, but it can also be very confusing.
4) ONSHAPE also has a free version, and subscription versions.? It's cloud based and the free version requires you to make your work available to one and all.? I personally am not OK with that, so I don't use it but it's still there.
5) TinkerCAD and Sketch-up... I've seen people make some really fantastic stuff with these, but to me they didn't seem all that precise - so I never looked at them very hard.? I'm probably just biased because of a long 2D CAD experience with Autocad.

HA! I found it. BricsCAD Shape, can be directly downloaded. That is what remains after the trial. I’ll just start with it. Link here:

Keith, thanks for the tip on the Bricscad. I just sent them a note about the trial. It looks like (from their website) that it quits working after 30 days. I don’t want to learn it and then not have it working. Hmmm…

I have read that PLA will creep or warp under continuous pressure. I haven’t experienced that yet, but I did make something that collapsed in the sun. A Black PLA mousetrap will die in the sun, LOL. And again, ‘read’ not experienced, that PLA+ is much stronger and resists creep. I intend to leave the printed parts unstressed when not in use, if I remember.?

Eric, it even feels sort of like Delrin. Kind of ‘greasy’ feeling. I have high hopes for it.?

That is perfect David, thanks for taking the time to do this. Good job!?

And, I got permission to post this drawing. It is from Bill at:



I was watching his video about the Unimat Tailstock and he produced these!?





Note the strange names on some of the parts in the original drawing.?

Thanks Bill!?

I will post these in the files section too.?

Good afternoon,

I have my SL in pieces on the bench in front of me and have obtained the following measurements using digital calipers.

The part in question is 51.5mm long, being split 23.3mm for the M8 section and 28.2mm for the M5 section.

The M8 end is fully threaded. The M5 end has 13mm unthreaded adjacent to it's junction with the M8 section.

This unthreaded section is split up into 3 distinct parts. A 3mm long 4.5mm diameter section, a 7mm long 5.0mm diameter section and lastly another 3mm long 4.5mm diameter section. The central 5.0mm section is the part that fits into the bush.?
This layout can be clearly seen on the above photograph if I'm not explaining it well enough.

The bush is 11.6mm long and 12mm in diameter with a 5.0mm central hole.

I know a lot of the current threads are about CAD/CAM and 3d printing so I apologize for being a relic and just describing it.

Hope this helps.

David

If you are going to post a drawing please consider/remember a couple of things:
1) Let every body know what your basic drawing units are, inches, millimeters, cubits - whatever.? Not everybody uses the same ruler as you, some of us will have to scale your drawing to be able to use the units that we are familiar with.
2) STL files are not drawing files, they are files aimed at 3D printers.? They are made up of facets, there isn't a true curve in one, just lots and lots of triangles.? They?CAN be edited by some 3D CAD packages, but the results are not always predictable.? If you don't REALLY want anybody to be able to change your drawing then just do the STL file.? If you don't mind that other people can use and modify your drawing, then include the drawing file.
3) Not everybody uses the same 3D CAD software as you, so not everybody will be able to open a file that your CAD software creates.? A lot of 3D CAD software packages will let you import/export DXF files.? Please export your drawing in the DXF format along with your drawing file, this will give people with other 3D CAD packages a chance to be able to use/edit your drawing for their own purposes.

/g/Unimat/files/Unimat_SL_Tailstock_Ram.pdf I found that in the files section here last night, not sure if you've come across it/if that helps you any.?

I gave in and brought mine to the office with me today to start getting some measurements.? Realized immediately the casting for the cross slide on mine is different than Rowan's, so I guess there were some revisions over time.?

Yesterday I went to the automotive paint store. The part that I brought in was too small for them to scan it. It was an arm off of the threading attachment. I now know that something larger is needed for them to scan, such as the headstock. They actually had a few bundles of samples to try and match the color. We found one that was very close. It was a shade of white with some level of gray. After mixing it, they took a test sample and dried it out with a heat lamp. when dry it was slightly different than when wet. After adding a little more white a couple of times the dried color came out fine. It was then put into a spray can. The cost was just short of $30.00 for a 12 ounce can. I will go back and bring in a larger sample for them to scan and see what the results are. Apparently, the color of a Unimat3 is very unique and needs to be custom mixed.?

On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 02:56 AM, <rick@...> wrote:

I opened the stl one that is in the files section and it was also in meters, so I think multiplying by 1000 will get you to the right scale.?

I had trouble with CAD models I was sending out until I discovered a setting in my CAD which defines the units used. (The range runs from ?ngstroms to Parsecs, which seems a bit ridiculous.) Customers were finding they had to scale up or down by a factor of 25.4 due to inch/mm confusion.

I'm producing 3D drawings on an Autocad clone. I make available DWG and STP files for 3D, DWG and DXF for 2D. The STP and DXF files are huge, but Zip up quite well. I have not had much luck loading in STL files and trying to edit them. STP is intended as the neutral exchange 3D file format and should be well supported by CAD programmes. I import and export STP files quite often, and usually without problems.

I'm using Bricscad. You can download it for free, but after 30 days you will be left with a relatively simple 3D package which is fully compatible with Autocad and its clones. For me, that would be the simplest one to use, but then I've been using Autocad, in various forms, for many years. It des mean that, for example, I could draw up some complicated part and make it available for others to use in their designs. I see (on other forums) people struggling to form shapes that I know I can do in minutes, but the systems are not compatible, so I can't tell them the commands that would make the job simple.

On Mon, Mar 25, 2024 at 09:22 PM, Nevadablue wrote:

That’s because people are on the wrong forum. Activists of all sorts have available spots to be ‘active’.?
Please stop the off topic nonsense. I am trying hard not to be nasty about this.?

For the record, I'm not an 'activist', just a normal person with normal concerns about what we're leaving behind for future generations.

And you have absolutely no right to tell me what I should or shouldn't post.

Anyway... If your eventual aim is to make a copy of the EMCO compound slide it could (IMHO) do with a few 'improvements' -

?- fine adjustment of angle. 'Tap it with a hammer' really doesn't work well :-)? Some kind of worm gear arrangement would be good.

?- tool holding. The options in practice (although there are three bolts available) are pretty limited, and seem a bit dodgy in use...I'm sure it could be improved.

Cheers,
Peter

I think you got it. Sounds like I need to do a test print. Thanks!!!

I have a drawing from a fellow on youtube that has the dimensions of all the other parts of the tailstock. I have asked his permission to post his drawing here so I don’t have to re-draw it.?