Centec raising block

[Paul White 3Participant @paulwhite3]

Gary,

I must disagree with your "only purpose for the block" statement . My reason for making one was to change from vertical to horizontal configuration without taking off the very heavy head. This is perhaps what the OP was thinking.

[Paul White 3Participant @paulwhite3]

Dave Halford.

Your proposed – push back and clamp is the process I use, but had not been told that I couldn't!

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Posted by Paul White 3 on 04/04/2019 08:53:07:

Gary,

I must disagree with your "only purpose for the block" statement . My reason for making one was to change from vertical to horizontal configuration without taking off the very heavy head. This is perhaps what the OP was thinking.

Good point Paul.

[Frank GorseParticipant @frankgorse]

Paul,Gary, Dave,

yes,the ability to use either mode of milling without troubling the local crane hire firm was the original motivation. Extra capacity is a welcome bonus of course.

[RMAParticipant @rma]

My 2A came with a modified overarm made from a long block of aluminium. I don't understand why a dovetail wasn't machined in the top and thereby making it a raising block while they were at it. I would like to do this if I can get someone at my club to machine the dovetail. Does anyone know where I can get two clamps?

The machine came from the Hornby tool room, but I don't know when the mod was done.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Paul White 3 on 04/04/2019 09:09:22:

Dave Halford.

Your proposed – push back and clamp is the process I use, but had not been told that I couldn't!

Hi Paul,

It's one of those re-tram moments people like to avoid, personally I don't like the idea of the VH hanging that far forward and I just KNOW I'd headbutt the thing even with the head swung horizontal.

[RMAParticipant @rma]

Yes, I was thinking that. I think I would be head banging it all the time! Obviously to slide the head right back it would have to be turned through 90 degrees, does any oil come out?

[Frank GorseParticipant @frankgorse]

Somebody suggested drilling and reaming for a taper pin through the round bit to ease the business of resetting after the head has been tilted,can’t see why that wouldn’t work but I haven’t done it (yet.)

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Without wishing to hijack this thread but can someone tell me what the overall height is of a Centec with the raising block and vertical head?

Brian

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

If you mean table clearance Brian.

2A – longitudinal 9", cross traverse 4.5", vertical 6"

2B – longitudinal 14" (less 1.25" with power feed) cross traverse 5", vertical 9.5"

+ three or four inches depending on the block,

With collets as a cutter holder add another 2" or so again

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Try this thread:

**LINK**

I think my riser block is 120mm. Any height, within reason, can be chosen.

Dimensions don’t take into account head-space needed for drawbar removal.

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Of the 20 or so raising blocks I've made, 2 were 4" and all the rest were 4.5".

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Thanks for the replies Dave an Gary, what I was after was the total height of the machine, to check if one would fit in my workshop.

Brian

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Posted by Gary Wooding on 23/06/2019 22:01:35:

Of the 20 or so raising blocks I've made, 2 were 4" and all the rest were 4.5".

Do you have any plans to make any more Gary; I don't think Tony from lathes.co.uk is intending to commission another batch.

Thanks

Bill

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Brian.

The overall height of my 2B, with the drawbar in place, is, as near as I can measure it, 67" or 170cm. The drawbar is 12" (30.5cm) long.

Bill.

Sorry, I have no plans to make any more raising blocks..

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Brian H on 23/06/2019 22:18:35:

Thanks for the replies Dave an Gary, what I was after was the total height of the machine, to check if one would fit in my workshop.

Brian

You needed to take heed of my reply. All the main measurements are shown. Both the 2A and 2B models (which, unsurprisingly, are different).

[Frank GorseParticipant @frankgorse]

Just to confuse things a little further,my 2b is about 63.5” with the vertical head on. Haven’t got the raising block yet but that will increase it by about 3.5”(made from 4×4 aluminium). My cabinet base is the steel version so that may account for the difference. Being quite tall I’ve stood my machine on timber bearers to bring it up to a more comfortable working height.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Brian.

A 2A bench top model will go anywhere that you can stand to use it, even with a block (if it comes with one)

If not a even 2A can make it's own short raising block.

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

I just remembered that my 2B with a MK3 VH is sitting on1" oak blocks with adjustable feet. I've just measured again. From the bottom of the cabinet (ie. the part that would be on the floor if I removed the feet and oak blocks) to the top of the VH, without the drawbar, is 63.5" (161.3cm). The drawbar sticks out 1.5" (3.9cm).

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Once again, many thanks to Gary & Dave for taking the trouble to provide very useful info.

Brian

[Author]

Posts