Fixture bench top

[Richard.]

I bought a large lump of cast iron surface plate cheap off Pete late last year and it’s been great for setting up my small to medium fabrication jobs on but I’ve decided to try and make it that little bit more useful and add some fixtures to it.
So to start off it needed 15 holes spaced 150mm apart which gave me 150-170mm of maximum reach from any hole to be able to clamp in any position on the table. Then all of them were tapped out m12.

First job I think is some simple clamps. 10 in total is enough of a variety of possible clamping heights.
The m12 threaded bar is perfect for making things fully adjustable. You can’t go mad on tightening them or they’re gonna bend but even finger tight on the nuts I can’t physically move the item being clamped to the bench so more than good enough for firmly holding jobs flat to the top. Here is a typical clamp kit

And assembled in action holding a flat firmly to a box.

 

[Richard.]

Plan is to utilise those holes for lots of different fixtures and fittings. Something for setting up a job square against before applying the clamps and something vertical to set against too.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Plan is to utilise those holes for lots of different fixtures and fittings. Something for setting up a job square against before applying the clamps and something vertical to set against too.

Keep meaning to make similar for my woodworking. Infinitely useful.

 

[Richard.]

Threads and welding spatter is never a great combo but I only ever use a tig welder so shouldn’t ever come to any harm.
What I will do is buy a load of m12 grub screws to wing down the holes just below the surface height that I’m not using at the time to stop any crap getting in there.

 

[Tigman]

Looks good Richard

 

[Parm]

Grea

Threads and welding spatter is never a great combo but I only ever use a tig welder so shouldn’t ever come to any harm.
What I will do is buy a load of m12 grub screws to wing down the holes just below the surface height that I’m not using at the time to stop any crap getting in there.

Great idea

 

[Richard.]

It’s gonna make my tuition sessions a breeze for setting up typical bench joints and positions.
Quite often I have my fingers in there when we tack up.
Not anymore by the look of it.

 

[Tigman]

Makes it look so easy !

 

[Richard.]

Makes it look so easy !

It’s just Lego

 

[pedrobedro]

It’s just Lego

More like Meccano

 

[Kent]

You don't really need to tap the mounting holes you know.
Bit freeky but any reasonable clearance hole and peg system works on the clamps

 

[Richard.]

You don't really need to tap the mounting holes you know.
Bit freeky but any reasonable clearance hole and peg system works on the clamps

This needed tapping out mate. You can’t get to the under side and it’s not thick enough for a taper to get purchase. It’s not a bench like yours where you have loads of clearance underneath

 

[minimutly]

I take what Kent says to mean a parallel pin in a parallel hole will lock if pulled on out of true. I suppose it depends how thick the plate is.
Either way, really like your bench.

 

[Richard.]

I take what Kent says to mean a parallel pin in a parallel hole will lock if pulled on out of true. I suppose it depends how thick the plate is.
Either way, really like your bench.

Yes I see what you mean it locks up in the hole from pressure on the clamp. Yeah I could of done that. This does the same job with a different method.

 

[ukracer]

Yes I see what you mean it locks up in the hole from pressure on the clamp. Yeah I could of done that. This does the same job with a different method.

It does mean you can get vertical fitting to be 90 degrees..

 

[Richard.]

It does mean you can get vertical fitting to be 90 degrees..

That’s it mate, with them being threaded I can literally bolt any contraption to it I want. with pegs which are a good idea but your limitations are to pegs which will only work if under load.
Id adopt pegs and through holes if it was a bench with under side clearance but it’s not so this is the better way I think

 

[Kent]

This needed tapping out mate. You can’t get to the under side and it’s not thick enough for a taper to get purchase. It’s not a bench like yours where you have loads of clearance underneath

Actually i dont in places And its 1500 across I end up tapping the upper part ofthe clamp lightly and pulling
Got to be honest it still surprises me how tightly you van get a clamp thats simply a smooth peg in a smooth hole with a clearance " freaky"