Hi,

I have been musing on building a steel framed machine, but I don't want to weld the frame. In order to make the machine adjustable (and dismantleable), I have this idea for a joint and I would welcome comments. I have steel stock of 100x50x5 box section and a length of 40x10 bar (could be 12?).

Some pics to show you what I intend :-
Click image for larger version.  Name: Side tube.jpg  Views: 189  Size: 61.0 KB  ID: 28662
Click image for larger version.  Name: end block.jpg  Views: 181  Size: 74.1 KB  ID: 28660
Click image for larger version.  Name: Endtube.jpg  Views: 187  Size: 73.9 KB  ID: 28661

The block has six holes on the face, tapped M8 and the sides have 8mm diameter drillings, about 4mm deep. The block fits inside the box section 1mm recessed and is button welded in place. It could be drilled deeper and tapped M8 instead and bolted if no welder available. Then the side of the machine has six 9mm holes drilled to bolt up to the end tube assembly.

This allows shimming to bring the frame into square and level and then the bolts can be taken out and loctited in place one by one.

Cheers,

Rob