Where to find large square billet of steel.

[dan.taylor.1]

Hi folks,

In after a 200mm square block of steel, nothing fancy, mild, bright, or en8 would be more than adequate, for a mill riser block.

Where would I find such a block? The big bits on eBay all seem to be rounds, which would be fine, but a big waste of material as id have to lop off most of it to get a square.

I did work out that a 280mm round would be the nearest size (the corners need rounding off the 200mm square anyway) with least wastage, but I can't find anything even close.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers ,

Dan

 

[piman]

Hello Dan,

when I made a riser for my miller I used cast iron rather than steel. If you would consider that, :- http://www.collegeengineering.co.uk/product/200mm-7-87-square/?

Alec

 

[zzr1200]

200mm x 200 mm x (200/300/400/500/1000mm in length)?

I helped indy4x4 out sometime ago, with steel stock.

Working in Sheffield I maybe able to source a suitable bit of steel, I usually only look for round stock, but I'm willing see what I can find, transporting it could be a problem...

 

[dan treg]

where i used to work ( gkn) we used flamecut blanks for things like that

 

[Dcal]

Does it need to be solid?
Why not fabricate it out of a 8" UC section with 3/4 or 1" top and bottom plates?
The plates could be machined after welding to true up the flanges or just shim it

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I thought about cast, but I can't weld that back up if I balls it up!

As I say, 280mm round would do, 150 to 200mm deep.

Again, thought about fabricating it but didn't think it would be rigid enough compared to solid stock?

 

[dan.taylor.1]

@zzr1200 if you could find something id be much appreciated, happy to drive to collect.

 

[Dcal]

I'm not sure what size of Mill you have or the sort of cuts you will be taking but there is no way you will twist a fabricated fixture that size and height, depth, width ratio.

Solid will be simpler (if you can source) it's just an option if you can't

 

[sako243]

If you can source thinner stuff what about stacking them up? You could always plug weld them together if you really wanted.

 

[Hitch]

Tried your nearest profilers... ? Probably get that as a flame cut profile easily.

 

[sardine]

Place called Man & Buck sells steel ballast for boats in big lumps.

 

[Rig Pig]

My mills central column is hollow, I suspect yours is too so a fabricated hefty section wouldn't be a major change to the design.

 

[zzr1200]

Dan, any chance of a photo of your mill just for reference.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I want to lift it between the square flange and the main column. I could do it on the pivot but that already seems like a weak area without my limited machining knowledge thrown at it. Making a block with 4 pockets and 4 holes seems a lot easier than a round spacer with loads of register steps machined in.

 

[zzr1200]

Dan, so how high do you want this square steel stock, 200mm x 200mm x ??????mm.......

Carefully consider the height of any vice/rotary table or mounting plates you may have or wish to buy, also consider the amount of downward quill movement available, this all affects the overall height measurement.

And remember to fully wind up the table before taking any measurements......

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Is there any guide to what to measure? Or an ideal amount of gap between say the spindle nose and table/vice when it's fully up or down?

 

[TechnicAl]

A billet is less than 36 sq Inches cross section.....bigger than that its a bloom
I think blooms are fairly rare these days....mostly cast straight to billet......but my memories are fading so I could (probably) have that the wrong way round.

And is 36 sq in bigger than 200mm square........Im too old for that one

 

[bigegg]

A billet is less than 36 sq Inches cross section.....bigger than that its a bloom
I think blooms are fairly rare these days....mostly cast straight to billet......but my memories are fading so I could (probably) have that the wrong way round.

And is 36 sq in bigger than 200mm square........Im too old for that one

200mm = 8in, so 64sq in?

 

[Seadog]

And is 36 sq in bigger than 200mm square

It's about 8" x 8" so 64 square inches.