123 Blocks

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123 Blocks

This topic has 32 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated 30 July 2018 at 20:41 by JasonB.

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27 July 2018 at 19:58 #364202
Nige
Participant
@nige81730
I have often seen mention of 123 blocks but when I search for info about how they are used, what they are for, all I seem to discover is a mass of videos and info about how to make them. Can you guys help please?
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27 July 2018 at 19:58 #13257
Nige
Participant
@nige81730
What are 123 blocks used for ?
27 July 2018 at 20:20 #364204
Mike Poole
Participant
@mikepoole82104
They are just an accurately made pair of blocks that have threaded holes to enable them to be bolted to things like angle plates etc. They often don't bolt to each other very usefully. They are useful for setting up work on a mill as they are parallel and accurately sized. They can be useful on a surface table for setting up a job for marking out. The only limit to their use is your imagination. If you have a pair they will be useful. They also provide apprentices with a task involving the production of an accurately sized and square block with many accurately drilled and tapped holes. Arceurotrade have sets that John Stevenson designed that do bolt together in useful configurations and some small ones that may be useful on some of our smaller jobs. Although 123 is a common size, larger and smaller versions are available.

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 27/07/2018 20:21:48
27 July 2018 at 20:25 #364206
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Can't think of any videos Nige but I'm sure the membership could come up with one hundred and twenty three uses for them.

Here are a few for starters.

Packing up work so you can make holes right through and not into the mill table

Something to increase the base of a wixy

Poor mans gauge block to set spacing of webs to 10mm

With ones from ACR that will screw together you can form a right angle so multiple parts can be set against the "stop" that they form to save resetting for each part

If like me you use an electronic edge finder then a 10-20-40 block gives a metal edge to touch when working with plastics etc

Edited By JasonB on 27/07/2018 20:29:46
27 July 2018 at 20:26 #364207
Nige
Participant
@nige81730
Mike: Thank you for that, I get the picture; a bit like more versatile parallels 😊
27 July 2018 at 20:31 #364208
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
The 123 really are just the ratios of the dimensions of the blocks. So 246 blocksare simply twice as big in each dimension as the 123s but still that same ratio. Two or more sets in the same units are really needed, to build up complex jigs, I suppose.
27 July 2018 at 20:42 #364211
Les Jones 1
Participant
@lesjones1
Another example.

Les.
27 July 2018 at 20:43 #364212
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Here is one of several previous discussions: **LINK**

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=130029

MichaelG.

.

Edit: and another https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=136428

… be sure to follow the 'circuitous' link that I posted, Nige.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/07/2018 20:46:58
27 July 2018 at 21:14 #364222
Nige
Participant
@nige81730
Jason: Thank you for your usual comprehensive reply and examples 😊

Les: Thank you forthe further example, interesting.

Michael: Thank you, the circuitous route made interesting reading 😊
27 July 2018 at 21:36 #364232
David T
Participant
@davidt96864
My vernier height gauge only goes down to 1.5". I use 1-2-3 blocks to the raise the work up off the surface plate then add 1" to the height gauge setting.
28 July 2018 at 08:02 #364259
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Hi Nige, as Mike says, your limit is your imagination. Below is a photo where I've used the proverbial 123 blocks in combination with some Stevenson's blocks, to get a datum point machined on a pair of castings, which will ultimately have to fit together.

Notice the round bar in the middle holes in the 123 blocks, which have tapped holes for the bolts holding the larger Stevenson's blocks onto them. The castings are clamped together between the smaller Stevenson's blocks, which were then squared up by the piece steel just nipped by the heads of two socket head screws into the small block.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 28/07/2018 08:03:44
28 July 2018 at 08:23 #364261
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
I think we may need a separate thread "who has got the most blocks"

Anyone got the 15-30-60 size that Uncle Ketan has quietly slipped into his range without even putting them on the new products page?
28 July 2018 at 08:29 #364262
Nicholas Farr
Participant
@nicholasfarr14254
Posted by JasonB on 28/07/2018 08:23:22:

I think we may need a separate thread "who has got the most blocks"

Anyone got the 15-30-60 size that Uncle Ketan has quietly slipped into his range without even putting them on the new products page?

Hi Jason, not yet, only just noticed them today. Hmmm, better get some ordered before every ones knows and he runs out of stock.

Regards Nick.
28 July 2018 at 08:44 #364264
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by not done it yet on 27/07/2018 20:31:09:

The 123 really are just the ratios of the dimensions of the blocks.

.

… and it's perhaps worth mentioning that the ARC/Stevenson versions are 124 not 123

MichaelG.
28 July 2018 at 09:39 #364269
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Note that the non-ARC ones are likely to use UNC threads being made for the USA market primarily.
28 July 2018 at 10:06 #364273
Vic
Participant
@vic
Interestingly my 1-2-3 blocks are marked Moore & Wright but seem to have imperial threads. Luckily they came with five cap head socket screws to suit.
28 July 2018 at 10:58 #364287
Jez
Participant
@jez
If you're thinking of making your own, Robin Renzetti (YouTube ROBRENZ) came up with a few twists which appear to increase their versatility with regards to bolting them together to make more complex setups – they're described by Tom Lipton (OXTOOLCO on Youtube) here:

**LINK**

Cheers,

Jez.
28 July 2018 at 11:23 #364293
Anonymous
Oh dear, I've got a set of 1-2-3 blocks somewhere, but don't think I've ever used them.

On t'other hand I've got a lot of parallels, angle plates, box cubes, V-blocks and gauge plate which works well for me when devising set ups.

I've just dug out my blocks. I think I bought them from Chronos many years ago, but can't be sure. Got China engraved on them. They're a bit tarnished, but I think that is from the wooden box, as they've always been stored indoors.

Nige: PM sent

Andrew
28 July 2018 at 12:22 #364304
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Vic on 28/07/2018 10:06:14:

Interestingly my 1-2-3 blocks are marked Moore & Wright but seem to have imperial threads. Luckily they came with five cap head socket screws to suit.

.

Lucky you, Vic

… You should find that they assemble nicely [i.e. with the capheads down the counterbores].

MichaelG.
28 July 2018 at 13:26 #364319
jimmy b
Participant
@jimmyb
Posted by JasonB on 28/07/2018 08:23:22:

I think we may need a separate thread "who has got the most blocks"

Anyone got the 15-30-60 size that Uncle Ketan has quietly slipped into his range without even putting them on the new products page?

Yes!

I've got 4 of each size, (10-20-40,13-30-60, 20-40-80) and a few 123 blocks.

I always seem to need one more……

Jim
28 July 2018 at 20:01 #364378
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Confession, I tend to use the stepped triangles in my clamping set as rough and ready blocks for many of these uses, together with some home-made parallels from precision ground square rod.

They aren't essential, they just make things more convenient, but I must get some proper ones.

Neil
28 July 2018 at 20:03 #364379
Meunier
Participant
@meunier
Nige, now that you have received some informative replies, the answer is that they are for making things simple in the workshop – "ABC it's as easy as 1-2-3". although this should probably be in the workshop songs thread…
DaveD
28 July 2018 at 20:20 #364384
jimmy b
Participant
@jimmyb
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 28/07/2018 20:01:10:

Confession, I tend to use the stepped triangles in my clamping set as rough and ready blocks

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim
30 July 2018 at 12:54 #364661
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Posted by jimmy b on 28/07/2018 20:20:16:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 28/07/2018 20:01:10:

Confession, I tend to use the stepped triangles in my clamping set as rough and ready blocks

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim

What's so bad? Plenty of applications like stops or raising things off the mill table for boring don't need extreme accuracy, just an easily clamped lump of metal.
30 July 2018 at 15:29 #364682
Anonymous
My set of 1-2-3 blocks have now gone to a more deserving home, where I expect they'll be used rather than sitting on the shelf.

Andrew
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