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An “Omega” spring to keep Parallels in place

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An “Omega” spring to keep Parallels in place

Home › Forums › Hints And Tips for model engineers › An “Omega” spring to keep Parallels in place

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • 11 March 2011 at 19:15 #65356
    chris stephens
    Participant
      @chrisstephens63393

      Hi Guys,
      Hers’s something for all you chaps who use parallels in your milling vice and have difficulty keeping them in place. Or should I say, here’s something for all you guys not blessed with three hands.
      The spring is made of Phosphor Bronze, is about 4thou thick and the shape I find best is rather like a Greek “Omega” . I hope you can see from the photo how it is used. They take seconds to make but can save “hours of harmless fun” as the advert used to say.
      I have seen people use coil springs to do the same job but obviously you can only crush them so far, with the Omega spring you can crush it right down to virtually nothing and it will still spring back to shape.
      I am sure the idea is not new, but I had not come across it before and I would think that some of you had not either. I hope some of you find the idea helpful.
      chriStephens

      Edited By chris stephens on 11/03/2011 19:23:50

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      11 March 2011 at 19:15 #30320
      chris stephens
      Participant
        @chrisstephens63393

        A simple little device that might help you.

        11 March 2011 at 20:16 #65358
        JasonB
        Moderator
          @jasonb
          One of those little bits of expanded polystyrene packaging you get 1000s of in a box also does the trick and it won’t catch a drill bit as you break through right above a metal spring.
           
          Jason

          Edited By JasonB on 11/03/2011 20:17:18

          11 March 2011 at 21:56 #65362
          NJH
          Participant
            @njh
            That’s a good idea. Has anyone tried these “wavey” parallels though?
             
            Norman
            12 March 2011 at 04:20 #65367
            ady
            Participant
              @ady

              I tend to use toolsteel bits and old bearings as parallels.

              12 March 2011 at 07:58 #65370
              Terryd
              Participant
                @terryd72465
                Hi All,
                 
                A guy on another forum recommends using that thin foamed flexible plastic sheet often used in packaging, it feels a bit waxy if you know the stuff. Thin foam food packages suitably washed can be cut up to do the same job of keeping parallels in order
                 
                Terry
                12 March 2011 at 11:18 #65379
                clive swinney
                Participant
                  @cliveswinney28133
                  Hi all
                   
                  I use flexible magnetic self adhesive strip attatched to all my parallels. It works for me.
                  12 March 2011 at 12:33 #65382
                  KWIL
                  Participant
                    @kwil
                    Norman, I have used the wavy parallels, they are very good when your other parallels are too wide. They will take a set if you crush them too far and go easy on the mallet!
                    12 March 2011 at 18:23 #65390
                    NJH
                    Participant
                      @njh
                      Hi KWIL
                       
                      Thanks – I will add a set to my ” Wish List” then.
                       
                      Norman
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