I may have posted these before, can’t remember if I showed them here. Sorry if so.
These are a few things I made in my shop. This was a tool setting fixture for putting endmills in holders and setting the depth to match similar tools. There are more sophisticated machines for production shops but they cost over five grand so I made this for a shop using smaller CNC machines.
This was a grinding machine I designed and made for Fujitsu to grind through ceramic covers on some electronic components. I bought some parts like the X,Y table and vertical slide, and of course the electric spindle.
This was a part it was used on. It had to have precise Z (up and down) control so it would not touch the electronics. It used diamond burrs.
This was a probe card test fixture I designed and made. The carriage runs on two 20mm shafts with 4 linear bearings so it moves freely but with no perceptible play. The operating linkage is a toggle linkage that moves it rapidly except near the bottom where it moves very slowly to just tap the stop. The vertical stop had to be controlled to .001″. It was returned by a gas oil strut from a car hatchback, so if the handle was released the damper kept it from slamming to the top. Sorry about the bad pictures.
This was a prototype when Sandisk was developing the Compactflash format. This was from a drawing for a mold, but they wanted six samples made from polycarbonate to test before spending $60,000, plus on a mold. The dimensions had to be help to .001″ at the high end to fit some covers being made by someone else.
Also made dummy sockets with the internal keys to assure orientation.
This was a tool I designed to pull the small boards off the bigger, PCM_CIA, without bending the wires. I ended up making about twenty or more, including a couple of left hand versions. All 303 stainless steel and white delrin.
The first batch of six disappeared into pockets and drawers as the techs liked them and wanted to make sure they had access, so they had to order more. Ended up being four or five batches. I liked this tool. They showed me what it had to do, I asked them if they wanted a bench tool or handheld, then had a free hand to design it. When I took in the prototype the executives were walking around showing it off pulling the trigger over and over.
This was a tool for putting the connector strip on the Compactflash board in the right position for soldering. I made 10 or 15 of these in several batches. There are two pegs on the bottom so it can hook on the table edge and the operator pushes the spring loaded plunger. Fast and accurate. Again, my design. The board was held by two pins that fit tooling holes in the front of the board while the connector strip was held by the frame and pins. The connector had fingers on top and bottom so it held the board once pushed on.
This was a fixture for changing componants in these test boards. They wanted to have something that would open all eight sockets at once, pressing on sixteen buttons. Then they pulled the chips out with a vacuum probe and put new ones in. The white plastic was machined to support the board but releaved anywhere there was a solder bead or chip. The slots in the lids allowed access and nylon screws pushed on the buttons. When the catch was tripped the lid would swing up by itself so it was fast. There were two versions for two different boards but they worked the same. Made a dozen or more.
I had these pictures of the small parts because I had those samples. The better pictures were taken professionally by the broker I was working with. I designed and made a small pallet system for him too. I think I have some of the promotional material he made but I can’t find it. I wish I did as it was a nice setup. I had no digital camera then, just Elena’s Poloroid, so my pictures were poor and few. There were some nice tools I wish I had pictures of like a drop tester I made.
hahaha. I was watching the national LDS youth choir (or whatever they are called) today and noticed that it was about half and half Red ties and blue ties
I mostly wore black ties. In the picture with the cat I was home from work and I think I was working in a plumbing warehouse unloading trucks or filling orders. I often started the day black and while but finished gray. I wore a tie when doing yard work or working on my car, just wearing an old Ike jacket over it. My neighbors thought I was just out of the service or a skinhead. It took a while before I knew anyone well enough for them to ask.
Those were all fun, but the best paying jobs were production jobs. I think I showed you these but the best were modifying PCM-CIA connectors, these clear heat shields from 1/8″ polycarbonate, and drilling two 6-32 holes in these heat sinks. I charged $1.50 each for the heat sinks, and $6.50 for the guards. Did many thousands.
To kind friends and absent companions.
Hello to any and all midnight oil denizens.
I may have posted these before, can’t remember if I showed them here. Sorry if so.
These are a few things I made in my shop. This was a tool setting fixture for putting endmills in holders and setting the depth to match similar tools. There are more sophisticated machines for production shops but they cost over five grand so I made this for a shop using smaller CNC machines.
This was a grinding machine I designed and made for Fujitsu to grind through ceramic covers on some electronic components. I bought some parts like the X,Y table and vertical slide, and of course the electric spindle.
This was a part it was used on. It had to have precise Z (up and down) control so it would not touch the electronics. It used diamond burrs.
Wow, Mac!
This was a probe card test fixture I designed and made. The carriage runs on two 20mm shafts with 4 linear bearings so it moves freely but with no perceptible play. The operating linkage is a toggle linkage that moves it rapidly except near the bottom where it moves very slowly to just tap the stop. The vertical stop had to be controlled to .001″. It was returned by a gas oil strut from a car hatchback, so if the handle was released the damper kept it from slamming to the top. Sorry about the bad pictures.
Harper is sitting next to me and is looking at the pictures you’re posting .
We both have our tablets out .
I hope the pictures show well.
They look great.
This was a prototype when Sandisk was developing the Compactflash format. This was from a drawing for a mold, but they wanted six samples made from polycarbonate to test before spending $60,000, plus on a mold. The dimensions had to be help to .001″ at the high end to fit some covers being made by someone else.
Also made dummy sockets with the internal keys to assure orientation.
With a production socket later.
This was a tool I designed to pull the small boards off the bigger, PCM_CIA, without bending the wires. I ended up making about twenty or more, including a couple of left hand versions. All 303 stainless steel and white delrin.
The first batch of six disappeared into pockets and drawers as the techs liked them and wanted to make sure they had access, so they had to order more. Ended up being four or five batches. I liked this tool. They showed me what it had to do, I asked them if they wanted a bench tool or handheld, then had a free hand to design it. When I took in the prototype the executives were walking around showing it off pulling the trigger over and over.
This was a tool for putting the connector strip on the Compactflash board in the right position for soldering. I made 10 or 15 of these in several batches. There are two pegs on the bottom so it can hook on the table edge and the operator pushes the spring loaded plunger. Fast and accurate. Again, my design. The board was held by two pins that fit tooling holes in the front of the board while the connector strip was held by the frame and pins. The connector had fingers on top and bottom so it held the board once pushed on.
This was a fixture for changing componants in these test boards. They wanted to have something that would open all eight sockets at once, pressing on sixteen buttons. Then they pulled the chips out with a vacuum probe and put new ones in. The white plastic was machined to support the board but releaved anywhere there was a solder bead or chip. The slots in the lids allowed access and nylon screws pushed on the buttons. When the catch was tripped the lid would swing up by itself so it was fast. There were two versions for two different boards but they worked the same. Made a dozen or more.
I remember some of these tools from when you came to visit us .
That’s right, I forgot I took some samples. Sorry, I forgot.
Not at all . We are enjoying the memories .
I made a lot of these soldering fixtures in 6mm G10 for the side pins on these boards. G10 is nasty to work with. Made a smaller version too.
I had these pictures of the small parts because I had those samples. The better pictures were taken professionally by the broker I was working with. I designed and made a small pallet system for him too. I think I have some of the promotional material he made but I can’t find it. I wish I did as it was a nice setup. I had no digital camera then, just Elena’s Poloroid, so my pictures were poor and few. There were some nice tools I wish I had pictures of like a drop tester I made.
My first lathe in my mobile home, a 1938 Atlas with parts from a 1942 Craftsman lathe. I bought both as basket cases and made a working lathe.
My mill. Some of these things were made on these machines.
Wow! And is that you in the picture ?
Yes, about 30 years ago.
A few years before.
1985, on our Honeymoon.
Truly radical in those days, a blue tie.
hahaha. I was watching the national LDS youth choir (or whatever they are called) today and noticed that it was about half and half Red ties and blue ties
: )
I mostly wore black ties. In the picture with the cat I was home from work and I think I was working in a plumbing warehouse unloading trucks or filling orders. I often started the day black and while but finished gray. I wore a tie when doing yard work or working on my car, just wearing an old Ike jacket over it. My neighbors thought I was just out of the service or a skinhead. It took a while before I knew anyone well enough for them to ask.
Those were all fun, but the best paying jobs were production jobs. I think I showed you these but the best were modifying PCM-CIA connectors, these clear heat shields from 1/8″ polycarbonate, and drilling two 6-32 holes in these heat sinks. I charged $1.50 each for the heat sinks, and $6.50 for the guards. Did many thousands.
Elena sometimes helped me with the guards, bending them. We made a team and flew through them.
Good night, my gentle friends. Thanks for letting me run on. My warmest thoughts to you.
night Mac. Rest well.