Johan, the skate stuff would go better in this thread.

JR, the top plate should still be the same.
Attachment 5586
Attachment 5587

Johan what type files are these .... dxf?
Thank you

Yes, they are .dxf's. Just change the .txt to .dxf when you save the file.

Have now added .dxf files to the types that this forum can load.

A new little mod to the bottom plate.

I am thinking that the guard needs to be incorporated in the other plate, for the times when only that plate is used to slice the rail height down.

Attachment 5672

Attachment 5673

It will never win any beauty contests, but it works!
JR, thank you for the great idea! :cool:
I added the wheel adjustment as shown.I get a very fine adjustment now on the wheels. The design just need to be tweaked so that those small screws are not so close together. The nuts next to the bearings are rubbing a little bit against the seals.
The bearing wheels runs smooth across the rails. Just like Jude's hovercraft from Sidney!:D
I still have one rail to do. The glazing of the disk was a problem even when I adjust the disk down at one end. I think it is just one of those things that one has except. I used two disk per rail so far!

Is it necessary to (fine)adjust both ends of the skate?

Maybe not Gerald. One side might do it.

I have an awful way of "dressing" a grind wheel and I am hesitant to mention it because it just seems so unsafe and unheard of. I run a similar grinder against it - 2 disks spinning against each other. Not recommending it at all - the noise, dust, vibration doesn't look healthy.

Interesting. That is why the South Africans are such good inventors. We will try anything to descover something new. Even bend or break a few rules in the proses!:D

jules vern here I come!

Ja Sean. Africa is not for sisies!:D

That looks great Johan. And it's leaving a mirror finish on the rail. Beautiful.

Thanks Doug. I must finish the last rail tommorow.

Glazing problem occured to me after about 600mm of grinding. I thought it might be because of the quality of the grinding disks that I use. I came around with this solution which works fine for me: sanding disks, grit 36 backed by a solid new grinding disk (disk rubber backings were quite errative and dangerous). Now I can bevel both sides of a rail with one sanding disk per about 1500-2000 mm of rail before it glazes or wears off. The surface quality is acceptable. I also tried to improve the surface finish with 80 grit sanding disk, the surface finish was remarkable, but needs extra work which I believe is redundant. The noise level is much less than grinding disks. Metal removal is good. I set for approximatey 0.5 to 1 mm per pass with my 850W Chinese grinder. The less the feed, the more the disks last.

That looks great Nader. I used a whetstone to polish mine a little after I finished grinding.

wow - Nader - where is your build thread???

That's good idea Nader. I will remember that if I have to build another BBB.:D

Thanks for the kind words. To tell you the truth, due to my limitations I had to redesign numerous parts so these machines are actually a mutant between MechMate, ShopBot and my own design, needless to say that I owe its design to Gerald's generous sharing of his ideas, and the concepts and discussions over here from you all.
Although I have compiled a day to day log of my activities with step by step pictures while building these machines, I thought it would be rude and inappropriate to introduce a new design in MechMate forum, which might bring distraction or confusion from Gerald's original idea and efforts, to those who are building or intend to build the MechMate.

Nader,
Now you really have to show us your build, that's too intriguing to let it go. Even if it's in a different forum somewhere you should post a link, or I bet Gerald would be OK with you showing a "Mutant" machine, maybe if you call it a "Hybrid" it would be more enticing.

This new skate - was it decided this was a better design? I am getting the Laser Parts kit together and this new file is not part of the Profiles DXF list. That list still has the standard skate.

Mike,
As far as I know this new skate design is not part of the official mechmate cut list release. Gerald may decide to include it at a later time, but I am guessing. This was just some of the guys modifying what was available to their liking. :)

I didn't think there was an obvious enough improvement to warrant a special drawing release. I will probably change the drawings one day, but more for the reason of incorporating a disc guard. Before I change the drawing, I will warn the guys holding stocks of lazered kits.

Are the cut and stamped parts of this skate available for purchase from someone?

sent you a PM

From post #156 of JR's new design. The DXF seems to be in inches. So if you're going to have it laser cut this may need to be scalled to mm.
Otherwise, it's looking great.

Makita Grind Skate Modification
 

The Makita grinders seem to have a slightly different hole pattern. For some reason the bolt are not located at 45 degrees. I've measured up a Makita 9556 and come up with the drawing below. On my skate I welded up the original slots, re drilled and cut back some of the skate. (Original in orange)
If anyone else has a Makita Grinder, can you check if it fits the different models.

Does anyone have updated plans I can have to make the best version of the skate so far