Etch Press Build

[Wal]

Hello all,

Bit of an update on this (I'll likely post something a bit more comprehensive in the metalwork showcase once properly finished...)



Had the rollers made in EN8 at a local machine shop. Sterling job. Not cheap at £450, but top quality, perfect slide fits into the bearings, great finish etc.

Also had the platen flame-cut and Lumsden ground at a local fabricators. Mild steel, £40 all in. Not sure what to make of it. It's definitely bowed (see pic below) but I haven't been able to get a silver Rizla through the gap (they're around .02mm) - gaps look bigger than they are, I backlit the press with some strong light. I imagine this is something to do with the stock not having been stress relieved prior to grinding... The underside of the plate is working the shoulders of the drive roller a bit, so I might just fit a sheet of 1mm thick vulcanised fibreboard to the underside of the platen. As a material, it's very hard to compress, but should squeeze into that couple of hundredths, I reckon...