Australian living in third world country where you can't buy a surface plate off the shelf, shipping cost's prohibitive and risk of shipping damage so I made my own.
What a mission!
In pursuit of Flatness.
In pursuit of Flatness.
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Re: In pursuit of Flatness.
Did you use the "3 flats" process?
Re: In pursuit of Flatness.
Yes used the Whitworth process with various lapping plates.
Initially milled the plate with 8" fly cutter, HSS was not up to it, tool would fail halfway through the cut, hard spots on the flame cut edge, switched to carbide and was successful to get the surface within approx 3 thou.
Five days of lapping later and pleased with the result.
I used to mark out on the mill table with Vernier Height Gauge, now hve a larger area giving me more scope.
Can buy a Granite plate in Perth WA but a little heavy in my suitcase!!!!
Initially milled the plate with 8" fly cutter, HSS was not up to it, tool would fail halfway through the cut, hard spots on the flame cut edge, switched to carbide and was successful to get the surface within approx 3 thou.
Five days of lapping later and pleased with the result.
I used to mark out on the mill table with Vernier Height Gauge, now hve a larger area giving me more scope.
Can buy a Granite plate in Perth WA but a little heavy in my suitcase!!!!
Re: In pursuit of Flatness.
Very nicely done. The reflections in your second picture indicate that's really flat. If it wasn't the reflections wouldn't be as straight as they are. Next time your in Perth you could check what the air freight for what ever size and weight of surface plate your looking for would be back to your location. You might be pleasantly surprised. I had just over 200 lbs flown from the UK and just about 5,000 miles to where I am. Roughly $450 including the last 150 miles by truck to my door.
Re: In pursuit of Flatness.
Very cool!
Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be.
Re: In pursuit of Flatness.
Super results. You did have the nice equipment to verify the progress.