Can you make a curved slot using a DRO?

[Suzuki4evr]

Hallo guys.

Is it possible to make a curved slot or radius slot using the radius or bolt circle functions on your DRO? I have started by drilling holes on a marked curve, but I am sure there must be an fairly easier way using the DRO. My rotary table is to small. The radius is 107.50mm, diameter 215mm. Any help will be appreciated.

Michael

 

[MrWhoopee]

Yes, calculate your X,Y coordinates for a series of holes, the increments being as small as you're willing to tolerate. It will not be a smooth slot unless you use a very small increment. Excel can be very useful for this sort of work.

X^2+Y^2=r^2

Using the bolt circle function, you will want a 360 hole circle (or more) if your DRO will do it.

 

[Flyinfool]

Short answer is yes.

How perfect of a radius do you need?
I have used the DRO by calculating a lot of points and using an end mill and a lot of very small moves. In my case it was a cam profile so I could not use the built in DRO functions.
You may also be able to do a bolt pattern with a LOT of holes to get the points you need. The more precise the radius needs to be the more points you need.

Drat I typed to slow again.

 

[kb58]

Yup, what they said, the "peasant CNC approach"

 

[Suzuki4evr]

Short answer is yes.

How perfect of a radius do you need?
I have used the DRO by calculating a lot of points and using an end mill and a lot of very small moves. In my case it was a cam profile so I could not use the built in DRO functions.
You may also be able to do a bolt pattern with a LOT of holes to get the points you need. The more precise the radius needs to be the more points you need.

Drat I typed to slow again.

The radius doesn't need to be that smooth, I can file if needed. I am making a new baseplate for my new 3 phase motor. The slot is for putting tention on the pulley belts. I am also installing a new VFD. I wanted to add the pic of the slot in my first post but for forgot and now the "Attach file" below doesn't seem to be working.

 

[Suzuki4evr]

Anyway, the slot is 16mm by about 80mm long.

 

[martik777]

There are some utilities to calculate x/y coordinates for circles etc here:
https://www.myvirtualnetwork.com/mklotz/
You will need something like DOSBOX to run these old programs under windows

 

[mikey]

Can you drill holes on each end and use a jigsaw to cut the curve? Much faster than plotting holes.

 

[Suzuki4evr]

There are some utilities to calculate x/y coordinates for circles etc here:
https://www.myvirtualnetwork.com/mklotz/
You will need something like DOSBOX to run these old programs under windows

Thanks. I don't know what is going on right now, but I can't open links or attach files. Luckily my DRO have a bolt circle function, I just needed some help on how to use it for a slot.

 

[Suzuki4evr]

Can you drill holes on each end and use a jigsaw to cut the curve? Much faster than plotting holes.

I guess I could have. I already made 5 holes in the 20mm plate and I don't have a blade for steel. At least I am learning new DRO stuff now.